Chapter 11: Interest Groups Study Guide
Advanced Government
Mr. Faulhaber
1. What is the basis of James Madison’s argument in the Federalist paper No. 10?
a. factions are dangerous and must be destroyed
b. the government can eliminate the causes of faction
c. political parties should be encouraged to form so that all viewpoints are represented
d. a balanced government can control factions and prevent one faction from gaining too much power
e. state government will prevent factions from forming
2. The Food and Drug Administration decides whether new drugs should be put on the market. Which of the following presents the potential for undue influence?
a. pharmaceutical companies are asked to write the new legislation, subject to agency approval
b. Pharmaceutical PACs contribute to the campaigns of members of Congress who support their industry with favorable legislation
c. If a new drug is approved, leaders within the FDA might be offered lucrative positions with a pharmaceutical company
d. An issue network may form to advocate for the drugs from Canada
e. The FDA may ask for more funding from Congress to keep up with its increased workload
3. The emergency of large, mass-membership unions was an example of interest groups forming as a result of____.
a. broad economic developments
b. the evolution of talented leadership
c. the enlargement of governmental responsibilities
d. legislative capitulation
e. government policy
4. The growth of numerous public-interest lobbies in the 1960s was an example of interest groups forming a s a result of
a. legislative capitulation
b. the emergence of talented leadership
c. broad economic developments
d. the enlargement of governmental responsibilities
e. government policy
5. One type of interest group whose representation in Washington has skyrocketed since 1970 is the
a. trade association
b. corporate lobby
c. professional organization
d. union lobbies
e. public-interest lobby
6. An interest group would use grassroots lobbying on all of the following issues EXCEPT____.
a. abortion
b. Medicare
c. Social Security
d. complex tax legislation affecting a few people
e. affirmative action
7. Americans are more likely to join ____ than are citizens of other countries.
a. labor unions
b. business and trade associations
c. professional and charitable organizations
d. religious and political associations
e. A and B
8. Organizations that attract members by appealing to a coherent set of usually controversial principles are called
a. pressure groups
b. political parties
c. splinter groups
d. ideological interest groups
e. out-party groups
9. The policies of public-interest organizations are predominately shaped by
a. corporate sponsors
b. concerned citizens who are not members
c. their membership
d. the elites who dominate them
e. B and C
10. According to the text, one of the important activities of public-interest law firms is to
a. block litigation which opposes governmental regulations
b. file amicus curiae briefs
c. provide congressmen with timely information on controversial issues
d. document lawsuits against government agencies
e. give legal advice to public-interest organizations
11. Which of the following statements about a social movement is generally true?
a. the more liberal its position, the larger its size
b. the more extreme its position, the smaller its size
c. it can only take place when courts are open to the prospect of radical change in the law
d. the more moderate its position, the smaller its size
e. the more purposive its membership incentives, the smaller its size
12. The Dirty Dozen consisted of the____.
a. most anti-industry legislators in the Senate
b. most deeply bureaucratized federal agencies
c. least ethical interest groups in Washington
d. most anti-environment legislators in the House
e. Midwestern states most responsible for acid rain
13. The single most important tactic of the typical lobbyist is
a. generating newspaper headlines
b. mobilizing letter-writing campaigns
c. filing suits in court
d. manipulating the media for public demonstrations
e. supplying information to legislators
14. The Federal Regulation of Lobbying Act of 1946 required groups and individuals seeking to influence legislation to____.
a. limit their activities to seven pieces of legislation
b. register with the Clerk of the House and the Secretary of Senate
c. prepare and publish written statements of intent.
d. register and file monthly financial reports
e. limit their activities to either the House or the Senate
15. An important tool that organizations like the AFL-CIO and Americans for Constitutional Action use____ to influence politicians’ behavior is the publication of
a. legislation proposed by the politicians.
b. legislator ratings.
c. potentially embarrassing personal information.
d. letters to the politicians.
e. statutes which contradict legislator’s public statements.
16. One method used by lobbyists to convince undecided legislators that public opinion on an issue is inclined toward their direction is to
a. supply the legislators with technical information.
b. cultivate the goodwill of government officials.
c. get newspapers to run editorials in support of the issue.
d. supply the legislators with recent ratings.
e. threaten a lawsuit.
