Deck 8: Interest Groups

Question 1

A(n) __________ consists of those who stand to gain or lose more than others.

A) initiative
B) interest group
C) political action committee
D) special interest
E) union

Answer 1

special interest

Question 2

Organizations that try to influence public policy are called

A) initiatives.
B) interest groups.
C) political action committees.
D) special interests.
E) unions.

Answer 2

interest groups.

Question 3

A faction is a group whose passions or interests are

A) adverse to the rights of other citizens or the interests of the community.
B) aligned with the best interests of the community.
C) identical to the majority of voters.
D) always in the minority.
E) designed for the political gain of a particular party.

Answer 3

adverse to the rights of other citizens or the interests of the community.

Question 4

A concern many people have about American political debates is that the

A) free-market economy gives an unfair disadvantage to large corporations.
B) people do not have the opportunity for sufficient political participation.
C) poor have more interest groups to lobby in their favor.
D) upper class is unduly burdened.
E) voices of rich interest groups outweigh those of the poor.

Question 5

Interest groups maintain that one of their major contributions to deliberation is

A) bringing suit against the government when rights are endangered.
B) directing the flow of donations to the proper officials.
C) donating to campaigns.
D) educating policymakers about their issues.
E) presiding over congressional hearings.

Question 6

The organizational work of interest groups has become much easier today than in the nineteenth century in large part due to

A) a decrease in special interests.
B) advances in communication and transportation.
C) increased regulations imposed by Congress.
D) negative attention from presidential candidates.
E) the growing cost of lobbyists.

Question 7

Over time many interest groups have pressed for new agencies to represent their interests. In this way interest groups have

A) contributed to the growth of government.
B) increased political participation on the local level.
C) diminished their influence in government.
D) generated large sums of money for government projects.
E) reduced the size of government.

Question 8

The development of industries led to the growth of

A) Midwestern farms.
B) organized labor.
C) the Department of Veterans' Affairs.
D) the judiciary.
E) the President's Cabinet.

Question 9

Suppose the National Council of Star Trek Fans (NCSTF) lobbies Congress to adopt Klingon as a second national language. Since all fans of the franchise, not just members who pay dues, would benefit from the Council's success, the NCSTF faces a common hurdle of interest groups called

A) grasstops.
B) ideological factions.
C) selective incentives.
D) the free-rider problem.
E) the soft money problem.

Question 10

Many interest groups encourage membership by

A) advertising monetary gain for active members.
B) coercing employers into hiring only group members.
C) offering political favors to elected officials who bring in new members.
D) providing selective incentives to members.
E) threatening those who choose not to join.

Question 11

An economic group is an interest group that

A) relies exclusively on lobbyists to pursue its interests.
B) explicitly pursues its own material welfare.
C) does not have to contend with the free-rider problem.
D) is a for-profit organization.
E) provides economic benefits to its paying members.

Question 12

When large companies prosper, their employees usually

A) complain to the federal government.
B) look for work elsewhere.
C) lose benefits.
D) share in the gain in some way.
E) suffer.

Question 13

When businesses have an interest in public policy but do not find it economical to keep an office in Washington, D.C., they may join a

A) foundation.
B) grassroots organization.
C) political action committee.
D) think tank.
E) trade association.

Question 14

The Motion Picture Association of America is an example of a(n)

A) economic interest group.
B) foundation.
C) ideological interest group.
D) political action committee.
E) trade association.

Question 15

How do professional associations differ from trade associations?

A) Professional associations are based on voluntary membership, whereas trade associations require certain workers to join their organizations.
B) Professional associations are created by acts of Congress; trade associations are created by state legislation.
C) Only professional associations are headquartered in Washington, D.C.
D) Professional associations are more costly than trade associations.
E) Professional associations often have the authority to impose formal discipline on their members.

Question 16

Which of the following demonstrates a way in which a professional association has fought to hold down competition?

