Question 1

________ believe that a few individuals still control enormous resources.

Accepted Answer

Elitists believe that a small group of wealthy and influential individuals hold a disproportionate amount of power and resources in society.

Question 2

People who join interest groups do so for a variety of reasons, including

Accepted Answer

The reasons listed in option D include personal and material benefits (such as discounts, insurance, etc.), social benefits (meeting new people with similar interests), and a sense of purpose (advocating for a cause or issue). While direct access to legislators and a sense of pride may also be motivators, option D includes all three of the most common reasons people join interest groups.

Question 3

Collectively, women or African Americans would be considered as belonging to a(n)

Accepted Answer

A categorical group is a group of people who share a common characteristic or identity, such as race or gender. Women and African Americans both fit into these categories, making them a part of a categorical group. Pressure groups, interest groups, feminist groups, and environmental groups may also include members of categorical groups, but these labels are not specific enough to describe the collective identities of women or African Americans.

Question 4

What has allowed for the emergence of influential pressure groups to develop in states such as Texas?

Accepted Answer

Weak political parties in a state are less able to coordinate their activities and are prone to factionalism, off of which interest groups feed. Texas has weak political parties, which has allowed for the emergence of influential pressure groups. Unlike other states, Texas has no party income tax, which limits the ability of parties to finance themselves and coordinate their activities. This leads to factionalism, which interest groups can take advantage of to exert influence over the policymaking process.

Question 5

Since 1974, more than ________ of those surveyed viewed government as being run by special interests.

Accepted Answer

According to the given information, more than 60% of those surveyed viewed government as being run by special interests since 1974. Therefore, the best choice is E.

Question 6

The theory that all demands by every group are legitimate and that government should attempt to meet each and every one was described by Theodore Lowi in

Accepted Answer

Theodore Lowi described this theory in his book titled "The End of Liberalism," where he argues that the proliferation of interest groups and the belief that all demands are legitimate have led to the decline of liberalism as a governing philosophy.

Question 7

Iron triangles consisting of ________ can often lead to such close relationships that regulation becomes difficult.

Accepted Answer

Iron triangles typically consist of interest groups, administrative agencies, and legislative committees. These three groups can form close relationships, which can make it difficult for outside parties to regulate their actions.

Question 8

State law prohibits donations ________ directly to political candidates.

Accepted Answer

State law prohibits donations of corporate funds directly to political candidates. This is because corporate funds are considered a form of corporate speech, and allowing corporations to donate directly to political candidates could lead to the undue influence of corporations in political matters. However, individuals such as employees, corporate officers, and customers are allowed to donate directly to political candidates as long as they follow other campaign finance laws and regulations. PAC funds are also allowed, but they must follow specific rules and regulations governing political action committees.

Question 9

The waves that David Truman spoke of are periods

Accepted Answer

David Truman's waves theory suggests that interest groups tend to proliferate during times of political, economic, or social upheaval. These periods are referred to as waves, and they are characterized by a sudden and rapid expansion in the number of interest groups in a particular society. This is because individuals and organizations may feel the need to form new interest groups to advocate for their particular concerns during times of change and uncertainty.

Question 10

________ believe that numerous and diverse interest groups competing for political influence in an environment of limited resources checks the opportunity for any one group to have an overabundance of power.

Accepted Answer

Pluralists believe that power is distributed among various interest groups, preventing any one group from having too much control. These groups compete in a healthy democratic process, ensuring that everyone's interests are represented to some extent. Elitists believe that a small, privileged group of people hold most of the power, while hyperpluralists argue that the many competing interest groups have created a gridlock where nothing can get done. Populists are more concerned with the people as a whole, rather than specific interest groups, while traditionalists seek to preserve traditional values and institutions.

Question 11

Evidence suggests that the source of political power and influence lies somewhere between the ________ positions.

Accepted Answer

Elitist theories suggest that political power is held by a small, wealthy, and politically connected elite, while pluralist theories suggest that power exists among multiple competing groups and individuals. Evidence suggests that both of these positions have some truth to them, and that political power and influence lie somewhere in between these two extremes. Therefore, the best answer is A) elitist and pluralist.

Question 12

The rapid expansion of interest groups in Texas and across the nation is believed by many scholars to have produced a system of ________, leading to increased political gridlock in the policymaking process.

Accepted Answer

The description of a rapid expansion of interest groups is indicative of hyperpluralism, which is characterized by an excessive number of groups vying for influence, leading to political gridlock in the policymaking process.

Question 13

In the days of one-party Democratic politics in Texas, the ________ was a loosely knit coalition of Anglo business and oil company executives, bankers, and lawyers who controlled state policy.

Accepted Answer

The "Establishment" refers to the loosely knit coalition of Anglo business and oil company executives, bankers, and lawyers who controlled state policy during the days of one-party Democratic politics in Texas.

Question 14

It is estimated that ________ of Americans belong to some type of organization.

Accepted Answer

According to research conducted by the Pew Research Center, about three-quarters of American adults (75%) belong to at least one type of organization, such as a professional or trade group, a charity or religious organization, or a community or neighborhood association.

Question 15

According to Chandler Davidson, the extremely wealthy

Accepted Answer

According to Chandler Davidson, the extremely wealthy usually prevail when objectives are clear and they are united. This suggests that they have significant political power and influence when they are working together towards a common goal. The other choices are contradicted by Davidson's perspective.

Question 16

How does group interaction benefit the outcomes of conflict resolution in a pluralistic society?

Accepted Answer

The answer of How does group interaction benefit the outcomes...

Question 17

Partly because Texas was, for many years, effectively a ________ state, pressure groups wielded considerable power.

Accepted Answer

A one-party state is defined as a state in which one political party dominates all government functions, making it effectively impossible for opposition parties to win elections or achieve representation. Due to this domination, pressure groups can exercise considerable power in influencing the policy-making process. In Texas, the Democratic Party dominated the state's politics for many years, so it was effectively a one-party state. As a result, pressure groups had significant influence in shaping policies that affected the state.

Question 18

In a pluralist society, public officials are expected to be

Accepted Answer

In a pluralist society, public officials are expected to be more responsive to the needs and interests of the greater population. Pluralism is based on the idea that society is diverse, and different groups have different interests and values. In such a society, public officials need to take into account the needs of different groups and ensure that they represent the interests of the whole population, not just a particular group or individual. Therefore, E is the best choice.

Question 19

In the Federalist Papers, _______ posited the idea that the two basic problems with factions are that they impose their will on others and they harm the long-term interests of the nation.

Accepted Answer

James Madison wrote extensively about the dangers of factions in Federalist Papers No. 10 and No. 51. In Federalist No. 10, he argued that factions arise from the unequal distribution of property and that the best way to control them is through a large republic with multiple competing interests. In Federalist No. 51, he further elaborated on the need for a separation of powers and checks and balances to prevent any one faction from dominating the government. In both papers, Madison emphasized that factions can undermine the public good and that the government must be structured in a way that addresses this threat.

Question 20

Michels's iron rule of oligarchy was applicable to any organization and was a ________ law applied to all social systems.

Accepted Answer

Michels's iron rule of oligarchy is a universal law, meaning it applies to any organization or social system, regardless of location or size. The other options, such as parochial, regional, territorial, or national, all refer to specific locations or regions, which are not relevant to the concept of the iron rule of oligarchy.

Quiz 4: Interest groups and political power in texas