Question 1

What is an amicus curiae brief?

Accepted Answer

A) a written argument submitted to a court in support of one side of a case 
B) a petition to remove a judge from a court case 
C) a petition submitted to Congress in support of or opposition to a judicial nominee 
D) a petition submitted to an executive branch agency requesting a review of the agency's decision 
A) a written argument submitted to a court in support of one side of a case 
B) a petition to remove a judge from a court case 
C) a petition submitted to Congress in support of or opposition to a judicial nominee 
D) a petition submitted to an executive branch agency requesting a review of the agency's decision

Question 2

An interest group's success depends not only on its size,but also its __________,or the extent to which its membership is concentrated or dispersed.

Accepted Answer

A) cohesion 
B) spread 
C) unity 
D) diversity 
A) cohesion 
B) spread 
C) unity 
D) diversity

Question 3

Labor unions traditionally identify with the Democratic Party.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 4

Why do interest groups offer campaign contributions to help elect candidates?

Accepted Answer

A) Helping to elect candidates creates a relationship between the interest group and the elected official that the group may be able to exploit later. 
B) Helping to elect candidates is the easiest way to influence government policy. 
C) Through campaign contributions,interest groups are able to elect their own staff members to positions in government. 
D) Through campaign contributions,interest groups are able to offer input into the political party platforms. 
A) Helping to elect candidates creates a relationship between the interest group and the elected official that the group may be able to exploit later. 
B) Helping to elect candidates is the easiest way to influence government policy. 
C) Through campaign contributions,interest groups are able to elect their own staff members to positions in government. 
D) Through campaign contributions,interest groups are able to offer input into the political party platforms.

Question 5

How did issue advocacy allow interest groups to circumvent disclosure and contribution limits starting in the mid-1990s?

Accepted Answer

A) Any group that defined itself as advocating a single issue was exempt from reporting contributions to the government. 
B) By focusing on issues rather than candidates,interest groups could appeal to a broader segment of the population. 
C) Individuals were allowed to select one issue-based interest group and make an unlimited contribution to that group. 
D) Interest groups were able to make election ads without words like "vote for" or "vote against." 
A) Any group that defined itself as advocating a single issue was exempt from reporting contributions to the government. 
B) By focusing on issues rather than candidates,interest groups could appeal to a broader segment of the population. 
C) Individuals were allowed to select one issue-based interest group and make an unlimited contribution to that group. 
D) Interest groups were able to make election ads without words like "vote for" or "vote against."

Question 6

Discuss the role of political action committees (PACs)in terms of their influence on elections and the extent to which they shape government policy.

Accepted Answer

An ideal response will:
1.Note that PACs

Question 7

An environmental group works to pass legislation that would decrease air pollution.But an individual would probably not contribute to that group,especially if he or she could enjoy the benefits of breathing clean air without participating in the group's campaign.This is an example of the __________ problem.

Accepted Answer

The answer of An environmental group works to pass legislation...

Question 8

When an interest group forms a new political party,what is the group's most likely objective?

Accepted Answer

A) to win an election 
B) to publicize a cause 
C) to replace one of the two major political parties 
D) to change the balance of power in Congress 
A) to win an election 
B) to publicize a cause 
C) to replace one of the two major political parties 
D) to change the balance of power in Congress

Question 9

Which of the following is an example of the free rider problem?

Accepted Answer

A) an elected official accepting bribes from an interest group 
B) an elected official relying on information from lobbyists 
C) a union bargaining with management for higher wages in an open shop state 
D) an environmental group disagreeing on what policy goals to pursue 
A) an elected official accepting bribes from an interest group 
B) an elected official relying on information from lobbyists 
C) a union bargaining with management for higher wages in an open shop state 
D) an environmental group disagreeing on what policy goals to pursue

Question 10

What is the single most important element that lobbyists provide to members of Congress?

Accepted Answer

A) financial resources for reelection campaigns 
B) political information 
C) substantive information 
D) volunteers for campaign activities 
A) financial resources for reelection campaigns 
B) political information 
C) substantive information 
D) volunteers for campaign activities

Question 11

Many lobbyists participate in __________ with other groups,committees,and agencies that share a common policy concern.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Many lobbyists participate in __________ with other...

Question 12

According to the Supreme Court's 1976 ruling on independent expenditures,which of the following is unconstitutional?

Accepted Answer

A) any contribution of more than $100,000 made by any one individual 
B) directing unlimited amounts of money to a particular race 
C) disclosing personal expenditures to the Federal Election Commission without the individual's knowledge 
D) limiting contributions that are truly independent of a party or candidate 
A) any contribution of more than $100,000 made by any one individual 
B) directing unlimited amounts of money to a particular race 
C) disclosing personal expenditures to the Federal Election Commission without the individual's knowledge 
D) limiting contributions that are truly independent of a party or candidate

Question 13

What term is used to describe an interest group that appears to be grassroots,but whose activity is orchestrated or initiated centrally?

Accepted Answer

A) astroturf 
B) closed shop 
C) elitist 
D) free rider 
A) astroturf 
B) closed shop 
C) elitist 
D) free rider

Question 14

What is a trade association?

