Question 1

Which of the following statements would NOT be accepted by supporters of the pluralist view of interest groups?

Accepted Answer

A)   People's separate interests are a legitimate basis of public policy.
B)   The idea of the public interest or the collective interest does not have much meaning in cases where the public is sharply divided in its policy opinions.
C)   The opinion of the majority should always prevail in a policy dispute over the opinion of a more intense and directly affected minority.
D)   Most interests benefit from the workings of the group system, which is a reason to support a policy process that is responsive to groups.
E)   Public policy should represent the diversity that exists in society.F) B) and D)
G) A) and C)

Question 2

The Supreme Court decision in Citizens United v.Federal Election Commission (2010)

Accepted Answer

A)   allows corporations and labor unions to spend unlimited funds on campaigns.
B)   limits PACs by reducing the amount of money they can raise through contributions by small donors.
C)   has forced candidates for office and elected officials to make public the amounts of campaign contributions they have received from PACs and which PACs make those donations.
D)   has strengthened the argument that PACs constitute a better system of campaign finance than one based on wealthy donors.
E)   has forced corporations and labor unions to legally divorce themselves from the PACs they sponsor.F) A) and B)
G) D) and E)

Question 3

A basic reason for the existence of so many interest groups in the United States is

Accepted Answer

A)   the American tradition of free association.
B)   the extent of diverse interests in American society.
C)   America's federal system of government.
D)   the separation of powers in American government.
E)   All these answers are correct.F) A) and B)
G) D) and E)

Question 4

Some groups pursue collective goods.A collective good is one that

Accepted Answer

A)   cannot be selectively granted or denied to individuals; it must be shared.
B)   is provided by a public service organization.
C)   is secured by the president.
D)   is secured by Congress.
E)   None of these answers is correct.F) A) and E)
G) C) and D)

Question 5

In recent decades,lobbyists in Washington,D.C.have increasingly

Accepted Answer

A)   targeted the executive branch in their efforts to influence policy decisions.
B)   relied on coercive tactics, such as threats of withdrawing election support.
C)   worked to defeat incumbent members of Congress in order to replace them with members who would be more supportive.
D)   relied exclusively on inside lobbying as the means of gaining their policy goals.
E)   ignored the judicial branch as a means of influencing policy decisions.F) C) and E)
G) C) and D) A

Question 6

Grassroots lobbying is based on the assumption that officials will respond to

Accepted Answer

A)   well-reasoned policy arguments.
B)   the opportunity for extensive media publicity.
C)   moral pleas.
D)   the efforts of party organizations.
E)   pressure from constituents.F) A) and B)
G) A) and C)

Question 7

Which of the following is true of employment in lobbying firms by members of Congress?

Accepted Answer

A)   It is very rare for a member of Congress to become a lobbyist because of the negative stigma involved.
B)   Most members of Congress join lobbying firms immediately after leaving Congress.
C)   They are prohibited by law from lobbying Congress for a set period of time after leaving office.
D)   Members of Congress are prohibited by law from joining the lobbying profession.
E)   Many members of Congress were lobbyists prior to becoming elected representatives.F) B) and E)
G) All of the above

Question 8

Why have issue networks become more prevalent?

Accepted Answer

A)   the increasing power of corporate lobbying
B)   the increasing diversity of interest groups
C)   the increasing influence of PACs
D)   the instability of candidates' positions
E)   the increasing complexity of policy problemsF) A) and C)
G) A) and B)

Question 9

The situation in which individuals are tempted not to contribute to a cause because they will get the benefits even if they do not participate is called the

Accepted Answer

A)   size factor.
B)   free-rider problem.
C)   special-interest paradox.
D)   disincentive factor.
E)   zero-sum game.F) None of the above
G) A) and E)

Question 10

The limits of interest groups' influence might be gauged by the Democratic backlash against the ________,which tried to block the North American Free Trade Agreement in 1993.

