Deck 7: Interest Groups and Business Organizations

Question 1

Which of the following raise money from individuals and then distribute it in the form of contributions to political candidates?

A) 527 organizations
B) coordinating committees
C) 501(c)3 organizations
D) political action committees
E) party committees

Answer 1

D

Question 2

In Federalist No. 10, James Madison described how a government could be designed to control the effects of __________.

A) monarchies
B) factions
C) representative government
D) political parties
E) trade associations

Answer 2

B

Question 3

What is a public interest group?

A) a group that conducts research and analysis on public policy issues
B) a group that expresses its political views publicly
C) a group that works to gain benefits for society as a whole
D) a group that most people in society are aware of
E) a group that represents workers within a particular industry

Answer 3

C

Question 4

Which of the following is the main type of organization that lobbies on behalf of workers?

A) public interest group
B) trade association
C) corporation
D) labor union
E) ideological group

Question 5

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

A) an advocacy group
B) a professional association
C) a labor union
D) a group representing a state government
E) a political action committee

Question 6

What are the components of a sub-government?

A) the president, Congress, and the Supreme Court
B) the House of Representatives, the Senate, and an executive branch agency
C) an executive branch agency, a congressional committee, and the president
D) an executive branch agency, a congressional committee, and an interest group
E) the president, a congressional committee, and an interest group

Question 7

When a case that an interest group is interested in, but not actually sponsoring, comes before a court, the group can __________.

A) meet with judges to explain the group's policy preferences
B) file an amicus curiae brief to present the group's analysis of the case
C) file an appeal to move the case to a different court
D) file a petition to get the group added to the list of plaintiffs
E) offer monetary incentives to the judges in the case

Question 8

Which of the following best defines the term disturbance theory?

A) when factional interests influence individual rights and disturb the collective well-being of the country
B) when individuals feel threatened by changes in the economic, social, or political environment changes and form interest groups
C) when many members of a population attempt to benefit from some sort of activity or a policy that activity is trying to influence, even if they did not actively participate in the effort
D) when multiple groups and interest make demands on government, and government ignores the demands
E) when PACs exert disproportionate influence on elections or public policy

Question 9

The practice of appropriating money for specific pet projects of members of Congress is called __________.

A) bribery
B) earmarking
C) influencing
D) inside lobbying
E) networking

Question 10

What is a trade association?

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) a type of labor union
D) an organization that represents businesses within a specific industry
E) an organization that represents the federal government during the negotiation of international trade agreements

Question 11

What is a political action committee (PAC)?

A) an organization within a political party that coordinates campaign events
B) an organizations that focuses on grassroots/outside lobbying
C) an organization that conducts voter registration drives
D) an organization that solicits campaign contributions and distributes them to political candidates
E) an organization within a political party that creates and runs campaign advertisements

Question 12

Which of the following is an example of "the outside game"?

A) earmarking
B) filing an amicus curiae brief
C) lobbying Congress
D) lobbying the executive branch
E) organizing the district

Question 13

Which of the following is an example of a private interest group?

A) the AFL-CIO
B) Americans for Tax Reform
C) the American Red Cross
D) Environmental Defense
E) the National Organization for Women

Question 14

What is lobbying?

A) influencing with government officials to persuade them to support a particular policy position
B) conducting surveys to gauge public opinion on a policy issue
C) convincing potential members to join an interest group by offering them material benefits
D) fundraising for political candidates
E) educating the public about the activities of government

Question 15

According to Madison's Federalist No. 10, a(n) __________ is a group of individuals concerned more with their self-interest than with the rights of individuals outside the group or with the needs of society as a whole.

A) faction
B) political party
C) single-issue organization
D) oligarchy
E) special interest group

Question 16

A(n) __________ refers to an organization that seeks to influence public policy.

A) corporation
B) interest group
C) institute
D) faction
E) administration

Question 17

What is an amicus curiae brief?

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
E) an internal memo circulated among interest group leaders, briefing them on the details of a court case

Question 18

The practice in which former government officials become lobbyists for interests with whom they formerly dealt in their official capacity is called __________.

A) earmarking
B) the iron triangle
C) networking the issues
D) lobbying
E) the revolving door

Question 19

A central aspect of grassroots lobbying discussed in the text is __________.