A) The American Medical Association has sought laws denying midwives federal reimbursement.
B) The Edison Electric Company issues detailed studies of energy and environmental issues.
C) The Motion Pictures Association of America has established a rating system to limit children's access to movies with adult content.
D) The National Organization for Women has fought for equal pay for women in the workforce.
E) The United States Agricultural Society pressed Congress to establish the Department of Agriculture.

Question 17

What is a major source of tension within organizations such as the American Bar Association?

A) Factions emerge or become more defined each time the leadership of the groups changes.
B) The associations are small and personal conflicts often impede pursuit of the common good.
C) There is seldom enough money or manpower to achieve the goals of such organizations.
D) Varied political ideologies of the leadership weaken the group's ability to present a unified front to Congress.
E) Within a large organization there are many specialized groups whose interests may be at odds with each other.

Question 18

The Wagner Act helped to bring union membership to

A) agricultural workers during the Great Depression.
B) urban areas at the turn of the century.
C) military bases after World War II.
D) half of all textile employees by 1919.
E) one-third of nonagricultural employment by 1955.

Question 19

The Taft-Hartley Act restricted union leaders' ability to

A) limit membership to upper-level employees.
B) counteract the free-rider problem.
C) engage in collective bargaining.
D) enact right-to-work laws.
E) open union shops.

Question 20

Union shops are forbidden by

A) the Constitution.
B) 501(c)(3) organizations.
C) PACs.
D) the AFL-CIO.
E) right-to-work laws.

Question 21

Some unions, such as the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, started focusing on international human rights and launching services such as scholarships because they

A) hope to increase membership by radically changing their mission.
B) seek membership beyond their traditional blue-collar employees.
C) seek to change the announced purpose of their union.
D) seek to overcome an historical reputation of corruption.
E) have found that the government is more generous with funds for socially conscious organizations.

Question 22

The AFL-CIO is

A) a PAC.
B) a scholarship foundation set up by the Teamsters.
C) a special interest think tank.
D) an organization of many unions.
E) the nation's largest union.

Question 23

Policy groups are different from economic groups in that

A) their announced mission is to serve higher goals than their members' material interests.
B) their members are largely government officials.
C) they are clearly distinguished from economic groups.
D) they focus on many topics at one time.
E) they have no interest in lobbying Congress on any issue.

Question 24

An interest group that has a strong commitment to a certain political philosophy is called a(n)

A) public interest group.
B) ideological interest group.
C) philosophical interest group.
D) think tank.
E) union shop.

Question 25

The AARP may not contribute to a federal candidate but may still legally advocate specific policy positions because it falls under

A) the AFL-CIO.
B) the jurisdiction of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
C) Section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue code.
D) Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue code.
E) the same laws governing PACs.

Question 26

Think tanks are 501(c)(3) organizations because

A) contributions to them are tax-deductible.
B) membership dues cannot be used to support federal candidates, but general contributions to the organization can be used as campaign donations.
C) they may not contribute to a federal candidate, but they are allowed to advocate specific legislative positions.
D) they pay a fee to the government in return for loose regulations on their activities.
E) they pay income tax.

Question 27

The purpose of ___________ is to make grants to organizations for scientific, educational, religious, or other charitable purposes.

A) foundations
B) PACs
C) section 527 groups
D) think tanks
E) union shops

Question 28

Which of the following groups is not tax-exempt?

A) Foundations
B) Political action committees
C) Section 501(c)(4) groups
D) Sections 527 groups
E) Think tanks

Question 29

Economic or policy groups may form PACs in order to

A) receive tax breaks.
B) improve their public image.
C) establish scholarships.
D) give money to federal candidates.
E) influence Supreme Court decisions.

Question 30

How do Super PACs differ from traditional PACs?

A) Contributions to them are tax-deductible.
B) They can directly fund specific candidates and parties.
C) They may not contribute directly to parties or candidates.
D) They pay a fee to the government in return for loose regulations on their activities.
E) They do not fund television and radio commercials.