Accepted Answer

A)   ACLU
B)   Sierra Club
C)   Izaak Walton League
D)   AARP
E)   AFL-CIOF) A) and E)
G) A) and C)

Question 11

Economist Mancur Olson refers to what aspect of interest groups as "the size factor"?

Accepted Answer

A)   Larger interest groups are able to draw on greater financial resources, which makes them more capable of getting the ear of lawmakers and thus achieving policy change.
B)   The interests of groups with large memberships would typically prevail over the interests of smaller groups.
C)   Small groups are ordinarily more united on policy issues and often have more resources, enabling them to win out more often than large groups.
D)   The smaller an interest group, the more likely that its motivating issue will be subsumed by the agenda of a larger interest group.
E)   Small interest groups can often enhance their bargaining power by linking themselves to the agenda of a larger interest group that has greater resources.F) A) and C)
G) A) and D)

Question 12

Which of the following groups primarily uses litigation as its lobbying method?

Accepted Answer

A)   NRA
B)   ACLU
C)   NAACP
D)   AARP
E)   NEAF) A) and E)
G) C) and D)

Question 13

Which citizens' group did a Fortune magazine survey rank as the nation's most powerful lobbying group?

Accepted Answer

A)   the NAACP
B)   the AFL-CIO
C)   the AARP
D)   MADD
E)   Common CauseF) B) and C)
G) A) and E)

Question 14

About ________ percent of people who regularly listen to National Public Radio do not donate money to their local station.

Accepted Answer

A)   10
B)   30
C)   50
D)   70
E)   90F) A) and B)
G) A) and C) E

Question 15

"Agency capture" occurs when

Accepted Answer

A)   a regulatory agency funnels money back into the lobbying organizations that are seeking policy changes.
B)   regulatory agencies side with the industries they are supposed to regulate rather than with the public.
C)   the executive branch takes back control of a regulatory agency by passing regulation to prevent undue influence by lobbying organizations.
D)   a regulatory agency must be dismantled because it has become corrupted.
E)   an election results in the replacement of an agency's leadership through appointive positions under a new president.F) B) and E)
G) B) and D)

Question 16

Citizens' interest groups are distinguished from economic interest groups by the fact that

Accepted Answer

A)   their leaders are elected by secret ballot of the group's members.
B)   their members receive no direct economic benefit from attainment of the group's goals.
C)   they do not lobby government officials directly, but rely instead on public service announcements to get their views across to society.
D)   they always pursue goals in which there is a high level of agreement among society members.
E)   All these answers are correct.F) A) and B)
G) A) and C)

Question 17

What is the importance of the distinction between private goods (individual goods)and collective goods (public goods)in assessing why some interests are more highly organized than others? What type of group particularly benefits from this situation?

Accepted Answer

Economic groups offer members private (or individual)incentives that benefit them directly,which is a powerful reason to join the group.An example of a private good is a benefit that a labor union member obtains through the union.Citizens' groups offer collective goods (public goods),which are goods that all people share,such as a clean environment.The fact that such goods are available to nonmembers as well as members is a disincentive for many to participate.This situation,called the free-rider problem,can plague citizens' groups.Economic groups are less affected by the free-rider problem.Economic groups also have ready access to financial resources in the form of profits or dues,while citizens' groups typically have more trouble obtaining financial resources-though recent advances in computer-aided direct mail and Internet-based fundraising have improved the financing capabilities of many citizens' groups.

Question 18

The influence of interest groups through the courts occurs through

Accepted Answer

A)   initiating lawsuits.
B)   lobbying for certain judges to be appointed to the bench.
C)   outside lobbying only.
D)   PACs.
E)   both initiating lawsuits and lobbying for certain judges to be appointed to the bench.F) B) and E)
G) A) and E)

Question 19

A purposive incentive is defined as

Accepted Answer

A)   a goal of direct economic gain.
B)   the opportunity to contribute to a worthy goal or purpose.
C)   a goal benefiting a specific group.
D)   any common purpose that brings groups together.
E)   corporate profit.F) B) and E)
G) B) and D)

Question 20

Define economic groups.Identify four types of economic interest groups and the constituencies they serve.