A) using high-paid professionals to contact legislators
B) getting the media to cover an issue
C) mobilizing local constituencies
D) using campaign contributions to influence elections
E) testifying at government hearings

Question 20

Which of the following is an example of a trade association?

A) the AFL-CIO
B) the National Association of Manufacturers
C) the American Association of Retired People (AARP)
D) the National Rifle Association
E) the National Wildlife Federation

Question 21

Which of the following is an example of grassroots/outside lobbying?

A) an e-mail encouraging members to contact their senators and representatives in Congress
B) an organization asking members for donations to support the group's work
C) a meeting held with a legislator in the legislator's home district
D) a group submitting written testimony in a congressional hearing
E) a group forming a coalition with another group that has similar policy goals

Question 22

How does grassroots/outside lobbying differ from other efforts by interest groups to influence government?

A) Grassroots/outside lobbying focuses more than other forms of advocacy on cultivating relationships with elected officials.
B) Grassroots/outside lobbying is more effective than other forms of advocacy.
C) Grassroots/outside lobbying is more heavily regulated than other forms of advocacy.
D) Grassroots/outside lobbying focuses more than other forms of advocacy on influencing public opinion to support groups' goals.
E) Grassroots lobbying is more costly than other forms of advocacy.

Question 23

Consider the "Using the Framework" box about Medicare. How did the Medicare prescription drug law benefit drug companies?

A) The law included provisions forbidding the importation of cheaper drugs from abroad.
B) The law included provisions allowing the importation of cheaper drugs from abroad.
C) The law loosened regulations for putting new drugs on the market.
D) The law included tax breaks for drug companies.
E) The law strengthened patent protections for drug companies.

Question 24

What is the main goal of an iron triangle?

A) abolishing free riders
B) creating more opportunities for collective action
C) developing networks of iron triangles
D) protecting their self-interest
E) providing selective benefits to potential groups

Question 25

Most scholars think iron triangles are __________ today than in the past.

A) less common
B) less powerful
C) more prevalent
D) much stronger
E) weaker

Question 26

According to the text, which industry sector spent the most on federal lobbying in 2011?

A) agribusiness
B) energy and natural resources
C) finance, insurance, and real estate
D) health
E) transportation

Question 27

How does lobbying the executive branch differ from lobbying Congress?

A) Fewer interest groups lobby Congress than lobby the executive branch.
B) Fewer interest groups lobby the executive branch than lobby Congress.
C) Lobbying the executive branch has less impact on government than lobbying Congress.
D) Lobbying the executive branch focuses more on rule making, whereas lobbying Congress focuses more on pending legislation.
E) Lobbying the executive branch focuses more on pending legislation, whereas lobbying Congress focuses more on elections.

Question 28

Which of the following is an example of an advocacy group?

A) an environmental group
B) a corporation
C) a professional association
D) a group representing state governments
E) a labor union

Question 29

Which of the following is an example of "the inside game"?

A) earmarking
B) filing an amicus curiae brief
C) getting involved in campaigns and elections
D) mobilizing membership
E) organizing the district

Question 30

An interest group filing an amicus curiae brief is an example of __________.

A) grassroots or outside lobbying
B) how interest groups influence elections
C) lobbying an executive branch agency
D) how groups influence the president
E) lobbying the judicial branch

Question 31

Critics of pluralism have noted that __________.

A) government decisions reflect the balance of competing interests in society
B) resources and political power are unequally distributed within society
C) individuals with shared grievances always form interest groups to press their demands upon government
D) government is too responsive to the demands of interest groups
E) the formation of one group typically stimulates the formation of an opposing group

Question 32

A(n) __________ is motivated by ideological concerns or a belief in some cause.

A) advocacy group
B) business lobby
C) iron triangle
D) private interest
E) revolving door

Question 33

Which of the following is an activity that lobbyists regularly engage in?

A) answering e-mails from elected officials' constituents
B) speaking on behalf of elected officials at press conferences
C) providing elected officials with information about an interest group's position on a bill or issue
D) providing legal counsel to interest groups in court cases
E) introducing bills in Congress

Question 34

How do interest groups lobby the courts?

