Question 1

James Madison called an interest group a ________.
A) mob
B) faction
C) plutocracy
D) corporation
E) social movement

Accepted Answer

James Madison used the term "factions" to refer to interest groups in Federalist Paper No. 10, where he argued that a strong, centralized government could help control the negative effects of factions on the political system.

Question 2

Interest groups are concerned with the ________ of government, while political parties are concerned with the ________ of government.
A) values; goals
B) membership; authority
C) policies; personnel
D) lawfulness; political feasibility
E) legitimacy; power

Accepted Answer

Interest groups are focused on advocating for specific policies and issues, such as environmental protection or gun control, while political parties are concerned with gaining control of government and influencing who holds elected office and the policies that are pursued. Therefore, the most appropriate options are policies and personnel, which relate to the objectives of interest groups and political parties, respectively.

Question 3

Members of interest groups in the United States are typically people
A) with higher levels of income and education.
B) from the lower socioeconomic levels.
C) who do not participate in politics.
D) who work in manual labor and unskilled occupations.
E) who identify as Democrats.

Accepted Answer

Members of interest groups in the United States are typically people with higher levels of income and education because they have more resources and are more likely to have the time and ability to focus on political issues.

Question 4

The Teamsters and the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations are examples of ________.
A) public interest groups
B) business groups
C) labor groups
D) ideological groups
E) professional associations

Accepted Answer

The Teamsters and the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations are both labor groups, representing workers and advocating for labor rights and better working conditions.

Question 5

When a coalition of credit card companies form an interest group called the Partnership to Protect Consumer Credit, this indicates that
A) credit card companies are interested in the public good.
B) private interests are hiding behind the ideals of public interests.
C) public interest groups are now actively involving private corporations.
D) the free-rider problem does not apply to private corporations.
E) the credit card companies lack solidary benefits to offer their customers.

Accepted Answer

The formation of an interest group by credit card companies suggests that private interests are using the guise of public interests to advance their own agenda. The name of the group itself, "Partnership to Protect Consumer Credit," implies that their goal is to protect consumers when in reality they are advocating for their own financial interests.

Question 6

Public interest groups differ from other types of interest groups in that
A) they claim to serve the common good, not just their own particular interests.
B) they were the first political associations to use the strategy of direct mailing.
C) they were the first group to abandon lobbying and take up only grassroots activism.
D) unlike other interest groups, their status is like that of a charity, not a political organization.
E) unlike other interest groups, they have no membership requirements and allow any member of the public to join.

Accepted Answer

Public interest groups differ from other types of interest groups in that they claim to serve the common good, not just their own particular interests. They advocate for issues that affect the public as a whole, not just a specific group or industry. Unlike other interest groups, they seek to promote the general welfare rather than advancing the interests of their members.

Question 7

Organized interest groups enhance American democracy by
A) fielding large numbers of electable candidates.
B) financing large numbers of election campaigns.
C) empowering less potent segments of society.
D) representing the interests of large numbers of people and encouraging political participation.
E) placing initiatives on the ballot.

Accepted Answer

Organized interest groups represent the interests of large numbers of people and encourage political participation through their advocacy and lobbying efforts. This enhances American democracy by giving voice to a diversity of perspectives and promoting active citizen engagement in the political process. Additionally, interest groups can provide valuable expertise and policy analysis that helps elected officials make informed decisions. While some interest groups may also field candidates or finance campaigns, these activities are less central to their role in enhancing democracy.

Question 8

What is the primary variable for predicting the likelihood of joining an interest group?
A) having an interest shared by others
B) having a higher income and education
C) already being a member of a political party
D) having connections with government officials
E) the region of the country in which an individual lives

Accepted Answer

Higher income and education levels are often associated with a greater likelihood of joining interest groups, as these individuals typically have more resources and awareness of the benefits of such participation.

Question 9

Which group is best adapted to organizing the lower classes?
A) a public interest group
B) an ideological interest group
C) a professional association
D) a political party
E) a business group

Accepted Answer

Political parties are best suited to organizing the lower classes because they have the resources and experience to mobilize voters and promote issues that are important to the lower classes. Political parties also have the ability to influence policy and government decisions, which is crucial in improving the lives of lower-class individuals. Public interest groups and professional associations may also be effective in advocating for the rights of lower-class individuals, but they may not have the same level of political influence as political parties. Ideological interest groups and business groups may primarily focus on promoting their own interests, rather than representing the broader interests of the lower classes.

Question 10

It is difficult for political scientists to categorize unrepresented interests because
A) there are no constitutional means for unorganized interests to compete for attention.
B) there are no organizations that can present their identities and demands.
C) there are no measurements of interests and needs outside of representation.
D) there are no legitimate interests that do not already have representation.
E) these interests often want to stay hidden from public view.

Accepted Answer

Unrepresented interests lack organized groups or identities, which makes it difficult for political scientists to categorize them. Consequently, they cannot present their needs, wants, and interests in any political process, thereby making it extremely challenging for political scientists to understand their needs.