Accepted Answer

Economic groups promote the economic int...

Exam 9: Interest Groups: Organizing for Influence

Which of the following statements would NOT be accepted by supporters of the pluralist view of interest groups?

Correct Answer
verified

The Supreme Court decision in Citizens United v.Federal Election Commission (2010)

Correct Answer
verified

A basic reason for the existence of so many interest groups in the United States is

Correct Answer
verified

Some groups pursue collective goods.A collective good is one that

Correct Answer
verified

In recent decades,lobbyists in Washington,D.C.have increasingly

Correct Answer
verified
A

Grassroots lobbying is based on the assumption that officials will respond to

Correct Answer
verified

Which of the following is true of employment in lobbying firms by members of Congress?

Correct Answer
verified

Why have issue networks become more prevalent?

Correct Answer
verified

The situation in which individuals are tempted not to contribute to a cause because they will get the benefits even if they do not participate is called the

Correct Answer
verified

The limits of interest groups' influence might be gauged by the Democratic backlash against the ________,which tried to block the North American Free Trade Agreement in 1993.

Correct Answer
verified

Economist Mancur Olson refers to what aspect of interest groups as "the size factor"?

Correct Answer
verified

Which of the following groups primarily uses litigation as its lobbying method?

Correct Answer
verified

Which citizens' group did a Fortune magazine survey rank as the nation's most powerful lobbying group?

Correct Answer
verified

About ________ percent of people who regularly listen to National Public Radio do not donate money to their local station.

Correct Answer
verified
E

"Agency capture" occurs when

Correct Answer
verified

Citizens' interest groups are distinguished from economic interest groups by the fact that

Correct Answer
verified

What is the importance of the distinction between private goods (individual goods)and collective goods (public goods)in assessing why some interests are more highly organized than others? What type of group particularly benefits from this situation?

The influence of interest groups through the courts occurs through

Correct Answer
verified

A purposive incentive is defined as

Correct Answer
verified

Define economic groups.Identify four types of economic interest groups and the constituencies they serve.

Correct Answer
verified
Economic groups promote the economic int...
View Answer

Exam 9: Interest Groups: Organizing for Influence

Which of the following statements would NOT be accepted by supporters of the pluralist view of interest groups?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The Supreme Court decision in Citizens United v.Federal Election Commission (2010)

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

A basic reason for the existence of so many interest groups in the United States is

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Some groups pursue collective goods.A collective good is one that

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

In recent decades,lobbyists in Washington,D.C.have increasingly

Correct AnswerverifiedA

Grassroots lobbying is based on the assumption that officials will respond to

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following is true of employment in lobbying firms by members of Congress?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Why have issue networks become more prevalent?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The situation in which individuals are tempted not to contribute to a cause because they will get the benefits even if they do not participate is called the

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The limits of interest groups' influence might be gauged by the Democratic backlash against the ________,which tried to block the North American Free Trade Agreement in 1993.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Economist Mancur Olson refers to what aspect of interest groups as "the size factor"?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following groups primarily uses litigation as its lobbying method?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which citizens' group did a Fortune magazine survey rank as the nation's most powerful lobbying group?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

About ________ percent of people who regularly listen to National Public Radio do not donate money to their local station.

Correct AnswerverifiedE

"Agency capture" occurs when

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Citizens' interest groups are distinguished from economic interest groups by the fact that

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

What is the importance of the distinction between private goods (individual goods)and collective goods (public goods)in assessing why some interests are more highly organized than others? What type of group particularly benefits from this situation?

The influence of interest groups through the courts occurs through

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

A purposive incentive is defined as

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Define economic groups.Identify four types of economic interest groups and the constituencies they serve.

Correct AnswerverifiedEconomic groups promote the economic int...View AnswerShow Answer

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A

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E

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Economic groups promote the economic int...
View Answer