Deck 15: Interest Groups

Question 1

Which of the following is an example of an economic interest group?

A) the National Rifle Association
B) the American Association of Retired People (AARP)
C) the Chamber of Commerce
D) the National Organization for Women

Answer 1

C

Question 2

Which of the following is a provision of the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007?

A) a ban on retired elected officials becoming lobbyists
B) tougher lobbying disclosure requirements
C) a ban on PAC contributions
D) a ban on lobbyists running for office

Answer 2

B

Question 3

What is a political action committee?

A) an organization within a political party that coordinates campaign events
B) an organizations that focuses on grassroots lobbying
C) an organization within a political party that creates and runs campaign advertisements
D) an organization affiliated with an interest group that solicits campaign contributions and distributes them to political candidates

Answer 3

D

Question 4

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

A) a consumer rights group
B) a professional association
C) a labor union
D) a group representing a state government

Question 5

According to Madison in Federalist No.10,how does the Constitution overcome the problem of factions?

A) by restricting private property rights
B) by decentralizing power across the national and state governments and across three branches of government
C) by discouraging citizens from expressing their political views in public
D) by adopting a system of direct democracy that relies on principles of natural law

Question 6

What is an amicus curiae brief?

A) a written argument submitted to a court in support of one side of a case
B) an internal memo circulated among interest group leaders, briefing them on the details of a court case
C) an interest group petition submitted to Congress in support of or opposition to a judicial nominee
D) an interest group petition submitted to an executive branch agency, requesting a review of an agency's decision

Question 7

What is a trade association?

A) an organization that represents the federal government during the negotiation of international trade agreements
B) an organization that coordinates exchanges of information and resources among multiple interest groups
C) a type of manufacturing labor union
D) an organization that represents businesses within a specific industry

Question 8

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 represents workers within a particular industry

Question 9

Grassroots lobbying includes __________.

A) using high-paid professionals to contact legislators
B) testifying at government hearings
C) urging group members to contact legislators
D) using campaign contributions to influence elections

Question 10

What type of group is a trade association?

A) a governmental unit
B) a public interest group
C) an economic interest group
D) a labor union

Question 11

Which of the following is an example of grassroots lobbying?

A) circulating a petition to send to representatives in Congress
B) asking members for donations to support the group's work
C) meeting with a legislator in the legislator's home district
D) submitting written testimony in a congressional hearing

Question 12

In Federalist No.10,James Madison described how the Constitution has been designed to control the effects of __________.

A) monarchies
B) factions
C) political parties
D) trade associations

Question 13

Which of the following would be considered lobbying?

A) communicating 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) fund-raising for political candidates

Question 14

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

A) free rider
B) pluralist
C) collective good
D) group coordination

Question 15

In order to overcome the free rider problem,many interest groups offer material benefits.What are material benefits?

A) the policies that interest groups help to bring about
B) gifts given to members of Congress in return for their support on legislation
C) benefits given only to group members
D) campaign contributions to elected officials

Question 16

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

A) public interest group
B) trade association
C) worker cooperative
D) labor union

Question 17

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

Question 18

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) organizations
D) political action committees

Question 19

When a case that an interest group is interested in comes before the Supreme 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) appeal to case to a higher court
D) legally offer monetary incentives to the justices as long as the interest group is not a party to the case

Question 20

Who engages in grassroots lobbying?

A) interest groups
B) candidates
C) political parties
D) lawmakers

Question 21

Which of the following is a tenet of pluralism?

A) Only wealthy interests have influence over government decisions.
B) Government decisions reflect the preferences of elites.
C) All salient issues will be represented in government.
D) Policy makers care more about public opinion than interest groups' preferences.

Question 22

Which of the following is a likely result of the free rider problem?

A) an elected official accepting bribes from an interest group
B) a candidate announcing an endorsement from an interest group
C) an environmental group struggling to raise funds for a "clean air" campaign
D) a public university giving football tickets to lawmakers

Question 23

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

A) Grassroots lobbying focuses more on cultivating relationships with elected officials.
B) Grassroots lobbying is more heavily regulated.
C) Grassroots lobbying focuses more on influencing public opinion.
D) Grassroots lobbying is more costly.

