Question 1

A collection of groups come together and develop a platform of political goals. The groups are driven to act together because they lack access to conventional means of political participation. Because they are disadvantaged and excluded from conventional politics, they choose to use tactics that may draw public attention to their issues. How is this most easily defined?

Accepted Answer

A)   interest group
B)   protest movement
C)   social movement
D)   collective action
E)   public interest group C

Question 2

Interest groups and social movements are ________ of public opinion, because ________.

Accepted Answer

A)   representative; most people share some interests with social movements
B)   representative; most people make their voices heard in some social movement organization
C)   representative; social movement organizations represent a random sample of the population
D)   not representative; politicians hear from the best organized, rather than most representative, groups
E)   not representative; very few interest groups or social movements are widespread D

Question 3

A critic of American pluralism once wrote, "The flaw in the pluralist heaven is that the heavenly chorus sings with a strong upper-class accent." Explain this critique of pluralism. In this critical view, what is problematic about the role of interest groups in making public policy in the United States? How does this problem arise? What can be done about it?

Accepted Answer

A thorough answer may include the following:
•This critique points to the notion that promoters of pluralism (e.g., Dahl) miss the bias in favor of the interests of the wealthy.
•Because Dahl only studied proposed and debated issues, his study missed those issues that were not up for consideration. By ignoring these issues, Dahl missed the potential and likely influence the wealthy groups were having in keeping issues off the agenda.
•The problem arises because interest groups are vital sources of information for policy makers, as they make critical decisions about policy; interest groups are at some points acting "staff" for members of Congress-they help write, amend, and lobby other congressional members on particular bills.
•However, when Congress members are cross-pressured-lobbied from both sides of an issue-they are more likely to follow public opinion on the issue. This is generally considered more beneficial for democracy.

Question 4

Why do Washington lobbyists often complain about having to attend so many fund-raisers?

Accepted Answer

A)   The money organizations and politicians spend on fund-raising often exceeds the amount they can raise.
B)   They do not believe their individual contributions will make much difference in political outcomes.
C)   Socializing together makes politicians and lobbyists more corrupt.
D)   The events are boring and overpriced.
E)   Attending so many fund-raisers takes away from time that could be spent on advocacy efforts.

Question 5

A congresswoman with limited time can only take a meeting with one group. She is most likely to meet with the group that ________.

Accepted Answer

A)   represents her constituents and has strong ideological views
B)   has strong ideological views and has made campaign contributions
C)   has made campaign contributions and represents her constituents
D)   has made campaign contributions and has skilled lobbyists
E)   has skilled lobbyists and represents her constituents

Question 6

How do campaign contributions differ from other types of collective action problems?

Accepted Answer

A)   Candidates receive contributions from many different groups and individuals, so they are likely to give the most access to their most consistent donors.
B)   Candidates pay attention to who donates and who does not, so the contribution may still be useful for the candidates.
C)   Candidates receive contributions from many different groups and individuals, so they are likely to give the most access to their biggest donors.
D)   Candidates pay attention to who donates and who does not, so the contribution may still be effective for the donors.
E)   Candidates receive contributions from only a few groups and individuals, so donors who give the maximum are still likely to benefit.

Question 7

Instead of organizing an outside lobbying campaign, the pro-zinc public interest group Common Cents decides to focus on giving campaign contributions to legislators whose support they want. After giving maximum donations to the congressional delegation from another state, those legislators change their minds about a currency reform bill and vote to keep the penny, which is made from zinc. A competing interest group investigates and proves in court that these legislators only changed their votes because of the financial incentives provided by Common Cents. Common Cents's campaign contributions are an example of ________.

Accepted Answer

A)   special incentives
B)   selective incentives
C)   insider lobbying
D)   bribes
E)   a holdup

Question 8

The Black Lives Matter movement relied on many existing resources to establish new chapters around the country. Which of the following helps explain the success of this social movement?

Accepted Answer

A)   collective action theory
B)   resource mobilization perspective
C)   "party in the street" theory
D)   pluralism
E)   special donors

Question 9

According to the resource mobilization perspective, the civil rights movement succeeded in part because it was able to ________.

