Question 1

The solidary benefits of interest groups include:
A) friendship and consciousness-raising
B) special services and goods
C) information and money
D) identification with the purpose or ideology of the group
E) representation before government

Accepted Answer

The answer of The solidary benefits of interest groups include:
A)...

Question 2

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

The answer of Interest groups most effectively serve:
A) the working...

Question 3

Which of the following groups was NOT established through the New Politics movement?
A) Common Cause
B) National Organization for Women
C) National Association of Manufacturers
D) Environmental Defense Fund
E) Physicians for Social Responsibility

Accepted Answer

The National Association of Manufacturers was not established through the New Politics movement. The other options listed were all founded as part of the New Politics movement in the 1960s and 1970s, which aimed to bring new voices and issues into the political realm. Common Cause was founded to promote government accountability and transparency, the National Organization for Women advocated for women's rights, the Environmental Defense Fund worked on environmental issues, and Physicians for Social Responsibility focused on nuclear disarmament.

Question 4

When membership in an organization allows for a reduction in the price of museum tickets,it is called a:
A) solidary benefit
B) promotion offer
C) material benefit
D) bribe
E) purposive benefit

Accepted Answer

This is an example of a material benefit, where membership provides a tangible (material) benefit in the form of reduced museum ticket prices. Solidary benefits refer to the social connections and sense of belonging that membership in an organization can provide, while purposive benefits are related to the organization's mission or purpose. A promotion offer typically refers to a temporary discount or deal for potential members, rather than an ongoing benefit for existing members. Bribes are illegal and unethical, and not a legitimate benefit of membership in an organization.

Question 5

Why is it important for interest groups to offer selective benefits?
A) It is necessary to limit the extent of the free-rider problem.
B) If they do not, people will join political parties instead.
C) Selective benefits are the only way to measure the success of an interest group.
D) If they do not, people will accuse the groups of being antidemocratic.
E) Selective benefits allow interest groups to make the profits they need to continue operating.

Accepted Answer

Offering selective benefits is important for interest groups to limit the free-rider problem. If groups do not offer benefits that are only available to members, individuals may choose not to join and still receive the benefits of the group's efforts. By offering benefits that are exclusive to members, interest groups can incentivize people to join and contribute to the group's goals.

Question 6

One way that the AARP has been effective at overcoming the free-rider problem is by providing ______ benefits to its members.
A) selective
B) elective
C) free-rider
D) pluralism
E) public good

Accepted Answer

AARP provides selective benefits to its members, which means that only members who pay their dues and fulfill certain requirements can receive those benefits. This helps overcome the free-rider problem because it incentivizes people to become members and contribute to the organization, rather than just benefiting from the organization's efforts without any personal investment.

Question 7

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 paid staff are responsible for most of the daily functions of the group. This is in contrast to a free-rider group, which relies primarily on volunteer members, or a lobbyist firm or PAC, which have specific political goals and activities. A 527 committee is a type of tax-exempt organization that engages in political activities, but does not necessarily have paid staff running day-to-day operations.

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

The answer of What is the primary variable for predicting...

Question 9

Approximately how many members does AARP have?
A) 3,900
B) 39,000
C) 339,000
D) 3,900,000
E) 39,000,000

Accepted Answer

AARP has approximately 39 million members, making it one of the largest membership organizations in the United States.

Question 10

A benefit that is sought by an interest group and that,once achieved,cannot be denied to nonmembers is called a:
A) free rider
B) collective good
C) right
D) solidary benefit
E) purposive benefit

Accepted Answer

A collective good is a benefit that is sought by an interest group and once achieved, cannot be denied to nonmembers. Examples of collective goods include clean air and water, public parks, and national defense. Since these goods are available to everyone, regardless of whether they contributed to their achievement, individuals may be incentivized to "free ride" and not contribute to the group's efforts to achieve the collective good.

Question 11

If one enjoys the benefits of a group's collective efforts but did not contribute to those efforts,one is called a:
A) citizen
B) subject
C) free rider
D) lobbyist
E) political activist

Accepted Answer

A free rider is someone who benefits from the collective efforts of a group, such as a public good or service, without contributing to it. This is often seen as an issue in the realm of public policy and political science, as free riders can undermine the effectiveness of collective action and the provision of public goods. Citizens and subjects are more general terms that refer to individuals within a particular political system, while lobbyists and political activists are individuals who actively engage in political activities.

Question 12

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, as they have more resources and knowledge to mobilize and advocate for their interests.