Question 24

How might pluralism serve to enhance democracy?

A) by requiring people to join interest groups
B) by ensuring that all groups have an opportunity to influence the outcome
C) by allowing policy makers to ignore the demands of intolerant groups
D) by discouraging bargaining and compromise on policy issues

Question 25

You are the leader of a consumer rights group that has been unable to get attention for your cause using traditional lobbying tactics.What might you try next?

A) Organize a highly visible protest 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.

Question 26

Which of the following comes closest to Madison's conception of a faction,as described in Federalist No.10?

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

Question 27

How is lobbying Congress similar to lobbying the courts?

A) Both involve lobbying related to pending legislation.
B) Both involve use of political action committee (PAC) contributions to gain access to decision makers.
C) Both are commonly used methods of interest groups seeking to influence public policy.
D) Both depend on building personal relationships with decision makers.

Question 28

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

A) a political action committee contributing to candidates from both major political parties
B) an elected official relying on information from lobbyists
C) an environmentalist deciding not to join an environmental group but appreciating the group's environmental stewardship
D) an environmental group disagreeing on what policy goals to pursue

Question 29

Critics of pluralism have noted that __________.

A) government decisions reflect the balance of competing interests in society
B) most groups represent elites
C) individuals with shared grievances usually form interest groups to press their demands upon government
D) the formation of one group typically stimulates the formation of an opposing group

Question 30

How do lobbyists typically seek to influence members of Congress who already tend to support the interest group?

A) by formally introducing bills to Congress
B) by filing amicus curiae briefs
C) by organizing protests and demonstrations on Capitol Hill
D) by providing information on policy issues

Question 31

Who do political action committees tend to give money to?

A) presidential candidates
B) challengers
C) members of Congress who serve on committees or subcommittees that routinely consider legislation important to that group
D) members of Congress with policy preferences that would not normally coincide with those of the group

Question 32

How do interest groups lobby the courts?

A) through letter-writing campaigns addressed to particular judges
B) by meeting with judges to express their views on cases
C) by filing a lawsuit or direct sponsorship of those willing to file a lawsuit
D) by testifying before congressional committees

Question 33

You are a policy analyst in the Department of Energy.You were just offered a job with a renewable energy company.How long must you wait before you can lobby the Department of Energy on behalf of your new employer?

A) There is no waiting period; you can lobby your former employer immediately.
B) two years
C) ten years
D) You are barred from lobbying your former employer for the rest of your life.

Question 34

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

A) answering e-mails on behalf of elected officials
B) speaking on behalf of elected officials at press conferences
C) providing elected officials with information about an issue or bill that is important to the group
D) providing legal counsel to members of Congress

Question 35

Which of the following is a way that interest groups seek to influence elections?

A) filing lawsuits
B) submitting amicus curiae briefs
C) running candidates for office
D) recruiting and training candidates

Question 36

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 an existing policy.
C) Both are relatively rare, given that most lobbyists focus exclusively on Congress.
D) Both typically involve grassroots lobbying.

Question 37

How does lobbying Congress differ from lobbying the judicial branch?

A) Lobbyists often meet personally with members of Congress but not with judges.
B) Lobbying the courts requires a law degree, whereas lobbying Congress does not.
C) Lobbying the courts is illegal; lobbying Congress is legal as long as it does not take place when Congress is in session.
D) Lobbying the judicial branch is more time-consuming than lobbying Congress.

Question 38

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

A) grassroots lobbying
B) how interest groups influence elections
C) lobbying the executive branch
D) lobbying the judicial branch

Question 39

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 a cool T-shirt to those who pay their membership dues.
D) Publicly criticize those who don't join the campaign.

Question 40

Why do interest groups typically offer material benefits to their members?

A) to foster greater diversity among group members
B) to encourage only the most committed supporters to become involved
C) to discourage members from joining more than one interest group
D) to overcome the free rider problem

Question 41

Union membership is higher among public sector employees than private sector employees.

