Question 1

In the dynamics of an iron triangle, what benefit do interest groups provide to friendly bureaucratic agencies?

Accepted Answer

A)  services for constituents 
B)  travel funds 
C)  campaign contributions 
D)  administration of mutually beneficial policies 
E)  lobbying support for agency programs 
A)  services for constituents 
B)  travel funds 
C)  campaign contributions 
D)  administration of mutually beneficial policies 
E)  lobbying support for agency programs E

Question 2

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 C

Question 3

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

Question 4

Theodore Lowi's theory of interest-group liberalism

Accepted Answer

A)  constitutes a partial and wrongful abdication by government of its authority over policy. 
B)  argues that lawmakers are rightly prevented from using government to promote group interests. 
C)  posits that interest groups result in an efficient use of society's resources. 
D)  describes the effect of groups on policy, resulting in a system of rule by majorities. 
E)  deals with the tendency of officials to support the policy demands of the interest group or groups that have a special stake in a policy. 
A)  constitutes a partial and wrongful abdication by government of its authority over policy. 
B)  argues that lawmakers are rightly prevented from using government to promote group interests. 
C)  posits that interest groups result in an efficient use of society's resources. 
D)  describes the effect of groups on policy, resulting in a system of rule by majorities. 
E)  deals with the tendency of officials to support the policy demands of the interest group or groups that have a special stake in a policy.

Question 5

The most fully organized interests are those that have which of the following as their primary purpose?

Accepted Answer

A)  environmental protection 
B)  economic activity 
C)  civil liberties 
D)  labor reform 
E)  reform of government 
A)  environmental protection 
B)  economic activity 
C)  civil liberties 
D)  labor reform 
E)  reform of government

Question 6

Political scientist Theodore Lowi has questioned pluralist theory by suggesting that

Accepted Answer

A)  special interests should never receive benefits from government. 
B)  there is no concept of the public interest in a system that gives special interests the ability to determine the policies affecting them. 
C)  policies that favor a series of minorities are inherently fairer than policies that ignore small groups in favor of a majority. 
D)  the sum of people's special interests is a rough approximation of society's collective interest. 
E)  Madisonian theory has created a perfect balance of special interest and common good. 
A)  special interests should never receive benefits from government. 
B)  there is no concept of the public interest in a system that gives special interests the ability to determine the policies affecting them. 
C)  policies that favor a series of minorities are inherently fairer than policies that ignore small groups in favor of a majority. 
D)  the sum of people's special interests is a rough approximation of society's collective interest. 
E)  Madisonian theory has created a perfect balance of special interest and common good.

Question 7

(p. 290) The Supreme Court decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010)

Accepted Answer

A)  allows corporations and labor unions to spend unlimited funds on campaigns. 
B)  limits PACs by reducing the amount of money they can raise through contributions by small donors. 
C)  has forced candidates for office and elected officials to make public the amounts of campaign contributions they have received from PACs and which PACs make those donations. 
D)  has strengthened the argument that PACs constitute a better system of campaign finance than one based on wealthy donors. 
E)  has forced corporations and labor unions to legally divorce themselves from the PACs they sponsor. 
A)  allows corporations and labor unions to spend unlimited funds on campaigns. 
B)  limits PACs by reducing the amount of money they can raise through contributions by small donors. 
C)  has forced candidates for office and elected officials to make public the amounts of campaign contributions they have received from PACs and which PACs make those donations. 
D)  has strengthened the argument that PACs constitute a better system of campaign finance than one based on wealthy donors. 
E)  has forced corporations and labor unions to legally divorce themselves from the PACs they sponsor.

Question 8

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 9

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

Accepted Answer

A)  their leaders are elected by secret ballot of 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 of 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 10

What is the importance of the distinction between private goods (individual goods) and collective goods (public goods) in assessing why some interests are more highly organized than others? What type of group particularly benefits from this situation?

Accepted Answer

Economic groups offer members private (o

Question 11

ultimately led to the creation of

Accepted Answer

A)  Super PACs. 
B)  PACs. 
C)  election reform. 
D)  independent-expenditure-committees (IECs). 
E)  the AARP. 
A)  Super PACs. 
B)  PACs. 
C)  election reform. 
D)  independent-expenditure-committees (IECs). 
E)  the AARP.

Question 12

Which of the following is true of employment in lobbying firms by members of Congress?

