Deck 10: Interest Groups

Question 1

Many interest groups involve themselves in ________ to help get those they consider to be the right people into office or to keep them there.

A)lobbying
B)electioneering
C)litigation
D)policymaking
E)recruitment

Answer 1

B

Question 2

The multiplicity of American interest groups and the openness of American politics tends to _______ representation of individual interests. k.facilitate
L)hinder
M)block
N)discourage
O)amplify

Answer 2

A

Question 3

Interest groups employ the strategy of "going public"

A)because public opinion may ultimately make its way to policymakers.
B)so they can benefit from and use public opinion when possible.
C)to help improve their own reputations as meaningful forces among the public.
D)to create goodwill among the American public.
E)All of the above are true.

Answer 3

E

Question 4

Another term for a subgovernment is a(n)

A)iron triangle.
B)interest group.
C)multinational corporation.
D)faction.
E)political party.

Question 5

Which of the following statements about pluralism is TRUE?

A)Pluralist theory rests on many centers of power in American politics.
B)Groups serve as a key linkage institution in pluralist theory.
C)Pluralists assume that no single group will become too powerful.
D)The extensive organization of competing groups provides evidence that power is widely dispersed among them.
E)All of the above are true.

Question 6

According to Jeffrey Berry,organizations that seek "a collective good,the achievement of which will not selectively and materially benefit the membership or the activities of the organization" are called

A)interest groups.
B)selective benefits organizations.
C)public interest lobbies.
D)hyperpluralist groups.
E)free riders.

Question 7

A theory of government and politics contending that societies are divided among classes and that an upper-class elite rules is called

A)elite theory.
B)liberalism.
C)republicanism.
D)hyperpluralism.
E)pluralism.

Question 8

A theory of government and politics emphasizing that politics is mainly a competition among groups competing for preferred policies is called
F) pluralism.
G) hyperpluralism.
H) elite theory.
I) liberalism.
J) republicanism.

Question 9

Proponents of elite theories of politics would argue that the interest group with the most power consists of

A)business leaders.
B)agriculture and agribusiness.
C)energy and environmental groups.
D)consumer and public interest lobbies.
E)labor unions.

Question 10

The problem faced by groups when people do not join because they can benefit from the group's activity even without joining is called the ________ problem.

A)free-rider
B)single-interest
C)pluralist
D)hyperpluralist
E)perennial

Question 11

Interest groups tend to be policy specialists; political parties are policy generalists.

Question 12

Economic interest groups are ultimately concerned with

A)wages,prices,and profits.
B)wages and profits.
C)labor,farmers,business,and profits.
D)labor and prices.
E)business,labor,and farmers.

Question 13

Class action lawsuits

A)consist of written arguments submitted to the courts in support of one side of a case.
B)consist of lawsuits brought to the courts by one particular social class in society.
C)enable a group of similarly situated plaintiffs to combine similar grievances into a single suit.
D)enable organized interest groups to sue the federal government over a particular issue.
E)ask a court to take action against a particular group to stop them from injuring another group financially.

Question 14

All subgovernments have the same goal of

A)protecting the public interest.
B)attacking the government head-on.
C)protecting their self-interest.
D)electing the most qualified people to office.
E)joining the main government.

Question 15

According to Olson's law of large groups,

A)the larger the group,the more effective it will be.
B)the smaller the group,the more effective it will be.
C)the size of a group does not determine its effectiveness; the leadership structure is the key.
D)all groups have a life cycle of birth,growth,maintenance,and decline,although many never decline completely.
E)large groups are more democratic.

Question 16

Goods such as publications,discounts,and group insurance rates are examples of

A)selective benefits.
B)free riders.
C)collective goods.
D)subgovernments.
E)membership requirements.

Question 17

A "communication by someone other than a citizen acting on his or her own behalf,directed to a governmental decision maker with the hope of influencing his or her decision" is a definition of

A)campaigning.
B)lobbying.
C)electioneering.
D)litigation.
E)a policy output.

