Question 1

AARP has approximately ________ members today.

Accepted Answer

AARP has over 38 million members, making it one of the largest membership organizations in the United States.

Question 2

When membership in an organization allows for a reduction in the price of museum tickets, it is called a

Accepted Answer

Material benefits are tangible rewards or discounts that members receive as a result of their membership in an organization. The reduced price of museum tickets in this scenario is an example of a material benefit, rather than a solidary benefit (which promotes a sense of community or belonging), a promotion offer (which is a temporary marketing campaign), or a purposive benefit (which supports the goals or values of the organization).

Question 3

National defense is a good example of a

Accepted Answer

National defense is a collective good because it benefits the entire society as a whole rather than just individuals or groups. The protection provided by a strong national defense is not divisible, meaning that once it is produced, it benefits everyone equally. This is in contrast to material benefits, which are tangible goods or services that individuals can consume individually, and solidary and purposive benefits, which are more related to social and moral benefits than material benefits.

Question 4

A benefit that is sought by an interest group and that once achieved cannot be denied to nonmembers is called a

Accepted Answer

A collective good is a benefit that is pursued by an interest group and once achieved, it cannot be denied to nonmembers. Examples of collective goods include clean air and water, national defense, and public broadcasting. This is in contrast to solidary benefits (which are social rewards of group membership), purposive benefits (which are the satisfaction of achieving a desired goal), and free riders (who benefit from the group's efforts without contributing to them).

Question 5

Which of the following issues is part of the agenda of the New Politics movement?

Accepted Answer

Nuclear disarmament was a central issue of the New Politics movement, which emerged in the 1960s and 1970s as a response to perceived failures of traditional political parties and government institutions. The movement emphasized grassroots activism, participatory democracy, and social justice, and sought to challenge existing power structures and promote a more humane and equitable society. While telecommunications deregulation and industrial deregulation were not primary concerns of the New Politics movement, occupational health and safety legislation may have been supported as part of the movement's broader agenda of promoting workers' rights and protections.

Question 6

A membership association is a group

Accepted Answer

A membership association is a group where members play an important role in the daily activities and administration of the group. The other options are not necessarily true, as not all membership associations accept anyone as a member (they may have certain requirements), members may not always vote directly for their leaders (there may be a board of directors or other governing body), and non-members may sometimes receive benefits (such as public events or services provided by the association).

Question 7

The New Politics movement gave rise to ________ groups.

Accepted Answer

The New Politics movement, which emerged in the 1960s and 1970s, was characterized by a focus on public interest issues and the rejection of traditional partisan politics. As a result, it gave rise to various public interest groups that sought to advance specific policy agendas independently of political parties, such as environmental groups, consumer advocacy groups, and civil rights organizations. Therefore, the best choice is D, public interest.

Question 8

One way that AARP has been effective at overcoming the free-rider problem is by providing ________ benefits to its members.

Accepted Answer

AARP provides selective benefits to its members, such as discounts on travel, insurance, and other services. These benefits are only available to members, which helps to overcome the free-rider problem by providing a clear incentive for individuals to join the organization.

Question 9

The free-rider phenomenon is

Accepted Answer

The free-rider phenomenon occurs when individuals benefit from a collective good but do not contribute to it. As the group gets larger, the likelihood and temptation to free-ride increases because the contribution of any one individual has less impact on the collective good. Therefore, the free-rider phenomenon is more problematic in very large groups.

Question 10

The solidary benefits of interest groups include

Accepted Answer

The answer of The solidary benefits of interest groups include
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Question 11

Many interest groups are initially organized because

Accepted Answer

Interest groups are often organized because a political entrepreneur with a strong commitment to a particular set of goals believes that a group will promote their objectives and enhance their political influence. These individuals may see collective action as the best way to achieve their policy objectives and may form a group to represent their interests. While funding opportunities provided by the federal bureaucracy may provide resources for interest groups, this is typically not the primary motivation for their formation. Most state-level government agencies will negotiate policy implementation with a variety of stakeholders, rather than only working with organized interest groups. Politicians who lose an election typically do not form interest groups in response.

Question 12

If a person enjoys the benefits of a group's collective efforts but does not contribute to those efforts, he or she is called a

Accepted Answer

A free rider is someone who benefits from the group's collective efforts without contributing anything themselves. Citizens are members of a community with certain rights and responsibilities. A subject is someone who is ruled by a monarch or other authoritative figure. A lobbyist is someone who tries to influence government policy on behalf of a group or organization.

Question 13

Why is it important for interest groups to offer selective benefits?

Accepted Answer

Selective benefits help to limit the free-rider problem, which occurs when individuals benefit from the actions of the interest group without contributing to its efforts. By providing specific benefits only to members, interest groups can incentivize people to join and contribute to their cause, thus increasing their effectiveness.

Question 14

A ________ exists when paid staff conduct most of the daily business of a group.

Accepted Answer

A staff organization is a group where the daily business is primarily conducted by paid staff members. This type of organization is commonly seen in large nonprofit organizations or advocacy groups that require significant resources to operate effectively. The other answer choices (B, C, and D) do not accurately describe this type of organization.

Question 15

Since the 1930s, the number and scale of interest groups at the national level has

Accepted Answer

The number and scale of interest groups at the national level have dramatically increased since the 1930s due to factors such as the growth of federal power and the expansion of policymaking, as well as advancements in technology allowing for easier organization and mobilization of groups.

Question 16

The liberal-leaning MoveOn.org and the conservative-leaning Americans for Prosperity are examples of

Accepted Answer

MoveOn.org and Americans for Prosperity are examples of netroots political associations, which are grassroots organizations that use the internet to mobilize supporters and influence political outcomes.

Question 17

Netroots groups are less expensive to organize than traditional interest groups because they

Accepted Answer

Netroots groups utilize technology to communicate with their members and supporters, reducing the need for a large staff and physical office space. This streamlined structure allows them to operate more cost-effectively than traditional interest groups. Additionally, many netroots groups rely heavily on volunteers who are passionate about their cause but do not receive a salary, further lowering organizational costs.

Question 18

The major organizational factors shared by most interest groups are

Accepted Answer

The major organizational factors shared by most interest groups are leadership, money, an agency or office, and members. While some interest groups may have close links to the media, Hollywood, or elected officials, these factors are not universal. A rigid hierarchical structure and access to loans from the Federal Reserve are not commonly shared by interest groups.

Question 19

A ________ is the best example of an informational benefit provided by many interest groups.

Accepted Answer

A newsletter is a common tool used by interest groups to provide members with information about issues, events, and policy developments. It is an informational benefit that helps members stay informed and engaged with the group's goals and activities. Consciousness-raising workshops, free T-shirts, and health insurance programs may also be offered by interest groups, but they are not necessarily focused on providing information to members.

Question 20

The free-rider problem occurs because

Accepted Answer

The free-rider problem occurs when individuals can reap the benefits of a group's actions without having to contribute to the effort or pay for it. This is more likely to occur when the benefits are broadly available and cannot be denied to nonmembers, as in the case of a public good like clean air or national defense. This creates a collective action problem, where individuals may not have the incentive to join or contribute to a group effort since they will receive the benefits anyways.

Quiz 8: Interest Groups