Accepted Answer

A) a coalition of public interest groups in a specific policy area,such as environmental policy 
B) an organization that coordinates exchanges of information and resources among multiple interest groups 
C) an organization that represents businesses within a specific industry 
D) an organization that represents the federal government during the negotiation of international trade agreements 
A) a coalition of public interest groups in a specific policy area,such as environmental policy 
B) an organization that coordinates exchanges of information and resources among multiple interest groups 
C) an organization that represents businesses within a specific industry 
D) an organization that represents the federal government during the negotiation of international trade agreements

Question 15

In recent years,political action committees (PACs)have declined as vehicles for campaign contributions.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

What are some of the main arguments against interest groups today? Do you think some types of interest groups are cause for greater concern? Provide examples in your answer.

Accepted Answer

An ideal response will:
1.Describe the a

Question 17

By 1900,the __________,a confederation of unions representing craft workers,was the dominant labor union in the United States.

Accepted Answer

A) Congress of Industrial Organizations 
B) International Brotherhood of Teamsters 
C) American Federation of Labor 
D) Change to Win Federation 
A) Congress of Industrial Organizations 
B) International Brotherhood of Teamsters 
C) American Federation of Labor 
D) Change to Win Federation

Question 18

The __________ problem occurs when people fail to join a group because they can receive the benefits the group offers without contributing to the group's efforts.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The __________ problem occurs when people fail...

Question 19

Interest groups use __________ to obtain the specific language and deadlines of proposed regulations.

Accepted Answer

A) amicus curiae briefs 
B) issue networks 
C) the Federal Register 
D) collective bargaining 
A) amicus curiae briefs 
B) issue networks 
C) the Federal Register 
D) collective bargaining

Question 20

The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP)claims to represent all older citizens.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

What is an amicus curiae brief?

An interest group's success depends not only on its size,but also its __________,or the extent to which its membership is concentrated or dispersed.

Labor unions traditionally identify with the Democratic Party.

Why do interest groups offer campaign contributions to help elect candidates?

How did issue advocacy allow interest groups to circumvent disclosure and contribution limits starting in the mid-1990s?

Discuss the role of political action committees (PACs)in terms of their influence on elections and the extent to which they shape government policy.

When an interest group forms a new political party,what is the group's most likely objective?

Which of the following is an example of the free rider problem?

What is the single most important element that lobbyists provide to members of Congress?

Many lobbyists participate in __________ with other groups,committees,and agencies that share a common policy concern.

According to the Supreme Court's 1976 ruling on independent expenditures,which of the following is unconstitutional?

What term is used to describe an interest group that appears to be grassroots,but whose activity is orchestrated or initiated centrally?

What is a trade association?

In recent years,political action committees (PACs)have declined as vehicles for campaign contributions.

What are some of the main arguments against interest groups today? Do you think some types of interest groups are cause for greater concern? Provide examples in your answer.

By 1900,the __________,a confederation of unions representing craft workers,was the dominant labor union in the United States.

The __________ problem occurs when people fail to join a group because they can receive the benefits the group offers without contributing to the group's efforts.

Interest groups use __________ to obtain the specific language and deadlines of proposed regulations.

The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP)claims to represent all older citizens.

Constitutional Democracy

Constitutional Foundations

American Federalism

The American Political Landscape

Political Parties

Public Opinion, ideology, participation, and Voting

Campaigns and Elections

The Media and Uspolitics

Congress

The Presidency

The Federal Bureaucracy and the Public Policy Process

The Judiciary: the Balancing Branch

Civil Liberties

Civil Rights

Making Economic Policy

Making Social Policy

Making Foreign and Defense Policy

Filters

Exam 5: Interest Groups

What is an amicus curiae brief?

An interest group's success depends not only on its size,but also its __________,or the extent to which its membership is concentrated or dispersed.

Labor unions traditionally identify with the Democratic Party.

Why do interest groups offer campaign contributions to help elect candidates?

How did issue advocacy allow interest groups to circumvent disclosure and contribution limits starting in the mid-1990s?

Discuss the role of political action committees (PACs)in terms of their influence on elections and the extent to which they shape government policy.

When an interest group forms a new political party,what is the group's most likely objective?

Which of the following is an example of the free rider problem?

What is the single most important element that lobbyists provide to members of Congress?

Many lobbyists participate in __________ with other groups,committees,and agencies that share a common policy concern.

According to the Supreme Court's 1976 ruling on independent expenditures,which of the following is unconstitutional?

What term is used to describe an interest group that appears to be grassroots,but whose activity is orchestrated or initiated centrally?

What is a trade association?

In recent years,political action committees (PACs)have declined as vehicles for campaign contributions.

What are some of the main arguments against interest groups today? Do you think some types of interest groups are cause for greater concern? Provide examples in your answer.

By 1900,the __________,a confederation of unions representing craft workers,was the dominant labor union in the United States.

The __________ problem occurs when people fail to join a group because they can receive the benefits the group offers without contributing to the group's efforts.

Interest groups use __________ to obtain the specific language and deadlines of proposed regulations.

The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP)claims to represent all older citizens.

Constitutional Democracy

Constitutional Foundations

American Federalism

The American Political Landscape

Political Parties

Public Opinion, ideology, participation, and Voting

Campaigns and Elections

The Media and Uspolitics

Congress

The Presidency

The Federal Bureaucracy and the Public Policy Process

The Judiciary: the Balancing Branch

Civil Liberties

Civil Rights

Making Economic Policy

Making Social Policy

Making Foreign and Defense Policy

Filters