Question 18

Elitist views of interest groups emphasize that

A)groups are essentially equal in their power and thus cancel each others' influence on policymakers.
B)a system of interlocking directorates reinforces the power of the few dominant groups.
C)group competition weakens the ability of any one group to dominate.
D)because there are so many groups,their effect on policy is insignificant.
E)the leaders of powerful interest groups tend to think they are superior to the average citizen and thus demand special privileges from government not accorded the rest of society in order to maintain themselves as a privileged elite.

Question 19

Amicus curiae briefs

A)are written explanations of a court decision.
B)are lawsuits submitted by interest groups.
C)consist of written arguments submitted to the courts in support of one side of a case.
D)enable groups of similarly situated plaintiffs to combine similar grievances into a single suit.
E)are legal arguments submitted by the president's attorneys advocating the United States government's position in an important federal court case.

Question 20

Whereas interest groups tend to be ________,political parties are __________.

A)policy specialists; policy generalists
B)policy generalists; policy specialists
C)pluralists; elitists
D)elitists; pluralists
E)people driven; candidate driven

Question 21

The bigger the group,the more serious the free-rider problem.

Question 22

The group theory of politics offered by pluralist theorists argues all of the following EXCEPT

A)groups provide a key link between people and government.
B)no one group is likely to become too dominant.
C)groups are all of equal strength; for example,in resources and numbers.
D)groups usually play by the rules of the game.
E)different groups win at different times.

Question 23

The term interest group can be generally defined as

A)an organization that seeks a collective good,the achievement of which will not specifically or materially benefit the membership or activists of the organization.
B)a group that has a narrow interest,dislikes compromise,and single-mindedly pursues its goal.
C)all people who share some common interest regardless of whether they join an organization promoting that interest.
D)an organization of people with similar policy goals entering the political process to try to achieve those aims.
E)an organization of people who share a common interest who run candidates sympathetic to that interest in elections.

Question 24

The pluralist theory of American politics maintains that

A)the extensive organization of competing groups is evidence that influence is widely dispersed among them.
B)the proliferation of interest groups results in political stagnation.
C)the largest interest groups will come to dominate policymaking.
D)although groups often do not play by the rules of the game,they do represent the American public at large.
E)the slogan on our money,e pluribus unum,is accurate in the sense that out of the many competing groups in America,a single unified American purpose has been forged.

Question 25

An extremely low percentage of the U.S.population is members in environmental groups compared to other industrialized democracies.

Question 26

The National Rifle Association is an example of a public interest lobby.

Question 27

Pluralism is a(n)______ theory of politics.

A)elite
B)group
C)individual
D)liberal
E)rational

Question 28

Interest groups differ from political parties because

A)parties use technology more effectively.
B)groups tend to be policy specialists while parties tend to be policy generalists.
C)the groups' main arena is the electoral system.
D)parties seek many access points in government.
E)parties use technology less effectively.

Question 29

________ theorists argue that the power of the few is fortified by an extensive system of interlocking directorates and that wealthy corporations prevail when it comes to major decisions by government.

A)Pluralist
B)Hyperpluralist
C)Elitist
D)Hyperelitist
E)Pyramid

Question 30

Selective benefits are one way for large groups to overcome Olson's law of large groups.

Question 31

Elitist theorists argue that

A)groups weak in one resource can use another,and all legitimate groups are able to affect public policy by one means or another.
B)the fact that there are numerous groups proves nothing,because most groups are extremely unequal in power.
C)the government has treated all interest group demands as legitimate and unwisely chosen to advance them all.
D)the larger the group,the further it will fall short of providing an optimal amount of a collective good.
E)governments should be controlled by a select group of well-educated,cultured,wealthy persons who understand the laws of economics and can run the most efficient government.

Question 32

According to ________ theorists,interest groups compete and counterbalance one another in the political marketplace.

