Question 1

What are the differences between a social movement and an interest group? How are they related?

Accepted Answer

Social movements and interest groups are both forms of collective action, but they differ in their goals, organization, and methods of operation.

Social movements are typically grassroots efforts that seek to bring about broad social or political change. They often arise in response to perceived injustices or inequalities and aim to mobilize a large number of people to advocate for change. Social movements are often decentralized and may lack formal leadership, relying instead on the participation of a diverse range of individuals and organizations.

Interest groups, on the other hand, are organized entities that advocate for specific policy changes or represent the interests of a particular group of people. They are often more formalized and have specific goals and strategies for achieving them. Interest groups may use lobbying, litigation, or public relations campaigns to influence decision-makers and shape public policy.

Despite these differences, social movements and interest groups are related in that they both seek to influence the political process and bring about change. In some cases, social movements may give rise to interest groups as they seek to institutionalize their efforts and achieve more specific policy goals. Interest groups may also support or align themselves with social movements to advance their own agendas or gain broader public support.

Overall, while social movements and interest groups have distinct characteristics, they are both important vehicles for collective action and can complement each other in their efforts to bring about social and political change.

Question 2

Lobbyists provide advisory assistance to legislators by

Accepted Answer

A)   testifying before legislative committees.
B)   assisting legislators with the drafting of bills.
C)   providing technical expertise to legislators.
D)   providing exotic vacations for legislators.
E)   Options A, B, and C are true. E

Question 3

Regardless of an interest group's size or resources, it can be considered powerful if

Accepted Answer

A)   it has strong and effective leadership.
B)   it successfully turns itself into a political party.
C)   its members are motivated, engaged, and politically active.
D)   Both A and B.
E)   Both A and C. A

Question 4

The Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007

Accepted Answer

A)   requires lobbyists to report their activities annually.
B)   requires Congress to post lobbying information on the Internet.
C)   significantly changed the culture in Washington, DC.
D)   requires that all pork spending proposals be reported to the president.
E)   limits spending by lobbyists to $100,000 per quarter.

Question 5

Explain the factors that make an interest group powerful.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Explain the factors that make an interest...

Question 6

Social movements

Accepted Answer

A)   are spawned most often by political parties or those in society with formal representation.
B)   may be the authentic voice of the weak or oppressed in society.
C)   are generally organized by a single powerful interest group.
D)   generally last for five to ten years.
E)   All of the above are true.

Question 7

In an effort to reduce the power of special interests, the Obama administration

Accepted Answer

A)   tried to prevent former lobbyists from holding positions in the administration.
B)   introduced legislation to ban all lobbying.
C)   refused to meet with any lobbyists on any issue.
D)   created the Bureau of Lobbying Interests to oversee lobbying and recommend reforms.
E)   Both A and D.

Question 8

The makeup of dominant voices of interest groups toward Congress tends to support

Accepted Answer

A)   an elite theory of politics.
B)   a pluralist theory of politics.
C)   a direct democracy.
D)   Both A and B.
E)   Both B and C.

Question 9

All of the following statements about demonstrations are true except

Accepted Answer

A)   if peaceable, they are protected by the First Amendment.
B)   they were used to great effect by the civil rights movement.
C)   they were used by the movement against the Vietnam War.
D)   they are organized refusals to buy the products of a particular company.
E)   if violent, they can backfire and alienate the public.

Question 10

Describe the categories of economic interest groups and provide examples of each.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Describe the categories of economic interest groups...

Question 11

A free rider is

Accepted Answer

A)   an interest group member.
B)   a participant in a social movement.
C)   someone granted free passage to Washington, DC, to lobby or demonstrate.
D)   someone who benefits from the actions of a group without joining it.
E)   a civil rights activist.

Question 12

To influence government and policy, lobbyists commonly engage in all of the following except

Accepted Answer

A)   meeting privately with public officials.
B)   testifying before congressional committees.
C)   assisting in the drafting of legislation.
D)   running for Congress.
E)   suggesting nominations for federal courts.

Question 13

Discuss two different categories of economic interest groups and contrast these groups with public interest groups.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Discuss two different categories of economic interest...

Question 14

Most interest groups have a bias toward

Accepted Answer

A)   the middle and upper classes.
B)   the middle and lower classes.
C)   the common good.
D)   the political right.
E)   the political left.

Question 15

Describe legislative efforts to regulate the activities of lobbyists.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Describe legislative efforts to regulate the activities...

Question 16

A lobbyist is

Accepted Answer

A)   any association of individuals.
B)   inevitably affiliated with one of the two major political parties.
C)   an individual or organization that attempts to influence legislation and the administrative decisions of government.
D)   a member of Congress who challenges the majority position.
E)   a member of the congressional leadership who is in a position to shape the legislative agenda in a way that benefits powerful interest groups.

Question 17

The most numerous types of interest groups in the United States are

Accepted Answer

A)   economic interest groups.
B)   social interest groups.
C)   liberal interest groups.
D)   environmental interest groups.
E)   public interest groups.

Question 18

Generating public pressure and awareness may

Accepted Answer

A)   convince policymakers that public opinion overwhelmingly supports the interest group's position.
B)   mislead the public on environmental issues.
C)   bypass the legislative process.
D)   force bureaucrats to answer to congressional committees.
E)   lobby lawmakers directly.

Question 19

One of the ways in which lobbyists make themselves valuable to decision makers is by

Accepted Answer

A)   threatening to campaign against them in upcoming elections.
B)   providing bribes.
C)   threatening to withhold campaign contributions.
D)   providing information and expertise whenever asked.
E)   inviting them to parties.

Question 20

Interest groups

Accepted Answer

A)   have equal resources to influence legislation.
B)   possess different combinations of resources to use in the policymaking process.
C)   always begin as social movements.
D)   are always comprised of members who have high social status.
E)   All of the above are true.

Exam 7: Interest Groups