Question 1

It is difficult for political scientists to categorize unrepresented interests because

Accepted Answer

A)  there are no constitutional means for unorganized interests to compete for attention. 
B)  there are no organizations that can present their identities and demands. 
C)  there are no measurements of interests and needs outside of representation. 
D)  these interests often want to stay hidden from public view.

Question 2

One way that AARP has been effective at overcoming the free-rider problem is by providing ________ benefits to its members.

Accepted Answer

A)  selective 
B)  elective 
C)  free-rider 
D)  public good

Question 3

Individuals and organizations can give an unlimited amount of money to

Accepted Answer

A)  U.S. Senate candidates. 
B)  U.S. presidential candidates. 
C)  political parties. 
D)  Super PACs.

Question 4

The major organizational factors shared by most interest groups are

Accepted Answer

A)  very close links with the national news media, direct ties to a member of Congress, a headquarters in Washington, D.C., and members. 
B)  very close links with the national news media, connections with Hollywood, direct ties to the president of the United States, and members. 
C)  leadership, money, an agency or office, and members. 
D)  leadership, a rigid hierarchical structure, access to loans from the Federal Reserve, and members.

Question 5

A full-page, fully paid spread in the New York Times publicizing a major oil company is best described as

Accepted Answer

A)  going public. 
B)  lobbying. 
C)  institutional advertising. 
D)  an issue network.

Question 6

The New Politics movement gave rise to ________ groups.

Accepted Answer

A)  ideological 
B)  partisan 
C)  labor 
D)  public interest

Question 7

Which of the following was eliminated as a result of 2002 campaign finance reforms?

Accepted Answer

A)  PACs 
B)  soft money 
C)  laws limiting the amount a candidate may spend of his or her personal fortune 
D)  interest group lobbying

Question 8

A grassroots lobbying campaign occurs when

Accepted Answer

A)  an interest group mobilizes its members and their families throughout the country to write their representatives in support of the group's position. 
B)  a spontaneous show of political support for a particular position manifests itself. 
C)  interest groups organize to support a dark-horse presidential candidate. 
D)  an interest group buys advertisements in newspapers around the country in order to publicize an issue.

Question 9

Public interest groups differ from other types of interest groups in that

Accepted Answer

A)  they claim to serve the common good, not just their own particular interests. 
B)  they were the first political associations to use the strategy of direct mailing. 
C)  they were the first group to abandon lobbying and take up only grassroots activism. 
D)  unlike other interest groups, their status is like that of a charity, not a political organization.

Question 10

The federal government has made many attempts to regulate lobbying over the course of American history. Discuss the federal government's rules regarding lobbying and what impact they have on the strategies employed by lobbyists. In your answer, be sure to discuss specific laws passed by Congress as well as recent Supreme Court decisions on campaign finance.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The federal government has made many attempts...

Question 11

Which of the following was NOT part of the ethics rules enacted by Congress in 2007?

Accepted Answer

A)  a prohibition on lobbyists from paying for most meals, trips, parties, and gifts for members of Congress 
B)  a requirement to disclose the amounts and sources of small campaign contributions collected from clients and "bundled" into large contributions 
C)  a requirement to disclose the funds lobbyists use to rally voters to support or oppose legislative proposals 
D)  a prohibition on all PAC contributions to members of Congress

Question 12

Describe some of the different strategies that interest groups use to gain influence on public policy. In your answer, be sure to give specific examples of each of the strategies you discuss.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Describe some of the different strategies that...

Question 13

Netroots groups are less expensive to organize than traditional interest groups because they

Accepted Answer

A)  do not provide any selective benefits to their members. 
B)  spend much less time communicating with their members and much more time lobbying policy makers. 
C)  have a streamlined staff structure with fewer staff who often work from virtual offices. 
D)  are always run entirely by volunteers who take no salary.

Question 14

The solidary benefits of interest groups include

Accepted Answer

A)  friendship and consciousness-raising. 
B)  special services and goods. 
C)  information and money. 
D)  identification with the purpose or ideology of the group.

Question 15

The best description of the ideal of pluralism is that

Accepted Answer

A)  the public good should always trump individual interests. 
B)  interest groups should be free to compete for governmental influence. 
C)  interest groups are factions that endanger liberty. 
D)  democracy is best served by legalizing but regulating the influence of interest groups.

Exam 8: Interest Groups