A)elitist
B)hyperelitist
C)pluralist
D)hyperpluralist
E)free-market

Question 33

Proponents of elite theory point to the proliferation of business PACs as evidence of interest group corruption in American politics and believe,in essence,that Madison's system failed.

Question 34

The idea that just a few groups have all the power is associated with

A)elite theory.
B)pluralist theory.
C)hyperpluralist theory.
D)democratic theory.
E)syndicalism.

Question 35

A pluralistic interpretation of interest group politics would maintain that

A)all groups are subject to corrupt practices and tactics involving violence.
B)the degree of organization of a group has no effect on its ability to influence policy.
C)all legitimate groups can affect public policy by means of one political resource or another.
D)when groups compete the public interest is not served.
E)the overemphasis on groups in America has submerged the value of the individual and led to government policies that suppress individual interests.

Question 36

Elite theorists point to the concentration of power in the hands of a few to challenge the premises of pluralist theory.

Question 37

Organizations that seek a "collective good,the achievement of which will not selectively and materially benefit the membership or activities of the organization" are called equality interest groups.

Question 38

Large groups have organizational advantages over small groups.

Question 39

American unions have been strong supporters of right-to-work laws.

Question 40

According to the pluralist group theory of politics,

A)all groups are equal.
B)groups do not compete.
C)groups do not play by the rules of the game.
D)groups weak in one resource can use another.
E)most political influence comes from individuals speaking in the name of groups but actually acting on their own personal agenda.

Question 41

An advantage of single-issue groups is their

A)financial resources.
B)pool of potential members.
C)pool of actual members.
D)intensity.
E)diversity.

Question 42

An advantage for small groups is that

A)free riders can be forced out of the organization,creating more unity.
B)it is easier to reconcile divergent interests in small groups.
C)there is more at stake for each member,making it easier to organize and activate all members.
D)collective goods do not have to share with the big interests.
E)they are able to "hide" in the political process so that opposing groups are not able to organize against them.

Question 43

Interest group liberalism refers to

A)government freedom to favor some interest groups over others.
B)government's excessive deference to interest groups.
C)the liberal political ideology of most interest groups.
D)the proliferation of the number of interest groups.
E)the strong tendency of interest groups to back the Democratic Party and not the Republican Party and that keeps the Democratic Party in power.

Question 44

According to the Fortune Power 25,which of the following factors affects the success of interest groups?

A)Size
B)Intensity
C)Financial resources
D)All of the above affect the size of interest groups.
E)None of the above affects the size of interest groups.

Question 45

Which of the following is NOT one of the major elements of the subgovernment system at the national level?

A)Interest group
B)Congressional committee
C)Federal court
D)Federal agency
E)Bureaucrats

Question 46

The network comprised by the Retail Tobacco Distributors of America,the Department of Agriculture,and the House Tobacco Subcommittee is an example of a(n)

A)iron triangle.
B)subgovernment.
C)Either a or b is correct.
D)interest group.
E)multinational corporation.

Question 47

The free-rider problem refers to the difficulty that

A)large groups have in activating all their potential members.
B)single-issue groups have when another problem is added to their agenda.
C)actual groups have in collecting dues from members.
D)small groups face in raising enough money to influence policy.
E)potential groups have in trying to receive their share in collective goods.

Question 48

Part of Olson's law of large groups is the argument that

A)the larger the potential group,the less likely potential members are to contribute.
B)the larger the potential group,the more likely potential members are to contribute.
C)potential group size does not have any measurable effect on the willingness of potential members to contribute.
D)an actual group and a potential group are virtually the same when it comes to effectiveness.
E)the smaller the group,the less likely the potential members are to contribute.

Question 49

A network of groups within the American political system that exercises power over specific policy areas is called a(n)

A)interest group.
B)subgovernment.
C)elitist.
D)hyperpluralist.
E)rational actor.