A) through letter-writing campaigns addressed to particular judges
B) by publishing editorials in major newspapers stating their views on cases
C) by getting involved in the appointment of federal judges
D) by testifying before congressional committees
E) by meeting with judges to express their views on cases

Question 35

How do interest groups lobby the executive branch?

A) by filing lawsuits
B) by offering technical information to a bureau leader
C) by offering PAC contributions to agency heads
D) by filing amicus curiae briefs
E) by drafting and introducing bills

Question 36

How might pluralism serve to enhance democracy?

A) by requiring people to join interest groups
B) by ensuring that no single interest becomes dominant
C) by allowing policy makers to ignore the demands of certain organizations
D) by discouraging bargaining and compromise on policy issues
E) by streamlining the legislative process

Question 37

Why are campaign contributions so important for interest groups seeking to influence government?

A) Legislators only grant meetings with interest groups that offer campaign contributions.
B) Campaign contributions help elect candidates who are friendly to groups' goals.
C) Groups can offer contributions in return for favorable votes on pending legislation.
D) Organizations seeking to offer input on a political party's platform are required to make campaign contributions.
E) There are very few restrictions on campaign contributions, compared to restrictions on lobbying.

Question 38

How do lobbyists typically seek to influence members of Congress?

A) by introducing bills
B) by filing amicus curiae briefs
C) by organizing protests and demonstrations on Capitol Hill
D) by providing technical information on policy issues
E) by offering them money to vote a particular way

Question 39

Which of the following is an assumption of pluralism?

A) Only wealthy interests have influence over government decisions.
B) Government decisions reflect the preferences of elites.
C) Interest groups are integral to government decisions.
D) Policy makers care more about public opinion than interest groups' preferences.
E) Political parties matter more than interest groups in shaping government policies.

Question 40

Which of the following is an example of a faction, as conceptualized by Madison in Federalist No. 10?

A) the media
B) women
C) an interest group
D) the legislature
E) the executive branch

Question 41

How does lobbying Congress differ from lobbying the judicial branch?

A) Lobbyists often meet personally with members of Congress, whereas they rarely lobby directly with judges.
B) Lobbying the courts requires a law degree, whereas lobbying Congress does not.
C) Courts seldom take into account lobbying efforts by interest groups, whereas Congress is heavily influenced by lobbying.
D) Lobbying the judicial branch is more time-consuming than lobbying Congress.
E) Lobbying the judicial branch is more heavily regulated than lobbying Congress.

Question 42

How is lobbying the executive branch similar to lobbying the courts?

A) Both require a lobbyist to hold a law degree.
B) Both can involve lobbying related to the implementation of an existing policy.
C) Both are relatively rare, given that most lobbyists focus exclusively on Congress.
D) Both typically involve grassroots lobbying.
E) Both are viewed as inappropriate ways for interest groups to influence government.

Question 43

According to the idea of pluralism, political power is distributed across a wide range of diverse and competing interest groups.

Question 44

Which of the following statements, if true, would confirm the idea of pluralism?

A) The number of interest groups in Washington, D.C., has decreased over the past several decades.
B) Elected officials rarely take into account the views of interest groups.
C) Business/economic interests have more lobbyists in Washington, D.C., than other types of organizations.
D) Elected officials seek out the opinions of multiple interest groups when creating policy.
E) Membership in labor unions has remained stable over the past several decades.

Question 45

Consider the "Can Government Do Anything Well?" box. Why hasn't the federal minimum wage kept pace with inflation?

A) Public support for the minimum wage has declined since the 1960s.
B) Organized labor has declined since the 1960s.
C) Both the Democratic and Republican Parties oppose the minimum wage.
D) Most state minimum wages have increased faster than inflation.
E) The Chamber of Commerce has declined since the 1960s.

Question 46

How is lobbying Congress similar to lobbying the courts?

A) Both involve lobbying related to pending legislation.
B) Both involve use of PAC contributions to gain access to decision makers (i.e., legislators and judges).
C) Both are examples of "the inside game."
D) Both typically involve grassroots lobbying.
E) Both depend on building personal relationships with decision makers (i.e., legislators and judges).

Question 47

Interest groups are important subjects of study in American politics because __________.

