Question 1

A basic reason for the existence of so many interest groups in the United States is

Accepted Answer

A) the American tradition of free association. 
B) the extent of diverse interests in American society. 
C) America's federal system of government. 
D) the separation of powers in American government. 
E) All of these answers are correct. 
A) the American tradition of free association. 
B) the extent of diverse interests in American society. 
C) America's federal system of government. 
D) the separation of powers in American government. 
E) All of these answers are correct.

Question 2

James Madison's solution to the problem of factions (special interests)has,in the modern policy process,actually contributed to the problem by

Accepted Answer

A) suppressing the claims of special interests,thereby making it more difficult for them to get their opinions heard by officials. 
B) resulting in a fragmentation of authority among policymakers,thereby providing groups more opportunities to get their way. 
C) eroding the strength of political parties,thereby increasing the opportunity for group influence. 
D) weakening the legislative branch,thereby allowing groups to bully Congress into accepting their demands. 
E) eroding the power of the mass media,thereby increasing the opportunity for group influence. 
A) suppressing the claims of special interests,thereby making it more difficult for them to get their opinions heard by officials. 
B) resulting in a fragmentation of authority among policymakers,thereby providing groups more opportunities to get their way. 
C) eroding the strength of political parties,thereby increasing the opportunity for group influence. 
D) weakening the legislative branch,thereby allowing groups to bully Congress into accepting their demands. 
E) eroding the power of the mass media,thereby increasing the opportunity for group influence.

Question 3

In an effort to overcome the free-rider problem,noneconomic groups have

Accepted Answer

A) deliberately restricted the size of their membership. 
B) joined up with economic groups. 
C) convinced government to limit the distribution of public goods to those who have contributed to the group's efforts. 
D) used Internet resources and computer-assisted mailing lists to target potential donors. 
E) adopted taxes for nonmembers. 
A) deliberately restricted the size of their membership. 
B) joined up with economic groups. 
C) convinced government to limit the distribution of public goods to those who have contributed to the group's efforts. 
D) used Internet resources and computer-assisted mailing lists to target potential donors. 
E) adopted taxes for nonmembers.

Question 4

Most lobbyists receive support from elected officials in direct exchange for

Accepted Answer

A) money. 
B) information. 
C) bribery. 
D) coercion. 
E) deception. 
A) money. 
B) information. 
C) bribery. 
D) coercion. 
E) deception.

Question 5

A flaw in pluralism theory is the fact that

Accepted Answer

A) the interest group system is unrepresentative,because some interests are far better organized and more powerful than others. 
B) the public interest is never served by policies that promote special interests. 
C) larger groups always prevail politically over smaller groups. 
D) political parties better represent different interests than do interest groups. 
E) All of these answers are correct. 
A) the interest group system is unrepresentative,because some interests are far better organized and more powerful than others. 
B) the public interest is never served by policies that promote special interests. 
C) larger groups always prevail politically over smaller groups. 
D) political parties better represent different interests than do interest groups. 
E) All of these answers are correct.

Question 6

A main difference between iron triangles and issue networks is that

Accepted Answer

A) an iron triangle includes members of the legislative,executive,and judicial branches,while issue networks bypass the judicial branch. 
B) issue networks involve a stable group of bureaucrats,legislators,and lobbyists,while iron triangles exclude lobbyists in an attempt to reach impartial decisions. 
C) issue networks are generally less stable than iron triangles,in that the members of an issue network may change as the issue develops. 
D) issue networks,being less formal,rely on outside lobbying only,while iron triangles use inside lobbying only. 
E) All of these answers are correct. 
A) an iron triangle includes members of the legislative,executive,and judicial branches,while issue networks bypass the judicial branch. 
B) issue networks involve a stable group of bureaucrats,legislators,and lobbyists,while iron triangles exclude lobbyists in an attempt to reach impartial decisions. 
C) issue networks are generally less stable than iron triangles,in that the members of an issue network may change as the issue develops. 
D) issue networks,being less formal,rely on outside lobbying only,while iron triangles use inside lobbying only. 
E) All of these answers are correct.

Question 7

Under federal law,PACs can contribute up to ________ per candidate for federal office for a primary election and general election combined.