Question 31

Groups such as the League of Women Voters focus on grassroots organization, which means that it

A) does not have a national headquarters.
B) enlists the support of influential officials and lawmakers.
C) is based outside of Washington, D.C.
D) relies heavily on in-house lobbyists.
E) works among the broad, general public.

Question 32

Travel discounts offered by AARP are an example of

A) a free-rider.
B) factions.
C) selective incentives.
D) soft money.
E) lobbying.

Question 33

The federal government gives grants to policy groups, but policy groups may not use these funds to

A) counteract policies of the administration.
B) free-up money from other sources, which they may use for policy initiatives.
C) influence lawmakers.
D) supplement money from liberal foundations.
E) support charities that advocate conservative political causes.

Question 34

The National Rifle Association is an example of a(n)

A) economic group.
B) foundation.
C) policy group.
D) professional association.
E) trade association.

Question 35

Direct advocates of special interests are called

A) contractors.
B) union leaders.
C) policymakers.
D) lobbyists.
E) policy specialists.

Question 36

The National Association of Retired Beekeepers keeps a lobbyist on its payroll. He is called a(n) ________________ lobbyist.

A) contract
B) direct
C) in-house
D) public interest
E) union

Question 37

A lobbyist routinely emails, telephones, and meets with a group of moderate congressmen regarding his interest group. This communication is called

A) indirect lobbying.
B) direct lobbying.
C) blitzing.
D) contracting.
E) public interest lobbying.

Question 38

Lobbyists might keep technical experts on their support staffs to

A) appear to be a larger, and therefore more dependable, organization.
B) ensure that their information is reliable.
C) keep an appearance of professionalism.
D) obtain more federal grants.
E) retain their 501(c)(3) status.

Question 39

A top executive for a major defense firm has served in two previous administrations. This is an example of

A) a breach of ethics for a former government employee.
B) a revolving door between the public and private sectors.
C) bribery.
D) bundling.
E) a high level lobbyist.

Question 40

The purpose of a waiting period between holding a government post and a lobbying position is to

A) allow individuals a period of recuperation after the high demands of public service.
B) keep the number of lobbyists as low as possible.
C) keep people from taking unfair advantage of the contacts and knowledge they gained from public service.
D) provide relief for a strained federal budget.
E) provide time for the extensive background check many interest groups require.

Question 41

Good grassroots power requires that an interest group's membership be

A) concentrated in Washington, D.C.
B) geographically dispersed.
C) marginally concerned about the group's issue.
D) small.
E) young.

Question 42

The AARP distributes lists of each politician's vote on key issues in order to

A) keep its members informed of the direction of policy in Congress.
B) influence lawmakers' votes.
C) coerce its member to vote a certain way.
D) dominate the election with its members' votes.
E) make its own policy positions public.

Question 43

A lobbying tactic that enlists the help of those who may hold influence with lawmakers is a(n)

A) air war.
B) bundling operation.
C) direct lobby.
D) grassroots operation.
E) grasstops operation.

Question 44

An interest group that takes out numerous advertisements on television and in major newspapers is engaging in a(n)

A) air war.
B) bundling operation.
C) direct lobby.
D) grassroots operation.
E) grasstops operation.

Question 45

The utility of Web videos designed to communicate the message of an interest group is limited by the

A) increasing cost of production.
B) federal regulations on their content, length, and funding.
C) shorttime they have to explain fully the message.
D) short time they are available online.
E) fact that they are only able to reach those who make the effort to find them.

Question 46

Political action committees grew when

A) Congress took steps to reform the tax code for non-profit organizations.
B) federal candidates began refusing contributions from corporations.
C) organized labor quit funding them.
D) the AFL-CIO began requiring its members to contribute to campaigns.
E) the Federal Election Campaign Act limited individual contributions.

Question 47

What benefit do PACs offer congressional candidates?

A) Candidates are able to raise larger sums of money.
B) Candidates are able to show support for organizations without explicitly stating their connection.
C) They ensure additional votes.
D) It is a way for candidates to get around tax codes.
E) They provide a larger base of supporters.

Question 48

What benefit do PACs offer economic and policy groups?