Question 50

A hyperpluralist interpretation of group politics would maintain that

A)groups weak in one resource can substitute other resources to influence policy decisions.
B)groups have become so powerful that government ends up aiding every possible interest.
C)the fact that there are numerous groups proves nothing,because groups are unequal in power.
D)groups provide a key linkage between people and government.
E)All of these are true.

Question 51

Subgovernments are

A)networks of groups within the American political system that exercise power over specific policy areas.
B)composed of key interest group leaders,government agencies in charge of administrative policy,and congressional committees all interested in particular policy areas.
C)also known as iron triangles.
D)work to protect their own self-interest.
E)All of the above are true.

Question 52

The primary way that groups overcome Olson's law is through

A)mandatory membership.
B)reducing membership fees.
C)selective benefits.
D)centralizing.
E)decentralizing.

Question 53

The hyperpluralist complaint that interest group politics creates subgovernments refers to the

A)cooperative efforts of business and government to promote special interests.
B)power of interest groups in determining government policies.
C)overwhelming influence of interest groups in local governments.
D)use of paid lobbyists on congressional committees and subcommittees.
E)network of groups within the American political system that continually work against each other.

Question 54

Clean air,a tax write-off,and a raised minimum wage are all examples of

A)collective goods.
B)potential problems.
C)free-rider problems.
D)single-issue interest groups.
E)selective benefits.

Question 55

Which of the following matters can NOT be explained by Mancur Olson's law of large groups?

A)The problems of public interest lobbies
B)Why small groups are easier to organize
C)Why large groups are less effective than small groups
D)The successes of the Consumers Union
E)Why potential members have incentives to free-ride

Question 56

The criticism that government refuses to make tough choices between X or Y,instead pretending there is no need to choose and trying to favor both,is most often made by ________ theorists.

A)pluralist
B)hyperpluralist
C)elitist
D)hyperelitist
E)rational choice

Question 57

Subgovernments are composed of key interest group leaders interested in policy X,the government agency in charge of administering policy X,and the ________ handling policy X.

A)congressional committees and subcommittees
B)federal courts
C)public relations officers
D)political candidates
E)local governments

Question 58

Elite theorists emphasize the power of

A)subgovernments.
B)business corporations.
C)congressional staff members.
D)public interest lobbies.
E)presidents.

Question 59

Which of the following groups claims the smallest share of its potential members?

A)National Consumers League
B)United States Savings and Loan League
C)Tobacco Institute
D)Air Transport Association
E)American Medical Association

Question 60

________ helps to explain why public interest lobbies have relatively small proportions of actual members.

A)The free-rider problem
B)Special interest liberalism
C)The rise of political action committees
D)Tougher regulation of all lobbyists
E)Olson's law of large groups

Question 61

Literally,amicus curiae means

A)legal opinion.
B)legal argument.
C)friend of the court.
D)curious observer.
E)let the decision stand.

Question 62

"A communication,by someone other than a citizen acting on his own behalf,directed to a governmental decision maker with the hope of influencing his decision" is called

A)litigating.
B)electioneering.
C)lobbying.
D)free-riding.
E)collecting benefits.

Question 63

The law regulating whether an organization or firm should register its employees as lobbyists is the

A)Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995.
B)Communications Act of 2000.
C)U.S. Senate Secretary's Registry of Lobbyists.
D)Washington Representatives.
E)McCain-Feingold Act of 2002.

Question 64

Political action committee (PAC)money goes overwhelmingly to

A)Independents.
B)challengers.
C)incumbents.
D)Democrats.
E)Republicans.

Question 65

In "going public," interest groups

A)extend membership to a broader range of people.
B)use advertising and public relations to enhance their image.
C)bring class action suits against their opponents.
D)issue stock.
E)open their decision-making meetings to the general public.

Question 66

According to the Center for Responsive Politics,the greatest total amount spent on lobbying from 1998 to 2007 was by the _________ industry.