Accepted Answer

A) $2,000 
B) $10,000 
C) $40,000 
D) $50,000 
E) $100,000 
A) $2,000 
B) $10,000 
C) $40,000 
D) $50,000 
E) $100,000

Question 8

In acknowledging the dilemma inherent in group activity,James Madison

Accepted Answer

A) argued that the free-rider problem would hurt some groups more than others. 
B) claimed that government could listen to all groups,but should only enact policies that promote the interests of majority groups. 
C) worried that government would be overly dominated by groups,but recognized that a free society is obliged to permit the advocacy of self-interest. 
D) argued that government must restrict the activities of groups,so that political parties could act as the major instrument of democracy. 
E) All of these answers are correct. 
A) argued that the free-rider problem would hurt some groups more than others. 
B) claimed that government could listen to all groups,but should only enact policies that promote the interests of majority groups. 
C) worried that government would be overly dominated by groups,but recognized that a free society is obliged to permit the advocacy of self-interest. 
D) argued that government must restrict the activities of groups,so that political parties could act as the major instrument of democracy. 
E) All of these answers are correct.

Question 9

Outside lobbying does NOT include

Accepted Answer

A) developing and maintaining close contacts with policymakers. 
B) the use of campaign contributions to legislators who favor the interest group. 
C) cultivating favorable coverage from the news media. 
D) targeting group resources on key election races. 
E) rousing citizens to contact their elected officials and express their support. 
A) developing and maintaining close contacts with policymakers. 
B) the use of campaign contributions to legislators who favor the interest group. 
C) cultivating favorable coverage from the news media. 
D) targeting group resources on key election races. 
E) rousing citizens to contact their elected officials and express their support.

Question 10

An amicus brief

Accepted Answer

A) is a written document in which a group explains to a court its position on a legal dispute the court is handling. 
B) is a written document in which an interest group lays out its policy preference for targeted lawmakers. 
C) prevents a lobbyist group from making campaign donations to policy makers over a specific issue. 
D) provides evidence for prosecutors of an illegal monetary relationship between a lawmaker and an interest group or PAC. 
E) prevents PACs from donating more than $5,000 to a single candidate during a primary election. 
A) is a written document in which a group explains to a court its position on a legal dispute the court is handling. 
B) is a written document in which an interest group lays out its policy preference for targeted lawmakers. 
C) prevents a lobbyist group from making campaign donations to policy makers over a specific issue. 
D) provides evidence for prosecutors of an illegal monetary relationship between a lawmaker and an interest group or PAC. 
E) prevents PACs from donating more than $5,000 to a single candidate during a primary election.

Question 11

________ wrote that "Liberty is to faction what air is to fire."

Accepted Answer

A) James Madison 
B) Alexis de Tocqueville 
C) Thomas Jefferson 
D) Theodore Lowi 
E) Theodore Roosevelt 
A) James Madison 
B) Alexis de Tocqueville 
C) Thomas Jefferson 
D) Theodore Lowi 
E) Theodore Roosevelt

Question 12

Why have issue networks become more prevalent?

Accepted Answer

A) the increasing power of corporate lobbying 
B) the increasing diversity of interest groups 
C) the increasing influence of PACs 
D) the instability of candidates' positions 
E) the increasing complexity of policy problems 
A) the increasing power of corporate lobbying 
B) the increasing diversity of interest groups 
C) the increasing influence of PACs 
D) the instability of candidates' positions 
E) the increasing complexity of policy problems

Question 13

Discuss interest-group liberalism and indicate how Madison's constitutional solution for controlling groups has itself become part of the problem in American politics.

Accepted Answer

Interest-group liberalism holds that the

Question 14

Which of the following statements would NOT be accepted by supporters of the pluralist view of interest groups?

Accepted Answer

A) People's separate interests are a legitimate basis of public policy. 
B) The idea of the public interest or the collective interest does not have much meaning in cases where the public is sharply divided in its policy opinions. 
C) The opinion of the majority should always prevail,in a policy dispute,over the opinion of a more intense and directly affected minority. 
D) Most interests benefit from the workings of the group system,which is a reason to support a policy process that is responsive to groups. 
E) Public policy should represent the diversity that exists in society. 
A) People's separate interests are a legitimate basis of public policy. 
B) The idea of the public interest or the collective interest does not have much meaning in cases where the public is sharply divided in its policy opinions. 
C) The opinion of the majority should always prevail,in a policy dispute,over the opinion of a more intense and directly affected minority. 
D) Most interests benefit from the workings of the group system,which is a reason to support a policy process that is responsive to groups. 
E) Public policy should represent the diversity that exists in society.

