Question 1

What was the problem Speaker Sam Rayburn identified with the "steak men" at the beginning of the twentieth century?

Accepted Answer

A)  They were politicians who were in the pocket of the cattle industry. 
B)  They were legislators who would "sell" their votes on a bill for free steak dinners. 
C)  They were legislators who would attempt to cut all the meat out of the budgets. 
D)  They were lobbyists who Rayburn said were full of "bull." 
A)  They were politicians who were in the pocket of the cattle industry. 
B)  They were legislators who would "sell" their votes on a bill for free steak dinners. 
C)  They were legislators who would attempt to cut all the meat out of the budgets. 
D)  They were lobbyists who Rayburn said were full of "bull."

Question 2

An interest group that serves as an umbrella organization to coordinate the activities of member groups in specific targeted areas is known as a(n)

Accepted Answer

A)  coordination association. 
B)  facilitation cooperation. 
C)  peak association. 
D)  interest group coalition. 
A)  coordination association. 
B)  facilitation cooperation. 
C)  peak association. 
D)  interest group coalition.

Question 3

Most lobbyists

Accepted Answer

A)  are women. 
B)  are less educated but politically astute. 
C)  have expertise in policy matters or personal relationships with legislators. 
D)  are corrupt. 
A)  are women. 
B)  are less educated but politically astute. 
C)  have expertise in policy matters or personal relationships with legislators. 
D)  are corrupt.

Question 4

Arguably, the largest and most effective public employee interest group in Texas is made up of

Accepted Answer

A)  firefighters. 
B)  police officers. 
C)  teachers. 
D)  justices of the peace. 
A)  firefighters. 
B)  police officers. 
C)  teachers. 
D)  justices of the peace.

Question 5

Interest groups representing labor organizations dominate Texas politics.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

What are interest groups and why are they important in our political system? How are they important to legislators?

Accepted Answer

a. Defined: Interest groups are collecti

Question 7

Is there anything Texas can do to limit the impact of large campaign donors without limiting free speech?

Accepted Answer

a. Opinion against limiting donations: T

Question 8

The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) provides what kind of assistance to conservative state legislators across the country?

Accepted Answer

A)  ALEC provides experienced campaign managers to help run reelection campaigns. 
B)  ALEC sponsors voter registration drives. 
C)  ALEC writes pieces of legislation and helps get the legislation passed. 
D)  ALEC screens judicial nominees to ensure quality people are selected to serve as judges. 
A)  ALEC provides experienced campaign managers to help run reelection campaigns. 
B)  ALEC sponsors voter registration drives. 
C)  ALEC writes pieces of legislation and helps get the legislation passed. 
D)  ALEC screens judicial nominees to ensure quality people are selected to serve as judges.

Question 9

One major way for interest groups to promote the political interests of elected officials who support their viewpoints and oppose the interests of those who do not is by engaging in

Accepted Answer

A)  campaign contributions. 
B)  hiring staff personnel. 
C)  buying media access. 
D)  letter writing. 
A)  campaign contributions. 
B)  hiring staff personnel. 
C)  buying media access. 
D)  letter writing.

Question 10

In order to gain access to politicians, interest groups will often

Accepted Answer

A)  provide the infrastructure, such as campaign signs and office staff, needed for the politician to get reelected. 
B)  spend money on entertaining politicians. 
C)  spend money to reward people for voting. 
D)  threaten elected officials. 
A)  provide the infrastructure, such as campaign signs and office staff, needed for the politician to get reelected. 
B)  spend money on entertaining politicians. 
C)  spend money to reward people for voting. 
D)  threaten elected officials.

Question 11

The situation in which individuals receive the benefits of collective action without contributing is known as

Accepted Answer

A)  the "free rider problem." 
B)  the "welfare state." 
C)  "benefit stealing." 
D)  "coattailing." 
A)  the "free rider problem." 
B)  the "welfare state." 
C)  "benefit stealing." 
D)  "coattailing."

Question 12

Texas has strong laws dealing with lobbying from former government officials.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

Interest groups must make sure that they maintain their credibility with policymakers.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

During the Texas Constitutional Convention of 1875, which interest group played an important role?

Accepted Answer

A)  8F Crowd 
B)  Halliburton Company 
C)  the Grange 
D)  AAA 
A)  8F Crowd 
B)  Halliburton Company 
C)  the Grange 
D)  AAA

Question 15

Some of Texas's biggest lobby spenders are groups that include the interests of consumers, the environment, or human services.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

Gaining access to politicians through personal connections is a violation of Texas state laws.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

Battleground Texas is a get-out-the-vote (GOTV) effort undertaken by which group?