A) they are always successful in getting their demands met by government
B) they provide a venue for citizens to participate in government
C) most lobbyists eventually serve in Congress
D) they determine what issues get covered in the media
E) they determine who runs for elected office

Question 48

How might you characterize the difference between inside lobbying and outside lobbying?

A) Inside lobbying focuses on reelecting incumbent candidates, while outside lobbying pursues the election of challengers.
B) Inside lobbying most often occurs with members of Congress and their staff, while outside lobbyists focus primarily on the executive branch.
C) Inside lobbying occurs within the power structures of Washington, while outside lobbying is driven by individuals who are "outside" the political system.
D) Inside lobbyists advocate directly with decision makers in government, while outside lobbyists seek to influence opinion and stimulate action by the general public.
E) Inside lobbyists file briefs or pursue litigation, while outside lobbyists focus primarily on public demonstrations and rallies.

Question 49

Which of the following factors contributed to addition of the prescription drug benefit to Medicare in 2003?

A) Democrats broke the Republican filibuster and won a close vote for the bill, which the president then signed.
B) Drug and insurance companies were limited in their lobbying efforts due to the struggling economy.
C) Elderly voters and the AARP backed the Republican plan and helped to push it through Congress.
D) Republican president George W. Bush promised to help seniors with rising drug costs and persuaded the drug companies to lower their prices.
E) Young voters, worried about the rising costs of taking care of their parents, created an advocacy group to lobby for the prescription drug benefit.

Question 50

Which of the following, if true, would indicate that grassroots/outside lobbying is an ineffective political tactic?

A) Policy makers primarily work to satisfy the demands of their wealthiest campaign contributors. As a result, they rarely respond to broader public opinion.
B) In congressional elections, incumbent candidates win at a much higher rate than challengers.
C) The number of interest groups with lobbyists in Washington, D.C., has increased over the past several decades.
D) The mass media tend to cover only the most dramatic and unusual news stories.
E) Most members of Congress have rejected campaign contributions from (political action committees) PACs.

Question 51

Which of the following statements, if true, would undermine the idea of pluralism?

A) Members of Congress have become increasingly dependent on political action committee (PAC) contributions to fund their campaigns.
B) Political action committees (PACs) are not always successful in securing favorable government policies.
C) Membership in labor unions has decreased over the past several decades.
D) Individuals with shared grievances do not always come together to form interest groups.
E) The number of interest groups with lobbyists in Washington, D.C., has increased over the past several decades.

Question 52

Why is it significant that business/economic interest groups have more lobbyists in Washington, D.C., than other types of groups?

A) Some people fear that government may disproportionately favor business interests in policy making.
B) It has become difficult for other types of organizations to establish a presence in Washington, D.C.
C) The business lobby has contributed to the widespread problem of bribing elected officials.
D) By providing a model for other groups, business lobbyists have enhanced the political influence of public interest and other organizations.
E) Their presence has led to a general backlash against lobbyists in Congress.

Question 53

Which of the following factors helps to explain why there are so many interest groups in the United States?

A) The United States is a very diverse society.
B) Political parties in the United States are weak.
C) There are virtually no restrictions on interest groups' lobbying activities.
D) There are virtually no restrictions on campaign contributions by interest groups.
E) The Constitution requires the formation of interest groups.

Question 54

How does lobbying the executive branch differ from lobbying the judicial branch?

A) Lobbying the courts requires a law degree, whereas lobbying the executive branch does not.
B) It is much more costly for interest groups to lobby the courts than to lobby the executive branch.
C) It is much more costly for interest groups to lobby the executive branch than to lobby the courts.
D) Lobbying the executive branch focuses on pending legislation, whereas lobbying the courts focuses on overturning existing law.
E) Lobbying the executive branch focuses on how agencies will carry out procedures, rules, and regulations, whereas lobbying the courts focuses on how laws are interpreted by judges.

Question 55

What is the main objective of most labor unions?

A) to protect consumers from unsafe products
B) to protect the interests of businesses within an industry
C) to protect jobs and secure favorable wages and benefits for their members
D) to ensure equality of all people under the law
E) to support free trade policies

Question 56

You are the leader of a consumer rights group that has been unable to get a meeting with your elected representative in Congress. How could you get the attention of your legislator on the issues your group cares about?