A)music
B)automobile
C)real estate
D)education
E)pharmaceuticals

Question 67

Direct group involvement in the electoral process is called

A)free-riding.
B)electioneering.
C)providing selective benefits.
D)litigating.
E)disclosure.

Question 68

An amicus curiae brief is

A)one that enables a group of similarly situated plaintiffs to combine similar grievances into a single suit to pursue a remedy for past wrongs.
B)an oral or written appeal of a court decision made by an interest group that is party to the particular case.
C)an oral or written appeal of a court decision made by an interest group not party to a particular case.
D)a written argument submitted to the courts in support of one side of a case.
E)the written statement of a court's decision in a case explaining the reasons for the decision.

Question 69

Right-to-work laws are most strongly supported by

A)unemployed citizens.
B)business groups.
C)union officials.
D)the feminist and civil rights movements.
E)illegal immigrants.

Question 70

According to the text,lobbying works best

A)with people who are undecided about a policy.
B)when large amounts of money are involved.
C)on people already committed to the lobbyist's policy position.
D)when the lobbyist uses pressure tactics.
E)when the lobbyist starts crying and pleading.

Question 71

Which of the following is NOT a way in which a lobbyist can help a member of Congress?

A)Obtaining group support for the politician's reelection
B)Introducing legislation in Congress
C)Providing valuable information on specialized policy areas
D)Helping with political strategy
E)Assisting with the cost of traveling between their home district and Washington,D.C.

Question 72

________ enables a group of similarly situated plaintiffs to combine similar grievances into a single suit.

A)An amicus curiae brief
B)A public interest suit
C)Olson's law of large groups
D)A class action lawsuit
E)A collective civil suit

Question 73

The union shop

A)serves as the headquarters of an organized labor group.
B)sells only goods made by laborers affiliated with a union.
C)requires that all employees in a unionized business join the union.
D)is a retail store whose employees are unionized.
E)Both b and d are true.

Question 74

Which of the following is an example of a labor union?

A)AFL-CIO
B)AARP
C)FEC
D)FCC
E)NIH

Question 75

Steve Sovern's LASTPAC and Common Cause

A)agree that all candidates and officeholders should not accept money from political action groups.
B)disagree on the issue of whether PACs engage in influence peddling.
C)disagree on the issue of whether electioneering is an appropriate policy arena for interest groups.
D)agree that the $5,000 limit on PAC contributions makes such contributions meaningless in multimillion-dollar presidential campaigns and should be rescinded.
E)agree that the income tax check-off to support public financing of presidential campaigns should be eliminated.

Question 76

The Taft-Hartley Act permits _______,which outlaw union membership as a condition of employment.

A)right-to-work laws
B)union shops
C)nonlabor PACs
D)public interest lobbies
E)economic interest groups

Question 77

Right-to-work laws ________ the union shop.

A)take a neutral stance toward
B)require
C)legalize
D)outlaw
E)regulate

Question 78

Which of the following statements about interest groups is FALSE?

A)The majority of groups now have their headquarters in Washington,D.C.
B)There are an enormous number of highly specialized and seemingly trivial groups.
C)Almost every group has a staff and publications.
D)The growth rate of interest groups has slowed in recent years.
E)Groups are more diverse today than in past decades.

Question 79

The historic Tax Reform Act of 1986 is a good example of

A)the fact that big interests usually win in American politics.
B)the fact that big interests don't always win in American politics.
C)how difficult it is for large groups to provide an optimal level of a collective good.
D)how easy it can be for groups to overcome the free-rider problem through selective benefits.
E)the power of single issue groups.

Question 80

Economic groups

A)are those that require individuals to pay dues to be members.
B)consist only of corporations,rather than individuals,as members.
C)are those groups interested in wages,prices,and profits.
D)lobby on behalf of all consumers.
E)are those groups that provide information to Congress.