Question 1

A group that uses its website to generate and send 10,000 e-mails to a representative is
engaged in Astroturf lobbying.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 2

What is the primary difference between a traditional political action committee (PAC) and a 527 organization?

Accepted Answer

A)  There are no major differences. 
B)  Unlike PACs, 527s are not subject to contribution limits and spending caps. 
C)  PACs can spend money only on advertising, while 527s can only make donations to candidates. 
D)  The money given to 527s is tax-deductible, while the money given to PACs is not. 
A)  There are no major differences. 
B)  Unlike PACs, 527s are not subject to contribution limits and spending caps. 
C)  PACs can spend money only on advertising, while 527s can only make donations to candidates. 
D)  The money given to 527s is tax-deductible, while the money given to PACs is not.

Question 3

Astroturf lobbying is sometimes ineffective because

Accepted Answer

A)  citizens generally make poor lobbyists. 
B)  elected officials often do not take the opinions of average citizens seriously. 
C)  interest groups often fail to take advantage of the latest communications technology. 
D)  elected officials do not believe it reflects the mainstream views of their constituents. 
A)  citizens generally make poor lobbyists. 
B)  elected officials often do not take the opinions of average citizens seriously. 
C)  interest groups often fail to take advantage of the latest communications technology. 
D)  elected officials do not believe it reflects the mainstream views of their constituents.

Question 4

Reports, protests, and informal meetings are all examples of ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  insider strategies 
B)  pluralism 
C)  electioneering 
D)  lobbying 
A)  insider strategies 
B)  pluralism 
C)  electioneering 
D)  lobbying

Question 5

Most interest group leaders avoid media coverage.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

Interest groups

Accepted Answer

A)  simply reflect the conflictual nature of American politics. 
B)  are a new political force never envisioned by the Founders. 
C)  have done serious harm to American elections and government. 
D)  allow large groups to dominate small groups, creating representational distortion. 
A)  simply reflect the conflictual nature of American politics. 
B)  are a new political force never envisioned by the Founders. 
C)  have done serious harm to American elections and government. 
D)  allow large groups to dominate small groups, creating representational distortion.

Question 7

Discuss the two differing approaches to lobbying federal officials.

Accepted Answer

Inside strategies are tactics employed w

Question 8

Astroturf lobbying occurs when

Accepted Answer

A)  group members spontaneously contact policy makers. 
B)  a group lobbies members of Congress in their home districts. 
C)  a group organizes a large number of contacts with policy makers by regular people. 
D)  a group organizes a contacting effort directed at policy makers, but it tries to make the effort look spontaneous. 
A)  group members spontaneously contact policy makers. 
B)  a group lobbies members of Congress in their home districts. 
C)  a group organizes a large number of contacts with policy makers by regular people. 
D)  a group organizes a contacting effort directed at policy makers, but it tries to make the effort look spontaneous.

Question 9

Federal laws limit interest group electioneering and lobbying efforts.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

The Automobile Association of America (AAA) is an interest group.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

Which type of group is not allowed to participate in any political activities or lobbying aside from certain limited exceptions?

Accepted Answer

A)  political action committees 
B)  527 organizations 
C)  501(c)(3) organizations 
D)  501(c)(4) organizations 
A)  political action committees 
B)  527 organizations 
C)  501(c)(3) organizations 
D)  501(c)(4) organizations

Question 12

Interest groups such as the National Wild Turkey Federation are more likely to succeed when their issues attract little attention from the general public.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

Coalitions sometimes present problems for groups because

Accepted Answer

A)  groups may agree on general goals but disagree on specifics. 
B)  group leaders almost never want to share power with others. 
C)  the different agendas of various groups often cause internal strife that results in the coalition breaking up. 
D)  research shows that Republicans in Congress will not support an issue-even one
Backed by conservative groups-if it is supported by a liberal group as well. 
A)  groups may agree on general goals but disagree on specifics. 
B)  group leaders almost never want to share power with others. 
C)  the different agendas of various groups often cause internal strife that results in the coalition breaking up. 
D)  research shows that Republicans in Congress will not support an issue-even one
Backed by conservative groups-if it is supported by a liberal group as well.

Question 14

One of the most effective ways that labor unions overcome the free rider problem is through

Accepted Answer

A)  protests and strikes. 
B)  union campaign donations or material benefits provided to members of Congress. 
C)  advertisements featuring celebrities who encourage workers to join unions. 
D)  coercion or union shop laws requiring workers to pay union dues as a condition of employment. 
A)  protests and strikes. 
B)  union campaign donations or material benefits provided to members of Congress. 
C)  advertisements featuring celebrities who encourage workers to join unions. 
D)  coercion or union shop laws requiring workers to pay union dues as a condition of employment.

Question 15

Who spends the most on lobbying?

Accepted Answer

A)  American Medical Association 
B)  National Association of Realtors 
C)  National Rifle Association 
D)  U.S. Chamber of Commerce 
A)  American Medical Association 
B)  National Association of Realtors 
C)  National Rifle Association 
D)  U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Question 16

What is one advantage of a confederal group structure?

