Question 1

What contemporary political scientists call an interest group, James Madison called a(n)
A) mob.
B) faction.
C) oligarchy.
D) corporation.
E) social movement.

Accepted Answer

James Madison referred to interest groups as factions in Federalist No. 10, in which he discussed the dangers of factions to the stability and functioning of a republic.

Question 2

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 claim to serve the common good, not just their own particular interests, which sets them apart from other types of interest groups.

Question 3

When a coalition of credit card companies forms 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 they are trying to promote their own interests and goals by hiding behind the ideals of consumer protection. This is an example of private interests using the language of the public good to further their own objectives.

Question 4

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 tend to have higher levels of income and education, which provides them with the resources and knowledge to organize and advocate for their interests.

Question 5

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

Accepted Answer

The Christian Coalition is a political organization that promotes conservative Christian values and principles. As such, it is more closely aligned with an ideological group than with any other type of group listed.

Question 6

Which of the following is a main theoretical assumption of pluralism?
A) Competition among interests will produce balance, with all interests regulating each other.
B) Competition among interests will produce extreme public policy, with one interest dominating all others.
C) Every interest should not be free to compete for influence in the United States.
D) All interests are not equally free to compete for influence in the United States.
E) Interests inherently present a danger to liberty.

Accepted Answer

Pluralism assumes that competition among various interests will create a balance in society, with different interests regulating each other. This ensures that no one interest dominates all others and public policy is reflective of a diverse range of interests.

Question 7

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 support and endorse candidates for political office, their primary function is not to get their own members elected. Rather, their focus is on influencing policy decisions and advocating for their members' interests.

Question 8

The National League of Cities 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 answer of The National League of Cities is a...

Question 9

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 primarily focused on influencing government policies, such as a particular issue or piece of legislation. Political parties, on the other hand, are concerned with winning elections and gaining control of government so they can enact their policies and appoint personnel to decision-making positions. Therefore, political parties are primarily focused on the personnel aspect of government.

Question 10

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

The answer of The best description of the ideal of...

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

These are all examples of groups of people who share common interests and concerns, and could potentially form interest groups to advocate for their needs and preferences. However, at the moment they are not organized in such a way, making them a potential interest group.

Question 12

Which of the following is not a key organizational component of interest groups?
A) members
B) money
C) leadership
D) newsletter and website
E) an agency or office

Accepted Answer

While newsletters and websites can be important tools for interest groups to communicate with their members and the public, they are not considered key organizational components. The key organizational components of interest groups are their members, the financial resources to support their activities (money), the leadership that guides the group's activities and strategies, and an agency or office to coordinate and carry out the group's work.

Question 13

Successful interest groups quickly become
A) bureaucratized.
B) corrupted.
C) outdated.
D) rich.
E) legally prohibited.

Accepted Answer

Successful interest groups often rely on a strong organizational structure, which can lead to bureaucratization. This can allow them to better coordinate their efforts, but can also make them more rigid and resistant to change.

Question 14

Which of the following statements best describes the status of lobbyists for foreign interests in the United States?
A) Federal law forbids foreign nations from lobbying the federal government but does permit foreign-owned businesses to lobby.
B) Both foreign nations and foreign business interests lobby strongly for economic benefits, military aid, and other issues.
C) Treaty laws permit lobbying by representatives of foreign nations, but no foreign corporation may lobby the foreign government unless it is incorporated in the United States.
D) American citizens may not lobby the federal government on behalf of a foreign entity, but foreign nationals may do so.
E) Only American citizens can lobby the federal government on behalf of a foreign corporation if it is incorporated in the United States.

Accepted Answer

Both foreign nations and foreign business interests lobby strongly for economic benefits, military aid, and other issues. While there are some restrictions and requirements for foreign lobbying under the Foreign Agents Registration Act, foreign interests do have a presence in lobbying efforts in the United States.

Question 15

Many interest groups are initially organized because
A) most state-level government agencies will only negotiate policy implementation with organized groups.
B) funding opportunities provided by the federal bureaucracy encourage collective action.
C) a political entrepreneur with a strong commitment to a particular set of goals believes a group will promote his or her goals and enhance his or her political influence.
D) activists realize that it is easier to form an interest group than it is to engage in other forms of political participation.
E) a politician has lost an election and wants to challenge the results.

Accepted Answer

Interest groups are typically formed by political entrepreneurs who are committed to a particular set of goals and believe that a group will promote those goals and enhance their political influence. These individuals often have a strong commitment to their cause and are willing to invest time and resources in organizing a group to pursue their objectives. While funding opportunities and the desire to engage in political participation may also play a role in the formation of interest groups, the driving force is typically the desire to advance a particular agenda or set of policy objectives.

Question 16

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 17

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. They provide a voice for people who might not otherwise be heard and help to ensure that a diverse range of perspectives is represented in the democratic process. While interest groups do finance campaigns and support candidates, their primary role is to advocate for specific policy positions and to lobby elected officials on behalf of their members.

Question 18

When paid staff conduct most of the daily business of a group, that group is best described as a
A) staff organization.
B) free-rider group.
C) lobbyist firm.
D) PAC.
E) 527 committee.

Accepted Answer

A staff organization is one in which the majority of the daily operations and responsibilities are handled by paid staff members, rather than volunteer or member-driven efforts. This type of organization is often found in larger advocacy groups and professional associations. The other options listed, such as free-rider groups, lobbyist firms, PACs, and 527 committees, do not necessarily depend on paid staff members to carry out their activities.

Question 19

When a group is called a membership association, it means that
A) the group accepts anyone as a member.
B) members play an important role in the daily activities of the group.
C) members vote directly for the leaders.
D) membership is a mandatory requirement for receiving any of the group's benefits.
E) every decision the group makes must be voted on and approved by every member.

Accepted Answer

A membership association typically involves members taking an active role in the organization's activities and decision-making processes. While there may be criteria for becoming a member, it is not necessarily open to anyone. Voting for leaders may be done indirectly (e.g. through a board of directors) and membership may not always be mandatory for receiving benefits. Unanimous voting on every decision may also not be the case.

Question 20

The Teamsters and the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) are examples of what kind of interest group?
A) a public interest group
B) a business group
C) a labor group
D) an ideological group
E) a professional association

Accepted Answer

Both the Teamsters and AFL-CIO are labor groups that advocate for the interests and rights of workers.

Quiz 11: Groups and Interests

What contemporary political scientists call an interest group, James Madison called a(n)

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

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

Members of interest groups in the United States are typically people

The Christian Coalition is best described as a(n) ______ group.

Which of the following is a main theoretical assumption of pluralism?

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

The National League of Cities is a good example of a

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

The best description of the ideal of pluralism is that

Grandparents, tall people, and undergraduates are all examples of

Which of the following is not a key organizational component of interest groups?

Successful interest groups quickly become

Which of the following statements best describes the status of lobbyists for foreign interests in the United States?

Many interest groups are initially organized because

It is difficult for political scientists to categorize unrepresented interests because

Organized interest groups enhance American democracy by

When paid staff conduct most of the daily business of a group, that group is best described as a

When a group is called a membership association, it means that

The Teamsters and the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) are examples of what kind of interest group?