Question 15

Some groups pursue collective goods.A collective good is one that

Accepted Answer

A) cannot be selectively granted or denied to individuals; it must be shared. 
B) is provided by a public service organization. 
C) is secured by the president. 
D) is secured by Congress. 
E) None of these answers is correct. 
A) cannot be selectively granted or denied to individuals; it must be shared. 
B) is provided by a public service organization. 
C) is secured by the president. 
D) is secured by Congress. 
E) None of these answers is correct.

Question 16

An informal grouping of officials,lobbyists,and policy specialists who come together temporarily around a policy problem is

Accepted Answer

A) an iron triangle. 
B) an issue network. 
C) a caucus. 
D) a policy system. 
E) an ideological network. 
A) an iron triangle. 
B) an issue network. 
C) a caucus. 
D) a policy system. 
E) an ideological network.

Question 17

"Agency capture" occurs when

Accepted Answer

A) a regulatory agency funnels money back into the lobbying organizations that are seeking policy changes. 
B) regulatory agencies side with the industries they are supposed to regulate rather than with the public. 
C) the executive branch takes back control of a regulatory agency. 
D) a regulatory agency must be dismantled because it has become corrupted. 
E) an election results in the replacement of an agency's leadership through appointive positions under a new president. 
A) a regulatory agency funnels money back into the lobbying organizations that are seeking policy changes. 
B) regulatory agencies side with the industries they are supposed to regulate rather than with the public. 
C) the executive branch takes back control of a regulatory agency. 
D) a regulatory agency must be dismantled because it has become corrupted. 
E) an election results in the replacement of an agency's leadership through appointive positions under a new president.

Question 18

Citizens' interest groups are distinguished from economic interest groups by the fact that

Accepted Answer

A) their leaders are elected by secret ballot among the group's members. 
B) their members receive no direct economic benefit from attainment of the group's goals. 
C) they do not lobby government officials directly,but rely instead on public service announcements to get their views across to society. 
D) they always pursue goals in which there is a high level of agreement among society members. 
E) All of these answers are correct. 
A) their leaders are elected by secret ballot among the group's members. 
B) their members receive no direct economic benefit from attainment of the group's goals. 
C) they do not lobby government officials directly,but rely instead on public service announcements to get their views across to society. 
D) they always pursue goals in which there is a high level of agreement among society members. 
E) All of these answers are correct.

Question 19

Which citizens' group did a Fortune magazine survey rank as the nation's most powerful lobbying group?

Accepted Answer

A) the NAACP 
B) the AFL-CIO 
C) the AARP 
D) MADD 
E) Common Cause 
A) the NAACP 
B) the AFL-CIO 
C) the AARP 
D) MADD 
E) Common Cause

Question 20

Economist Mancur Olson refers to what aspect of interest groups as "the size factor"?

Accepted Answer

A) Larger interest groups are able to draw on greater financial resources,which makes them more capable of getting the ear of lawmakers and thus achieving policy change. 
B) The interests of groups with large memberships would typically prevail over the interests of smaller groups. 
C) Small groups are ordinarily more united on policy issues and often have more resources,enabling them to win out more often than large groups. 
D) The smaller an interest group,the more likely that its motivating issue will be subsumed by the agenda of a larger interest group. 
E) Small interest groups can often enhance their bargaining power by linking themselves to the agenda of a larger interest group that has greater resources. 
A) Larger interest groups are able to draw on greater financial resources,which makes them more capable of getting the ear of lawmakers and thus achieving policy change. 
B) The interests of groups with large memberships would typically prevail over the interests of smaller groups. 
C) Small groups are ordinarily more united on policy issues and often have more resources,enabling them to win out more often than large groups. 
D) The smaller an interest group,the more likely that its motivating issue will be subsumed by the agenda of a larger interest group. 
E) Small interest groups can often enhance their bargaining power by linking themselves to the agenda of a larger interest group that has greater resources.