Accepted Answer

A)  The group can cut down on costs. 
B)  The group can overcome the free rider problem more easily. 
C)  The group has more influence with Congress. 
D)  The group can find out what members want more easily. 
A)  The group can cut down on costs. 
B)  The group can overcome the free rider problem more easily. 
C)  The group has more influence with Congress. 
D)  The group can find out what members want more easily.

Question 17

The key to direct lobbying is to focus on

Accepted Answer

A)  converting opponents into supporters. 
B)  undecided legislators. 
C)  legislators who already share the group's policy goals. 
D)  legislators who are willing to accept campaign contributions. 
A)  converting opponents into supporters. 
B)  undecided legislators. 
C)  legislators who already share the group's policy goals. 
D)  legislators who are willing to accept campaign contributions.

Question 18

An interest group is best defined as an organization that

Accepted Answer

A)  influences policy by running candidates for office. 
B)  watches over government for the purpose of informing the public. 
C)  tries to influence public policy for a group of people with common interests. 
D)  sets rules for the government to follow. 
A)  influences policy by running candidates for office. 
B)  watches over government for the purpose of informing the public. 
C)  tries to influence public policy for a group of people with common interests. 
D)  sets rules for the government to follow.

Question 19

The amount of money spent on lobbying today in the United States is about 20 percent of total
federal spending.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

Why do lobbying firms often hire former members of Congress?

Accepted Answer

A)  Powerful party leaders pressure lobbying firms to do so. 
B)  Former members of Congress will work more cheaply because of their government pension. 
C)  Doing so makes it less likely that the group will be audited or investigated by federal agencies like the Internal Revenue Service. 
D)  Former members of Congress can provide the group with important information, such as what kinds of policies individual legislators will support. 
A)  Powerful party leaders pressure lobbying firms to do so. 
B)  Former members of Congress will work more cheaply because of their government pension. 
C)  Doing so makes it less likely that the group will be audited or investigated by federal agencies like the Internal Revenue Service. 
D)  Former members of Congress can provide the group with important information, such as what kinds of policies individual legislators will support.

A group that uses its website to generate and send 10,000 e-mails to a representative is engaged in Astroturf lobbying.

What is the primary difference between a traditional political action committee (PAC) and a 527 organization?

Astroturf lobbying is sometimes ineffective because

Reports, protests, and informal meetings are all examples of ________.

Most interest group leaders avoid media coverage.

Interest groups

Discuss the two differing approaches to lobbying federal officials.

Astroturf lobbying occurs when

Federal laws limit interest group electioneering and lobbying efforts.

The Automobile Association of America (AAA) is an interest group.

Which type of group is not allowed to participate in any political activities or lobbying aside from certain limited exceptions?

Interest groups such as the National Wild Turkey Federation are more likely to succeed when their issues attract little attention from the general public.

Coalitions sometimes present problems for groups because

One of the most effective ways that labor unions overcome the free rider problem is through

Who spends the most on lobbying?

What is one advantage of a confederal group structure?

The key to direct lobbying is to focus on

An interest group is best defined as an organization that

The amount of money spent on lobbying today in the United States is about 20 percent of total federal spending.

Why do lobbying firms often hire former members of Congress?

Understanding American Politics

The Constitution and the Founding

Federalism

Civil Liberties

Civil Rights

Public Opinion and the Media

Political Parties

Elections

Congress

The Presidency

The Bureaucracy

The Courts

Economic and Social Policy

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Exam 9: Interest Groups

A group that uses its website to generate and send 10,000 e-mails to a representative is engaged in Astroturf lobbying.

What is the primary difference between a traditional political action committee (PAC) and a 527 organization?

Astroturf lobbying is sometimes ineffective because

Reports, protests, and informal meetings are all examples of ________.

Most interest group leaders avoid media coverage.

Interest groups

Discuss the two differing approaches to lobbying federal officials.

Astroturf lobbying occurs when

Federal laws limit interest group electioneering and lobbying efforts.

The Automobile Association of America (AAA) is an interest group.

Which type of group is not allowed to participate in any political activities or lobbying aside from certain limited exceptions?

Interest groups such as the National Wild Turkey Federation are more likely to succeed when their issues attract little attention from the general public.

Coalitions sometimes present problems for groups because

One of the most effective ways that labor unions overcome the free rider problem is through

Who spends the most on lobbying?

What is one advantage of a confederal group structure?

The key to direct lobbying is to focus on

An interest group is best defined as an organization that

The amount of money spent on lobbying today in the United States is about 20 percent of total federal spending.

Why do lobbying firms often hire former members of Congress?

Understanding American Politics

The Constitution and the Founding

Federalism

Civil Liberties

Civil Rights

Public Opinion and the Media

Political Parties

Elections

Congress

The Presidency

The Bureaucracy

The Courts

Economic and Social Policy

Foreign Policy

Filters