Question 42

Interest groups are prohibited from lobbying the president.

Question 43

Lobbyists have no way to influence public policy once legislation has been signed into law.

Question 44

The National Rifle Association is an example of a trade association.

Question 45

The percentage of a state's population that belongs to a labor union is highest in Alaska and Hawaii and lowest in the South.

Question 46

As part of the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act,interest groups are now barred from paying for judges to attend "legal education" conferences.

Question 47

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

Question 48

Which type of organization would find it easiest to overcome the free rider problem?

A) an environmental organization working to pass climate change legislation
B) a labor union in a state where union membership is optional
C) a trade association representing a small number of firms
D) a national organization fighting for women's rights

Question 49

Which of the following statements,if true,would undermine the theory 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) Individuals with shared grievances do not always come together to form interest groups.
D) The number of interest groups with lobbyists in Washington, D.C., has increased over the past several decades.

Question 50

Why do small interest groups have an easier time enrolling potential members than do large interest groups?

A) In a small group, any individual's share of the collective good may be great enough to make it rational for him or her to join.
B) In a small group, only individuals who contribute to the group's efforts can enjoy the collective good.
C) Small groups are able to offer material incentives, whereas large groups are not.
D) Unlike large groups, small groups often receive the help of patrons in recruiting members.

Question 51

Some criticize pluralism by noting that political resources and power are unequally distributed within society.

Question 52

The Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007 banned gifts and honoraria to members of Congress and their staffs.

Question 53

An interest group is an organization that seeks to influence public policy.

Question 54

In which of the following do political action committees (PACs)tend to invest their contributions?

A) members of the minority party in Congress
B) campaigns of challengers
C) members of Congress who have supported them in the past
D) members of Congress who are the most ideologically extreme

Question 55

The Clayton Act of 1914 allowed unions to organize free from prosecution and also guaranteed their members' right to strike.

Question 56

Interest groups are prohibited from lobbying the federal bureaucracy.

Question 57

Which of the following can virtually eliminate the free rider problem?

A) a wealthy financier
B) electing interest group leaders
C) labor unions
D) providing collecting goods

Question 58

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

Question 59

Which of the following conditions would provide support for the theory 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) Economic interests have more lobbyists in Washington, D.C., than do other types of organizations.
D) Elected officials seek out the opinions of multiple interest groups when creating policy.

Question 60

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

Question 61

One function of lobbyists is to provide legislators with __________ about an interest group's position on a specific bill or issue.

Question 62

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

Question 63

An interest group seeking to influence the implementation of a law would most likely lobby the __________ branch of the federal government.

Question 64

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 65

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

Question 66

How do interest groups seek to influence the executive branch?

Question 67

Distinguish between public interest groups and economic groups.Provide examples of each.

Question 68

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.

Question 69

Explain the difference between grassroots lobbying and lobbying members of Congress directly.

Question 70

The freedom of association is guaranteed in the __________ Amendment to the Constitution.

Question 71

What is the free rider problem? Describe two ways that an interest group can overcome this problem.

Question 72

Discuss the relationship between lobbyists and members of Congress in terms of what each offers the other.

Question 73

Common Cause,an organization that pushes for openness and fairness in government,is an example of a(n)__________ group.

Question 74

An environmental group works to pass legislation that would decrease air pollution.An individual who does not contribute to the group but nonetheless enjoys the benefits of breathing clean air illustrates the __________ problem.

Question 75

Economic interest groups engage primarily in grassroots lobbying,whereas public interest groups focus mainly on direct lobbying of government officials.

Question 76

Pluralists believe that interest groups are harmful to the functioning of our political system.

Question 77

Discuss the role of interest groups in elections.

Question 78

According to the theory of pluralism,what role do interest groups play in shaping government policy? Does the theory assume that one set of interests dominates over others in this process?

Question 79

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

Question 80

One way that interest groups can influence court cases they are interested in is by filing a(n)__________.