A) Organize a demonstration in the representative's district and invite the media.
B) File an amicus curiae brief.
C) Draft a bill and introduce it in Congress.
D) Form a political action committee.
E) Contact the Consumer Products Safety Commission.

Question 57

Why was Madison particularly concerned about factions in Federalist No. 10?

A) He believed that factions pursuing their self-interest would work against the broader public interest.
B) He worried that factions were too focused on the public good and that they neglected to take care of their own needs.
C) He worried that the Constitution did not provide enough opportunities for factions to be involved in politics.
D) He worried that factions might prevent the Constitution from being ratified.
E) He worried that the faction he belonged to would lose power if the Constitution were ratified.

Question 58

Tax rates for the wealthiest Americans, particularly the super-wealthy, have dropped dramatically over the past three and a half decades, regardless of whether Republicans or Democrats are in control in Washington. What does this suggest?

A) Both Democrats and Republicans are in favor of lowering taxes for the wealthy.
B) Bribery is rampant in Washington.
C) The disturbance theory has influenced tax brackets over the past thirty years, as predicted.
D) The political influence of wealthy Americans has been fairly constant no matter which party has headed the government.
E) Revolving doors have not been effected by lobbyist reform legislation.

Question 59

You are the leader of an environmental organization working to address the problem of climate change. Given the free rider problem, what would be the most effective way to get others to join your cause?

A) Describe the harmful consequences of global warming.
B) Explain how future generations will benefit from enacting climate change legislation.
C) Offer an incentive, such as a t-shirt, to those who join the campaign.
D) Publicly criticize those who don't join the campaign.
E) Circulate a petition on the Internet.

Question 60

Why is grassroots/outside lobbying an effective political tactic?

A) Grassroots lobbying shapes public opinion, and elected officials are known to respond to public opinion.
B) Interest groups rarely engage in grassroots lobbying, so when they use this tactic, elected officials take notice.
C) Grassroots lobbyists collect and bundle together campaign contributions from multiple individuals. This results in one large campaign contribution and thus maximizes the impact of each contributor.
D) Grassroots lobbying depends on building personal connections with elected officials, who are more likely to listen to groups that they know and like.
E) Grassroots lobbying emphasizes publicly shaming elected officials for various wrongdoings, and elected officials are strongly motivated to avoid negative publicity.

Question 61

The constitutional rules of the political game in the United States discourage the formation of interest groups.

Question 62

Interest groups are prohibited from lobbying the executive branch of the federal government.

Question 63

As described in the "Using the Framework" box about Medicare, the Medicare prescription drug benefit was created under the George W. Bush administration.

Question 64

Tea Party Caucus Republicans in Congress in 2011 made the elimination of __________ an important element in their effort to reduce government deficits.

Question 65

In __________, James Madison expressed concerns about the harmful effects of factions.

Question 66

__________ refers to communicating with government officials to persuade them to support a particular policy decision.

Question 67

A pluralist would view the presence and activities of lobbyists in Washington, D.C., as harmful to the functioning of our political system.

Question 68

The formation of interest groups seems to happen only when interests are threatened by a change in the social and economic environment or in government policy.

Question 69

Because of federalism, checks and balances, and the separation of powers, access to public officials is relatively easy in the United States.

Question 70

Once a bill becomes law, lobbyists typically leave the implementation up to the executive branch.

Question 71

Most scholars believe that sub-governments/iron triangles are becoming more important in American government.

Question 72

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

Question 73

If James Madison were alive today, he would most likely view the rapid growth of interest groups over the past several decades as a positive development.

Question 74

Most politically active organizations use lobbying to make their interests known to government officials.

Question 75

Membership in labor unions has increased over the last several decades.

Question 76

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is one of the largest and most influential interest groups in the United States, and it is a staunch foe of the minimum wage.

Question 77

__________ are organizations that seek to influence public policy.

Question 78

As discussed in Madison's Federalist No. 10, a(n) __________ is a group of individuals concerned more with their self-interest than with the rights of individuals outside the group or with the needs of society as a whole.

Question 79

Pluralism has been challenged on the basis of the fact that political resources and power are unequally distributed within society.

Question 80

An iron triangle customarily includes an interest group, an executive agency, and a Congressional __________.