Accepted Answer

A)  It is very rare for a member of Congress to become a lobbyist because of the negative stigma involved. 
B)  Most members of Congress join lobbying firms immediately after leaving Congress. 
C)  They are prohibited by law from lobbying Congress for a set period of time after leaving office. 
D)  Members of Congress are prohibited by law from joining the lobbying profession. 
E)  Many members of Congress were lobbyists prior to becoming elected representatives. 
A)  It is very rare for a member of Congress to become a lobbyist because of the negative stigma involved. 
B)  Most members of Congress join lobbying firms immediately after leaving Congress. 
C)  They are prohibited by law from lobbying Congress for a set period of time after leaving office. 
D)  Members of Congress are prohibited by law from joining the lobbying profession. 
E)  Many members of Congress were lobbyists prior to becoming elected representatives.

Question 13

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 14

The term iron triangle refers to

Accepted Answer

A)  a tightly-knit set of lobbying groups. 
B)  the relationship among the Congress, the military, and defense contractors. 
C)  a small and informal but relatively stable set of bureaucrats, legislators, and lobbyists who are concerned with promoting a particular interest. 
D)  the strategy of lobbying all three branches of government simultaneously. 
E)  a corrupt relationship among the president, Congress, and the Supreme Court. 
A)  a tightly-knit set of lobbying groups. 
B)  the relationship among the Congress, the military, and defense contractors. 
C)  a small and informal but relatively stable set of bureaucrats, legislators, and lobbyists who are concerned with promoting a particular interest. 
D)  the strategy of lobbying all three branches of government simultaneously. 
E)  a corrupt relationship among the president, Congress, and the Supreme Court.

Question 15

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 16

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 17

Compare iron triangles and issue networks.

Accepted Answer

An iron triangle is a small and informal

Question 18

Which of the following organizations is NOT an example of a single-issue group?

Accepted Answer

A)  Sierra Club 
B)  National Rifle Association 
C)  climate change groups 
D)  right-to-life groups 
E)  MoveOn.org 
A)  Sierra Club 
B)  National Rifle Association 
C)  climate change groups 
D)  right-to-life groups 
E)  MoveOn.org

Question 19

ruling held that super PAC spending

Accepted Answer

A)  must be coordinated with election campaigns. 
B)  must not be coordinated with election campaigns. 
C)  must go directly to election campaigns. 
D)  must be preapproved by the Federal Election Commission. 
E)  must be no more than $5,000 per federal candidate per election. 
A)  must be coordinated with election campaigns. 
B)  must not be coordinated with election campaigns. 
C)  must go directly to election campaigns. 
D)  must be preapproved by the Federal Election Commission. 
E)  must be no more than $5,000 per federal candidate per election.

Question 20

Roughly how many American workers currently belong to unions?

Accepted Answer

A)  one in two 
B)  one in four 
C)  one in six 
D)  one in eight 
E)  one in ten 
A)  one in two 
B)  one in four 
C)  one in six 
D)  one in eight 
E)  one in ten

In the dynamics of an iron triangle, what benefit do interest groups provide to friendly bureaucratic agencies?

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

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

Theodore Lowi's theory of interest-group liberalism

The most fully organized interests are those that have which of the following as their primary purpose?

Political scientist Theodore Lowi has questioned pluralist theory by suggesting that

(p. 290) The Supreme Court decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010)

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

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

What is the importance of the distinction between private goods (individual goods) and collective goods (public goods) in assessing why some interests are more highly organized than others? What type of group particularly benefits from this situation?

ultimately led to the creation of

Which of the following is true of employment in lobbying firms by members of Congress?

Outside lobbying does NOT include

The term iron triangle refers to

A flaw in pluralism theory is the fact that

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

Compare iron triangles and issue networks.

Which of the following organizations is NOT an example of a single-issue group?

ruling held that super PAC spending

Roughly how many American workers currently belong to unions?

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

Welfare and Education Policy: Providing for Personal Security and Need

Foreign Policy: Protecting the American Way

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Exam 9: Interest Groups: Organizing for Influence

In the dynamics of an iron triangle, what benefit do interest groups provide to friendly bureaucratic agencies?

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

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

Theodore Lowi's theory of interest-group liberalism

The most fully organized interests are those that have which of the following as their primary purpose?

Political scientist Theodore Lowi has questioned pluralist theory by suggesting that

(p. 290) The Supreme Court decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010)

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

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

What is the importance of the distinction between private goods (individual goods) and collective goods (public goods) in assessing why some interests are more highly organized than others? What type of group particularly benefits from this situation?

ultimately led to the creation of

Which of the following is true of employment in lobbying firms by members of Congress?

Outside lobbying does NOT include

The term iron triangle refers to

A flaw in pluralism theory is the fact that

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

Compare iron triangles and issue networks.

Which of the following organizations is NOT an example of a single-issue group?

ruling held that super PAC spending

Roughly how many American workers currently belong to unions?

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

Welfare and Education Policy: Providing for Personal Security and Need

Foreign Policy: Protecting the American Way

Filters