Question 11

Grandparents, tall people, and undergraduates are all examples of ________.
A) political parties
B) pluralist interest groups
C) political action committees
D) potential interest groups
E) public interest groups

Accepted Answer

"Potential interest groups" refers to groups of people who have a common interest or concern but have not yet organized to pursue that interest effectively. Grandparents, tall people, and undergraduates could all potentially form interest groups based on their shared characteristics or concerns. The other listed options (political parties, pluralist interest groups, political action committees, and public interest groups) refer to more specific types of organized groups.

Question 12

The National Governor's Association is a good example of a ________.
A) public-sector interest group
B) professional association
C) political party
D) political action committee
E) public interest group

Accepted Answer

The National Governor's Association is a public-sector interest group because it represents the collective interests of state governors in the United States, focusing on issues that affect state governments and their operations.

Question 13

The best description of the ideal of pluralism is that
A) the public good should always trump individual interests.
B) interests should be free to compete with each other for governmental influence.
C) interest groups are factions that endanger liberty.
D) democracy is best served by legalizing but regulating the influence of interest groups.
E) interest groups are factions that endanger political and economic equality.

Accepted Answer

Pluralism is the idea that a variety of groups and interests should be free to compete for influence in the government, ensuring that no single group dominates and that diverse perspectives are considered.

Question 14

The Christian Coalition is a(n) ________ group.
A) public interest
B) ideological
C) labor
D) professional
E) business

Accepted Answer

The Christian Coalition is an ideological group, as its main purpose is to promote and advance Christian conservative beliefs and values in politics and government. While they may have some interests in common with public interest or business groups, their primary focus is on promoting their specific ideological agenda. They do not primarily represent labor interests or professional organizations.

Question 15

Which of the following is NOT an economic group?
A) Exxon
B) Microsoft
C) Apple
D) Dow Chemical
E) National Right to Life

Accepted Answer

Exxon, Microsoft, Apple, and Dow Chemical are all corporations and are therefore considered economic groups. National Right to Life is an interest group focused on social and political issues, not economics.

Question 16

What are political parties more capable of doing than interest groups?
A) raising money
B) providing solidary benefits
C) providing purposive benefits
D) articulating a clear and persuasive ideology
E) organizing people on a mass scale

Accepted Answer

Political parties are more capable of organizing people on a mass scale because they aim to win elections and govern, requiring broad-based support and mobilization.

Question 17

Which of the following statements about political parties and interest groups is most accurate?
A) Political parties have remained nearly unchanged throughout American history while interest groups have become considerably less numerous, active, and influential in recent years.
B) Both political parties and interest groups have become much more active and influential in recent years.
C) Both political parties and interest groups have become much less active and influential in recent years.
D) Political parties have become more influential in recent years while interest groups have become less numerous, active, and influential.
E) Political parties have declined in influence in recent years while interest groups have become more numerous, active, and influential.

Accepted Answer

Political parties have faced declining membership and polarization in recent years, leading to a decrease in their overall influence. Meanwhile, interest groups have become more numerous and active, using tactics such as lobbying and grassroots organizing to impact policy outcomes. Therefore, option E is the most accurate statement.

Question 18

Which of the following is NOT a function of interest groups?
A) to influence governmental decisions
B) to lobby government officials
C) to get their members elected to political office
D) to educate their members and the public about the issues that affect them
E) to monitor government programs to make sure their members are not adversely affected

Accepted Answer

While interest groups may endorse political candidates and work to sway elections, it is not necessarily a primary function to get their own members elected to political office. Their main focus is to advocate for specific policy outcomes and influence government decision-making.

Question 19

________ once wrote that "America was a nation of joiners."
A) James Madison
B) Alexis de Tocqueville
C) David Truman
D) Robert Dahl
E) Mancur Olson

Accepted Answer

Alexis de Tocqueville is the one who originally wrote in his book "Democracy in America" that "Americans of all ages, all conditions, and all dispositions constantly form associations." He viewed this as a unique and positive aspect of American society.

Question 20

Interest groups most effectively serve ________.
A) the working classes
B) the powerless
C) the upper classes
D) government bureaucrats
E) racial and ethnic minorities

Accepted Answer

Interest groups most effectively serve the upper classes because they often have more resources, such as money and influence, to advocate for their interests.

Quiz 11: Groups and Interests

James Madison called an interest group a ________.

Interest groups are concerned with the of government, while political parties are concerned with the of government.

Members of interest groups in the United States are typically people

The Teamsters and the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations are examples of ________.

When a coalition of credit card companies form an interest group called the Partnership to Protect Consumer Credit, this indicates that

Public interest groups differ from other types of interest groups in that

Organized interest groups enhance American democracy by

What is the primary variable for predicting the likelihood of joining an interest group?

Which group is best adapted to organizing the lower classes?

It is difficult for political scientists to categorize unrepresented interests because

Grandparents, tall people, and undergraduates are all examples of ________.

The National Governor's Association is a good example of a ________.

The best description of the ideal of pluralism is that

The Christian Coalition is a(n) ________ group.

Which of the following is NOT an economic group?

What are political parties more capable of doing than interest groups?

Which of the following statements about political parties and interest groups is most accurate?

Which of the following is NOT a function of interest groups?

________ once wrote that "America was a nation of joiners."

Interest groups most effectively serve ________.