Question 1

Which of the following is not a description of an interest group?

Accepted Answer

A)  It is designed to pursue a common goal. 
B)  It attempts to affect public policy. 
C)  It seeks to achieve its desired goals through political means. 
D)  It is usually made up of a large number of people. 
E)  It is typically active only at the national level of government. 
A)  It is designed to pursue a common goal. 
B)  It attempts to affect public policy. 
C)  It seeks to achieve its desired goals through political means. 
D)  It is usually made up of a large number of people. 
E)  It is typically active only at the national level of government.

Question 2

Which of the following is not a reason that interest groups are useful to politicians?

Accepted Answer

A)  Interest groups provide necessary information and expertise to politicians. 
B)  Campaign funding often comes from interest groups. 
C)  Interest groups provide politicians with an agenda on which they may run for office. 
D)  Interest groups can mobilize voters and mount publicity campaigns. 
E)  Interest groups can supply campaigns with workers. 
A)  Interest groups provide necessary information and expertise to politicians. 
B)  Campaign funding often comes from interest groups. 
C)  Interest groups provide politicians with an agenda on which they may run for office. 
D)  Interest groups can mobilize voters and mount publicity campaigns. 
E)  Interest groups can supply campaigns with workers.

Question 3

Describe some of the different types of interest groups operating in Texas. Which ones have been the most influential? What are some interests that have been underrepresented in Texas?

Accepted Answer

In Texas, there are a wide variety of in

Question 4

Which of the following is the farmers' interest group that influenced the writing of the Texas Constitution of 1876?

Accepted Answer

A)  the Grange 
B)  the 8F Group 
C)  EMILY's List 
D)  the Texas Natural Resource Council 
E)  the Texas Farm Bureau Association 
A)  the Grange 
B)  the 8F Group 
C)  EMILY's List 
D)  the Texas Natural Resource Council 
E)  the Texas Farm Bureau Association

Question 5

Which of the following is the best example of a public interest group?

Accepted Answer

A)  the Mexican American Legal Defense Fund 
B)  the Texas Medical Association 
C)  Common Cause 
D)  Texans for Lawsuit Reform 
E)  the Texas Bar Association 
A)  the Mexican American Legal Defense Fund 
B)  the Texas Medical Association 
C)  Common Cause 
D)  Texans for Lawsuit Reform 
E)  the Texas Bar Association

Question 6

Lobbyists may gain access to legislators by building support for an issue among their constituents.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

Texas has ______ laws dealing with lobbying by former government officials.

Accepted Answer

A)  no 
B)  numerous 
C)  weak 
D)  strong 
E)  two 
A)  no 
B)  numerous 
C)  weak 
D)  strong 
E)  two

Question 8

Interest groups are limited to lobbying the legislature; they cannot lobby executive agencies or the courts.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

Incumbents are most likely to receive large campaign contributions.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

Interest groups are often powerful in states

Accepted Answer

A)  with a strong two-party rivalry. 
B)  dominated by one party. 
C)  that have a weak or nonexistent party system. 
D)  with powerful third parties. 
E)  with low voter turnout. 
A)  with a strong two-party rivalry. 
B)  dominated by one party. 
C)  that have a weak or nonexistent party system. 
D)  with powerful third parties. 
E)  with low voter turnout.

Question 11

Lobbyists can do all of the following except

Accepted Answer

A)  provide information to politicians. 
B)  write bills. 
C)  testify before legislative committees. 
D)  entertain politicians. 
E)  none-lobbyists can do all of the above. 
A)  provide information to politicians. 
B)  write bills. 
C)  testify before legislative committees. 
D)  entertain politicians. 
E)  none-lobbyists can do all of the above.

Question 12

One important way for interest groups to gain access to those in Texas government is to employ ______ as lobbyists.

Accepted Answer

A)  retired sports stars 
B)  political science majors 
C)  Republican campaign consultants 
D)  former legislators and government officials 
E)  celebrities 
A)  retired sports stars 
B)  political science majors 
C)  Republican campaign consultants 
D)  former legislators and government officials 
E)  celebrities

Question 13

Campaign donations are one of the most important ways to influence in politics. Describe the role of interest-group money in politics. What are PACs, and what do they do? How can PACs shape elections?