Accepted Answer

A)   rely on preexisting networks of student organizations and churches, which were able to elicit large financial donations from their members
B)   rely on preexisting networks of student organizations and churches, which were able to mobilize their members for political action
C)   rely on preexisting networks of student organizations and churches, which were able to convince their members to act with the group regardless of personal preferences
D)   mobilize substantial financial resources, which it then used to hire lobbyists and support candidates for elected office
E)   mobilize substantial financial resources, which it used to train movement adherents in protest tactics and public speaking

Question 10

Finding that local education policy is shaped by interactions between elected school board officials and representatives of teachers' unions, parents' organizations, and the business community would be most consistent with the theory of ________.

Accepted Answer

A)   pluralism
B)   democratism
C)   institutionalism
D)   populism
E)   elitism

Question 11

Reverend Martin Luther King Jr.'s efforts to lead the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and other organizations against discriminatory laws and practices in the American South is an example of ________.

Accepted Answer

A)   a selective incentive
B)   political entrepreneurship
C)   corporatism
D)   elitism
E)   insider lobbying

Question 12

National Public Radio often provides tote bags to members who contribute to its yearly fund-raising drive. These tote bags are an example of ____________.

Accepted Answer

A)   by-products
B)   latent gifts
C)   selective incentives
D)   special donors
E)   entrepreneurs

Question 13

A pharmaceutical company wants to convince the Food and Drug Administration, a federal bureaucratic agency, to relax regulations governing the amount of time it takes to move a drug through clinical trials. The company is most likely to succeed if it uses ________ lobbying tactics to influence ________ because ________.

Accepted Answer

A)   outside; the courts; justices are often heavily influenced by the content of amicus curiae briefs
B)   outside; bureaucrats; individuals working for bureaucracies can be influenced by their membership in interest groups
C)   inside; Congress; congressional hearings can draw attention to the issue and put it on legislative agendas
D)   inside; the president; he or she can change the institutional rules of any executive office agency
E)   inside; bureaucrats; interest groups often already have ongoing cooperative relationships with agencies

Question 14

Interest groups sometimes offer ________, which are rewards or benefits available only to their members or financial supporters, to overcome the collective action problem.

Accepted Answer

A)   public goods
B)   selective incentives
C)   public incentives
D)   selective service
E)   primary rewards

Question 15

Lobbyists tend to lobby legislators or bureaucrats who are ________.

Accepted Answer

A)   most strongly opposed to the group's position
B)   indecisive about supporting the group's position
C)   supportive of the group's position
D)   less senior, that is, have served little time in their institutions
E)   more senior, that is, have served much time in their institutions

Question 16

A bill requiring the auto industry to meet stricter emission standards is set to come before Congress. Many groups are invested in its outcome-environmental interest groups, auto manufacturers, labor unions, mechanics, environmental scientists, oil companies, and others. How are the groups representing these interests likely to behave?

Accepted Answer

A)   They will compete to make the largest donations to lawmakers.
B)   They will compete to get the most attention from lawmakers.
C)   They will work together to reframe issues and appeal to the broader public.
D)   They will work together to overcome collective action problems.
E)   They will work together to overcome coordination problems.

Question 17

Which is a concern shared by a group of people on which they have not yet chosen to act?

Accepted Answer

A)   lasting interest
B)   latent interest
C)   lost interest
D)   local interest
E)   level interest

Question 18

Tiffany supports the policy objectives of the National Rifle Association, but she has not actually joined the organization because she knows that her small membership fee will not make much of a difference in whether the organization succeeds or fails in its mission. Tiffany's thinking is indicative of a/an ________.

Accepted Answer

A)   coordination problem
B)   prisoner's dilemma
C)   principal-agent problem
D)   unstable coalition
E)   collective action problem

Question 19

Which is an attempt to influence public officials by speaking to them directly or by pressuring them through their constituents?

Accepted Answer

A)   lobbying
B)   legislating
C)   brokering
D)   wheeling
E)   pandering

Question 20

Explain how the collective action problem relates to the organization of interest groups and social movements. How are some groups able to overcome this barrier to collective action?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Explain how the collective action problem relates...

Exam 11: Interest Groups and Social Movements

Interest groups and social movements are of public opinion, because .