A basic reason for the existence of so many interest groups in the United States is

James Madison's solution to the problem of factions (special interests)has,in the modern policy process,actually contributed to the problem by

In an effort to overcome the free-rider problem,noneconomic groups have

Most lobbyists receive support from elected officials in direct exchange for

A flaw in pluralism theory is the fact that

A main difference between iron triangles and issue networks is that

Under federal law,PACs can contribute up to ________ per candidate for federal office for a primary election and general election combined.

In acknowledging the dilemma inherent in group activity,James Madison

Outside lobbying does NOT include

An amicus brief

________ wrote that "Liberty is to faction what air is to fire."

Why have issue networks become more prevalent?

Discuss interest-group liberalism and indicate how Madison's constitutional solution for controlling groups has itself become part of the problem in American politics.

Which of the following statements would NOT be accepted by supporters of the pluralist view of interest groups?

Some groups pursue collective goods.A collective good is one that

An informal grouping of officials,lobbyists,and policy specialists who come together temporarily around a policy problem is

"Agency capture" occurs when

Citizens' interest groups are distinguished from economic interest groups by the fact that

Which citizens' group did a Fortune magazine survey rank as the nation's most powerful lobbying group?

Economist Mancur Olson refers to what aspect of interest groups as "the size factor"?

Political Thinking and Political Culture: Becoming a Responsible Citizen

Constitutional Democracy: Promoting Liberty and Self-Government

Federalism: Forging a Nation

Civil Liberties: Protecting Individual Rights

Equal Rights: Struggling Toward Fairness

Public Opinion and Political Socialization: Shaping the Peoples Voice

Political Participation: Activating the Popular Will

Political Parties,candidates,and Campaigns: Defining the Voters Choice

The News Media: Communicating Political Images

Congress: Balancing National Goals and Local Interests

The Presidency: Leading the Nation

The Federal Bureaucracy: Administering the Government

The Federal Judicial System: Applying the Law

Economic and Environmental Policy: Contributing to Prosperity

Income,welfare,and Education Policy: Providing for Personal Security

Foreign Policy: Protecting the American Way

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Exam 9: Interest Groups: Organizing for Influence

A basic reason for the existence of so many interest groups in the United States is

James Madison's solution to the problem of factions (special interests)has,in the modern policy process,actually contributed to the problem by

In an effort to overcome the free-rider problem,noneconomic groups have

Most lobbyists receive support from elected officials in direct exchange for

A flaw in pluralism theory is the fact that

A main difference between iron triangles and issue networks is that

Under federal law,PACs can contribute up to ________ per candidate for federal office for a primary election and general election combined.

In acknowledging the dilemma inherent in group activity,James Madison

Outside lobbying does NOT include

An amicus brief

________ wrote that "Liberty is to faction what air is to fire."

Why have issue networks become more prevalent?

Discuss interest-group liberalism and indicate how Madison's constitutional solution for controlling groups has itself become part of the problem in American politics.

Which of the following statements would NOT be accepted by supporters of the pluralist view of interest groups?

Some groups pursue collective goods.A collective good is one that

An informal grouping of officials,lobbyists,and policy specialists who come together temporarily around a policy problem is

"Agency capture" occurs when

Citizens' interest groups are distinguished from economic interest groups by the fact that

Which citizens' group did a Fortune magazine survey rank as the nation's most powerful lobbying group?

Economist Mancur Olson refers to what aspect of interest groups as "the size factor"?

Political Thinking and Political Culture: Becoming a Responsible Citizen

Constitutional Democracy: Promoting Liberty and Self-Government

Federalism: Forging a Nation

Civil Liberties: Protecting Individual Rights

Equal Rights: Struggling Toward Fairness

Public Opinion and Political Socialization: Shaping the Peoples Voice

Political Participation: Activating the Popular Will

Political Parties,candidates,and Campaigns: Defining the Voters Choice

The News Media: Communicating Political Images

Congress: Balancing National Goals and Local Interests

The Presidency: Leading the Nation

The Federal Bureaucracy: Administering the Government

The Federal Judicial System: Applying the Law

Economic and Environmental Policy: Contributing to Prosperity

Income,welfare,and Education Policy: Providing for Personal Security

Foreign Policy: Protecting the American Way

Filters