Accepted Answer

Interest-group money plays a significant

Question 14

Interest groups typically have more time, money, and expertise to offer politicians than do average citizens.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

Texas trial lawyers frequently ally with

Accepted Answer

A)  the gas and oil industry. 
B)  pharmaceutical companies. 
C)  consumer interest groups. 
D)  public employee unions. 
E)  environmental groups. 
A)  the gas and oil industry. 
B)  pharmaceutical companies. 
C)  consumer interest groups. 
D)  public employee unions. 
E)  environmental groups.

Question 16

More money is spent in Texas by the communications industry than any other represented interest.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

Which of the following groups have had notable political success by litigating in federal courts?

Accepted Answer

A)  professional groups 
B)  public employee interest groups 
C)  civil rights groups 
D)  chemical company lobbyists 
E)  business lobbyists 
A)  professional groups 
B)  public employee interest groups 
C)  civil rights groups 
D)  chemical company lobbyists 
E)  business lobbyists

Question 18

When individuals or interest groups take out ads concerning a campaign issue but do not tie them directly to any particular candidate, it is called

Accepted Answer

A)  soft-money spending. 
B)  bundling. 
C)  issue advocacy. 
D)  direct advocacy. 
E)  hard-money spending. 
A)  soft-money spending. 
B)  bundling. 
C)  issue advocacy. 
D)  direct advocacy. 
E)  hard-money spending.

Question 19

Entertaining politicians is one of the most critical ways for lobbyists to gain access.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

What did "Bo" Pilgrim do in 1989?

Accepted Answer

A)  He distributed $10,000 checks to state senators while lobbying them on a bill. 
B)  He established the first political action committee devoted solely to Texas politics. 
C)  He united a number of food production companies to create a single-industry lobbying group. 
D)  He was convicted of bribing three Texas legislators with promises of free fried chicken for life. 
E)  He bought a number of votes on a controversial bill by offering legislators free turkeys for Thanksgiving. 
A)  He distributed $10,000 checks to state senators while lobbying them on a bill. 
B)  He established the first political action committee devoted solely to Texas politics. 
C)  He united a number of food production companies to create a single-industry lobbying group. 
D)  He was convicted of bribing three Texas legislators with promises of free fried chicken for life. 
E)  He bought a number of votes on a controversial bill by offering legislators free turkeys for Thanksgiving.

Exam 22: Interest Groups and Lobbying

Which of the following is not a description of an interest group?

Which of the following is not a reason that interest groups are useful to politicians?

Describe some of the different types of interest groups operating in Texas. Which ones have been the most influential? What are some interests that have been underrepresented in Texas?

Which of the following is the farmers' interest group that influenced the writing of the Texas Constitution of 1876?

Which of the following is the best example of a public interest group?

Lobbyists may gain access to legislators by building support for an issue among their constituents.

Texas has ______ laws dealing with lobbying by former government officials.

Interest groups are limited to lobbying the legislature; they cannot lobby executive agencies or the courts.

Incumbents are most likely to receive large campaign contributions.

Interest groups are often powerful in states

Lobbyists can do all of the following except

One important way for interest groups to gain access to those in Texas government is to employ ______ as lobbyists.

Campaign donations are one of the most important ways to influence in politics. Describe the role of interest-group money in politics. What are PACs, and what do they do? How can PACs shape elections?

Interest groups typically have more time, money, and expertise to offer politicians than do average citizens.

Texas trial lawyers frequently ally with

More money is spent in Texas by the communications industry than any other represented interest.

Which of the following groups have had notable political success by litigating in federal courts?

When individuals or interest groups take out ads concerning a campaign issue but do not tie them directly to any particular candidate, it is called

Entertaining politicians is one of the most critical ways for lobbyists to gain access.

What did "Bo" Pilgrim do in 1989?

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