Question 13

Which of the following issues is NOT part of the agenda of the New Politics movement?
A) environmental protection
B) occupational health and safety legislation
C) industrial deregulation
D) nuclear disarmament
E) women's rights

Accepted Answer

The New Politics movement focused on issues such as environmental protection, occupational health and safety legislation, nuclear disarmament, and women's rights. Industrial deregulation was not a part of its agenda.

Question 14

The free-rider problem occurs because:
A) members of Congress are presented with many opportunities to amend a piece of legislation
B) the government subsidizes most forms of transportation in the United States
C) the benefits of a group's actions are available only to a specific segment of society
D) the benefits of a group's actions are broadly available and cannot be denied to nonmembers
E) members of Congress listen only to organized interest groups and not to public opinion polls

Accepted Answer

The free-rider problem occurs because the benefits of a group's actions are broadly available and cannot be denied to nonmembers. This means that individuals can enjoy the benefits of group action without contributing to or participating in the group's efforts, leading to a collective action problem.

Question 15

The increased number and importance of interest groups:
A) causes a subsequent expansion in government
B) is a response to an increase in the size and activity of government
C) is a response to a decrease in the size and activity of government
D) is a direct result of a more broadly defined First Amendment freedom of association
E) is due to the decline in the United States' multiparty system

Accepted Answer

As the size and activity of government increase, interest groups tend to form in response to the need for representation and advocacy. This is because as government becomes more complex, there are more issues and policies to be addressed, leading to a greater need for specialized groups to represent various interests and viewpoints. Consequently, interest groups have a larger role in modern politics due to the expansion of government.

Question 16

If a person was motivated to join an environmental organization because they strongly believe in protecting the environment and support the goals of the group,then we would say they were motivated by:
A) pluralism
B) solidary benefits
C) purposive benefits
D) informational benefits
E) material benefits

Accepted Answer

Purposive benefits are based on a person's belief in and support for the goals of the organization. They are motivated by a sense of purpose and a desire to contribute to a larger cause, rather than any personal benefits they may receive.

Question 17

The free-rider phenomenon:
A) becomes increasingly problematic in very large groups
B) becomes increasingly problematic in very small groups
C) is not affected in any way by the size of the group in question
D) is not related to groups in any way because it is an individual-level problem
E) makes collective action considerably easier

Accepted Answer

The free-rider phenomenon refers to individuals who benefit from a collective good without contributing to its production. As the size of a group increases, it becomes easier for an individual to free-ride, as their individual contribution becomes less noticeable. Therefore, the free-rider phenomenon becomes increasingly problematic in very large groups.

Question 18

A ______ is the best example of an informational benefit provided by many interest groups.
A) consciousness-raising workshop
B) free T-shirt
C) newsletter
D) health insurance program
E) travel discount

Accepted Answer

Newsletters are a common way for interest groups to provide informational benefits to their members. They include updates on the group's activities, analysis of policy issues, and other useful information related to the group's focus. Consciousness-raising workshops and health insurance programs may also provide informational benefits, but they are less common among interest groups. Free T-shirts and travel discounts are examples of material benefits, not informational benefits.

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 is a group that is made up of members who play an important role in the daily activities of the group. Members are usually required to pay a fee to join, and in return, they receive benefits such as access to resources, discounts, or the opportunity to participate in group activities. While members may have a say in the leadership of the organization, they do not necessarily vote directly on leaders or every decision the group makes, as this may be handled by a board of directors or other governing body within the association.

Question 20

Since the 1930s,the number and scale of interest groups at the national level has:
A) dramatically increased
B) experienced relatively modest growth
C) remained relatively stagnant
D) dramatically decreased
E) experienced relatively modest decline

Accepted Answer

The number and scale of interest groups at the national level have dramatically increased since the 1930s. This is due to factors such as increased political and social awareness, technological advancements in communication, and the growth of government and its impact on various industries and interest groups.

Quiz 8: Interest Groups

The solidary benefits of interest groups include:

Interest groups most effectively serve:

Which of the following groups was NOT established through the New Politics movement?

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

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

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

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

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

Approximately how many members does AARP have?

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

If one enjoys the benefits of a group's collective efforts but did not contribute to those efforts,one is called a:

Members of interest groups in the United States are typically people:

Which of the following issues is NOT part of the agenda of the New Politics movement?

The free-rider problem occurs because:

The increased number and importance of interest groups:

If a person was motivated to join an environmental organization because they strongly believe in protecting the environment and support the goals of the group,then we would say they were motivated by:

The free-rider phenomenon:

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

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

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