A) Groups are able to curry the favor of a candidate without public knowledge.
B) Groups are able to keep any money the candidate does not need.
C) Groups avoid internal conflict because members do not know of the connection between the group and the candidate.
D) PACs are a lawful way to influence campaign politics.
E) PACs are a way to bolster their treasuries without having to report it to the IRS.

Question 49

The Democratic Republican Independent Voter Education Committee is a connected PAC because it

A) falls under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Service.
B) is sponsored by the Teamsters.
C) sponsors scholarships and grants for aspiring politicians.
D) is responsible for connecting candidates with likely voters.
E) is a conglomeration of several affiliated PACs.

Question 50

Since the Teamsters sponsor the Democratic Republican Independent Voter Education Committee, the committee may

A) only contribute $2,300 per candidate in each election cycle.
B) only give money to a policy initiative, not to an individual candidate.
C) only solicit money from people with connections to the Teamsters.
D) qualify for tax-exempt status.
E) solicit money from anyone who can legally donate to a campaign.

Question 51

A PAC with no connections to any organization is called a(n)

A) bundling PAC.
B) connected PAC.
C) economic interest group.
D) foundation.
E) nonconnected PAC.

Question 52

EMILY's List is a PAC that often collects checks written directly to a candidate and then delivers them together to that candidate. This practice is called

A) absorbing.
B) bundling.
C) connecting.
D) funneling.
E) lobbying.

Question 53

Political donations that influence elections even though not contributed directly to a candidate are called

A) amicus curiae.
B) bundled money.
C) PAC money.
D) selective incentives.
E) soft money.

Question 54

Business and labor groups consistently direct most of their election contributions to

A) challengers.
B) open seats.
C) incumbents.
D) conservative candidates.
E) liberal candidates.

Question 55

The NAACP was heavily involved in which Supreme Court case?

A) Brown v. Board of Education
B) Brown v. Louisiana
C) Marbury v. Madison
D) Miranda v. Arizona
E) Roe v. Wade

Question 56

An amicus curiae brief is often

A) written by lawyers hired by an interest group in order to supply the court with information and analysis.
B) written by judges explaining its ruling in detail to the press.
C) submitted to Congress for approval before being submitted to the court.
D) an outline of a political party's platform.
E) an overview of the day's news reported by a media outlet.

Question 57

Why are marches often ineffective forms of protest?

A) Few people are willing to participate in marches.
B) Leaders of marches often fail to explain the purpose of their protest.
C) Marches are legal only in rural areas where there is little chance of capturing public attention.
D) Marches have become so routine that they no longer capture public attention.
E) They often turn violent, landing their leaders in jail where they cannot be effective leaders for their movements.

Question 58

What is a central difficulty in identifying foreign interests?

A) Foreign interests typically align with American interests, so most issues are not clearly foreign or domestic.
B) Many American firms are financed by foreign nations.
C) Many American firms send much of their work overseas, and many foreign firms have large operations and workforces in the United States.
D) Many top executives of American firms are foreign citizens.
E) Most interest groups have a department devoted to foreign affairs.

Question 59

What factors have led to the increase in the number of interest groups since the late eighteenth century?

Question 60

In what ways can firms profit from the growth of government?

Question 61

What challenges has organized labor faced in gaining and keeping membership?

Question 62

How do unions and other economic groups try to use public policy to thwart competition?

Question 63

How do think tanks contribute to deliberation among activists and ordinary citizens? How do their critics say these organizations detract from deliberation?

Question 64

How do new-style national policy groups, such as the Sierra Club or the National Rifle Association, attract and hold members?

Question 65

What is the "revolving door" between the public and private sectors? Why are limits imposed on it? Why do lobbyists say that the revolving door is important?

Question 66

How can lobbying contribute to deliberation? What are the criticisms of lobbying as deliberation?

Question 67

What methods do economic and policy groups use to influence lawmakers? How do these techniques contribute to deliberative democracy?

Question 68

What conflicts may exist between the goals of interest groups and the broader public good?