Question 1

What makes an interest group successful? Are larger interest groups more likely to achieve their goals than smaller groups?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What makes an interest group successful? Are...

Question 2

How did James Madison propose to overcome the problem of factions in Federalist No.10?

Accepted Answer

A)  by adopting a system of direct democracy 
B)  by banning the formation of interest groups 
C)  by discouraging citizens from expressing their political views in public 
D)  by expanding their sphere of participation

Question 3

Which of the following comes closest to James Madison's conception of factions?

Accepted Answer

A)  the media 
B)  women 
C)  interest groups 
D)  workers

Question 4

Anti-Vietnam War activists formed __________ interest groups.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Anti-Vietnam War activists formed __________ interest groups....

Question 5

The Chamber of Commerce is a powerful lobbying force in Washington,D.C.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

What is an iron triangle?

Accepted Answer

A)  a joining together of interest groups or individuals to achieve common goals 
B)  a form of subgovernment composed of leaders of interest groups, government agencies, and congressional committees 
C)  a nonprofit, tax-free policy planning organization that concentrates on policy development 
D)  an organization that solicits and receives campaign contributions from corporations, unions, trade associations, and other groups

Question 7

The theory of pluralism assumes that government policy reflects the balance of competing interest groups.What are the strengths and weaknesses of this theory?

Accepted Answer

The answer of The theory of pluralism assumes that government...

Question 8

Interest groups are prohibited from attempting to influence the decisions of elected officials who have received campaign contributions from the interest's PAC.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

What does intensity contribute to the success of an interest group?

Accepted Answer

A)  Intensity often leads groups to advocate for more than they can realistically get, and the final result is that they get nothing. 
B)  Intense interest group members often scare away other potential members with less intense beliefs. 
C)  Politicians are more likely to listen to a group showing intensity. 
D)  Intensity weeds out the free riders in a group, resulting in a more heterogeneous group.

Question 10

When a case that an interest group is interested in comes before the Supreme Court,the group can __________.

Accepted Answer

A)  meet with judges to explain the group's policy preferences 
B)  file an amicus curiae brief in support of one side of the case 
C)  appeal the 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 11

Ralph Nader launched the first major __________ group after winning a hefty damage settlement against General Motors.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Ralph Nader launched the first major __________...

Question 12

Lobbying works best on elected officials who are already committed to the interest group's policy positions.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

One service that lobbyists perform is to provide legislators with __________ that helps them to better understand the policy issue.

Accepted Answer

The answer of One service that lobbyists perform is to...

Question 14

Outline the four basic strategies that interest groups use to try to shape policy.Which of these is most effective?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Outline the four basic strategies that interest...

Question 15

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

Accepted Answer

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 16

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

Accepted Answer

The answer of Distinguish between public interest lobbies and economic...

Question 17

What type of group is a trade association?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 18

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.

Accepted Answer

A)  free-rider 
B)  pluralist 
C)  collective goods 
D)  group coordination

Question 19

You are the leader of a student organization working to pass federal legislation that would increase financial aid to college students.What specific strategies could you employ to overcome the free-rider problem in order to build your organization and increase your political clout?

Accepted Answer

The answer of You are the leader of a student...

Question 20

Elitists generally argue that __________.

Accepted Answer

A)  all legitimate groups are able to affect public policy by one means or another 
B)  corporations hold tremendous power 
C)  the American political terrain is characterized by a dispersion of power 
D)  the government is run for the benefit of all the people

Exam 10: Interest Groups

What makes an interest group successful? Are larger interest groups more likely to achieve their goals than smaller groups?

How did James Madison propose to overcome the problem of factions in Federalist No.10?

Which of the following comes closest to James Madison's conception of factions?

Anti-Vietnam War activists formed __________ interest groups.

The Chamber of Commerce is a powerful lobbying force in Washington,D.C.

What is an iron triangle?

The theory of pluralism assumes that government policy reflects the balance of competing interest groups.What are the strengths and weaknesses of this theory?

Interest groups are prohibited from attempting to influence the decisions of elected officials who have received campaign contributions from the interest's PAC.

What does intensity contribute to the success of an interest group?

When a case that an interest group is interested in comes before the Supreme Court,the group can __________.

Ralph Nader launched the first major __________ group after winning a hefty damage settlement against General Motors.

Lobbying works best on elected officials who are already committed to the interest group's policy positions.

One service that lobbyists perform is to provide legislators with __________ that helps them to better understand the policy issue.

Outline the four basic strategies that interest groups use to try to shape policy.Which of these is most effective?

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

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

What type of group is a trade association?

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.

You are the leader of a student organization working to pass federal legislation that would increase financial aid to college students.What specific strategies could you employ to overcome the free-rider problem in order to build your organization and increase your political clout?

Elitists generally argue that __________.