Accepted Answer

A)  The Texas Republican Party 
B)  The Texas Democratic Party 
C)  The Texas Medical Association 
D)  The American Legislative Exchange Council 
A)  The Texas Republican Party 
B)  The Texas Democratic Party 
C)  The Texas Medical Association 
D)  The American Legislative Exchange Council

Question 18

How long must a former member of a governing body or former executive head of a regulatory agency wait before he or she can lobby that agency?

Accepted Answer

A)  2 years 
B)  5 years 
C)  10 years 
D)  Texas law prevents individuals from lobbying an agency where they were previously employed. 
A)  2 years 
B)  5 years 
C)  10 years 
D)  Texas law prevents individuals from lobbying an agency where they were previously employed.

Question 19

Because of the incumbency advantage, it is far safer for interest groups to try to work with incumbents than challengers.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

Which of the following advantages do better-funded interest groups have?

Accepted Answer

A)  time 
B)  money 
C)  expertise 
D)  All of these are correct. 
A)  time 
B)  money 
C)  expertise 
D)  All of these are correct.

What was the problem Speaker Sam Rayburn identified with the "steak men" at the beginning of the twentieth century?

An interest group that serves as an umbrella organization to coordinate the activities of member groups in specific targeted areas is known as a(n)

Most lobbyists

Arguably, the largest and most effective public employee interest group in Texas is made up of

Interest groups representing labor organizations dominate Texas politics.

What are interest groups and why are they important in our political system? How are they important to legislators?

Is there anything Texas can do to limit the impact of large campaign donors without limiting free speech?

The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) provides what kind of assistance to conservative state legislators across the country?

One major way for interest groups to promote the political interests of elected officials who support their viewpoints and oppose the interests of those who do not is by engaging in

In order to gain access to politicians, interest groups will often

The situation in which individuals receive the benefits of collective action without contributing is known as

Texas has strong laws dealing with lobbying from former government officials.

Interest groups must make sure that they maintain their credibility with policymakers.

During the Texas Constitutional Convention of 1875, which interest group played an important role?

Some of Texas's biggest lobby spenders are groups that include the interests of consumers, the environment, or human services.

Gaining access to politicians through personal connections is a violation of Texas state laws.

Battleground Texas is a get-out-the-vote (GOTV) effort undertaken by which group?

How long must a former member of a governing body or former executive head of a regulatory agency wait before he or she can lobby that agency?

Because of the incumbency advantage, it is far safer for interest groups to try to work with incumbents than challengers.

Which of the following advantages do better-funded interest groups have?

The Political Culture, People, and Economy of Texas

The Texas Constitution

Texas in the Federal System

Political Parties

Campaigns and Elections

The Legislature

The Executive Branch

The Judiciary

Local Government

Public Finance

Public Policy

Crime and Corrections Policy

Building the Future: Public Policies for a Changing Texas

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Exam 6: Interest Groups and Lobbying

What was the problem Speaker Sam Rayburn identified with the "steak men" at the beginning of the twentieth century?

An interest group that serves as an umbrella organization to coordinate the activities of member groups in specific targeted areas is known as a(n)

Most lobbyists

Arguably, the largest and most effective public employee interest group in Texas is made up of

Interest groups representing labor organizations dominate Texas politics.

What are interest groups and why are they important in our political system? How are they important to legislators?

Is there anything Texas can do to limit the impact of large campaign donors without limiting free speech?

The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) provides what kind of assistance to conservative state legislators across the country?

One major way for interest groups to promote the political interests of elected officials who support their viewpoints and oppose the interests of those who do not is by engaging in

In order to gain access to politicians, interest groups will often

The situation in which individuals receive the benefits of collective action without contributing is known as

Texas has strong laws dealing with lobbying from former government officials.

Interest groups must make sure that they maintain their credibility with policymakers.

During the Texas Constitutional Convention of 1875, which interest group played an important role?

Some of Texas's biggest lobby spenders are groups that include the interests of consumers, the environment, or human services.

Gaining access to politicians through personal connections is a violation of Texas state laws.

Battleground Texas is a get-out-the-vote (GOTV) effort undertaken by which group?

How long must a former member of a governing body or former executive head of a regulatory agency wait before he or she can lobby that agency?

Because of the incumbency advantage, it is far safer for interest groups to try to work with incumbents than challengers.

Which of the following advantages do better-funded interest groups have?

The Political Culture, People, and Economy of Texas

The Texas Constitution

Texas in the Federal System

Political Parties

Campaigns and Elections

The Legislature

The Executive Branch

The Judiciary

Local Government

Public Finance

Public Policy

Crime and Corrections Policy

Building the Future: Public Policies for a Changing Texas

Filters