17. A group representing a corporation, labor union, or special interest that raises and spends campaign contributions on behalf of candidates or causes is a____.
a. special interest group
b. grassroots lobbying committee
c. political action committee
d. social movement
e. tax-exempt entity
18. Which of the following statements in incorrect?
a. campaign finance laws have restricted the amount that interest groups can give to candidates.
b. campaign finance laws have made it legal for corporations and labor unions to form PACs.
c. money is probably one of the least effective ways by which interest groups advance their causes.
d. only a few decades ago powerful interests used their bulging wallets to buy influence in Congress.
e. none of these.
19. Could a member of Congress start a political action committee (PAC)?
a. yes, but only after the legislator leaves Congress.
b. yes, and many have.
c. No, PACs influence legislators and therefore cannot consist of legislators.
d. yes, but only after being re-elected at least once.
e. no, PACs are organizations, not individuals.
20. Which of the following statements about business political action committees (PACs) is generally true?
a. they promote education rather than candidates.
b. they divide their money between Democrats and Republicans.
c. they give most of their money to Democrats.
d. they give most of their money to Republicans.
e. they change party allegiance frequently.
21. Why are lobbyists useful to members of Congress in considering legislation?
a. because most lobbyists are lawyers and can draft bills using technical legal language
b. because lobbyists have bigger research staffs than members of Congress
c. because members of Congress must listen to lobbyists in order to get electoral support
d. because lobbyists are policy generalists who have knowledge about a wide range of topics
e. because members of Congress are policy generalists and lobbyists are policy specialists with expert knowledge in their area
22. The Campaign Finance Reforms of 1973____.
a. had no impact on the number of PACs
b. encouraged a rapid growth in PACs
c. led to a slight decrease in the number of PACs
d. led to a significant decrease in the number of PACs
e. reduced PAC spending
23. All of the following are examples of interest groups EXCEPT
a. Greenpeace
b. Right to Life
c. Christian Coalition
d. Libertarians
e. National Organization of Women
24. How do interest groups differ from PACs?
a. Interest groups donate money to candidates, while PACs hire lobbyists to influence policymaking.
b. Interest groups can hire PACs to help them conduct polls, create direct mail solicitations, and produce TV ads.
c. PACs are committees, often set up by interest groups, to raise and spend money on campaigns and causes.
d. Interest groups are required to register with the Federal Election Commission, but there are no registration requirements for PACs.
e. PACs run candidates for election, while interest groups do not.
25. Which of the following groups have led a social movement?
I. labor union members
II. civil rights advocates
III. environmentalists
IV. tax protestors
a. I and II
b. I, II, and III
c. II and III
d. II, III, and IV
e. I, II, III, and IV
26. It is often said that Americans are a nation of
a. joiners
b. protesters
c. lobbyists
d. activists
e. loyalists
27. The U.S. wine industry is represented in Washington by a group that seeks to influence public policy regarding wine. This group is most accurately called a(n)
a. membership interest
b. solidary group
c. institutional interest
d. public-interest lobby
e. referenced interest
28. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce represents thousands of different businesses locally and in Washington. Is it still called an institutional interest, even though it has no single client?
a. Yes, because membership is voluntary
b. Yes, because it still acts on behalf of other organizations
c. No, because membership in non-voluntary
d. No, because institutional interests represent a single organization
e. No, because membership is connected to one’s occupational background
29. The National Association of Science Teachers offers its members reduced rates on automobile rentals Such benefits to members are called ______benefits
a. solidary
b. material
c. purposive
d. party
e. concurrent
30. Which powerful interest group lobbies for polices that provide financial benefits and services to people over 50
a. NRA
b. NOW
c. NAACP
d. AIPAC
e. AARP
31. The National Organization for Women (NOW) is an example of a feminist organization whose membership incentives are primarily
a. material
b. purposive
c. solidary
d. sociological
e. concurrent
32. Union membership has actually grown in
a. the field of teaching
b. the field of medicine
c. the automobile industry
d. government
e. both A and D
33. A provision law that directs benefits to a client without review on the merits by all members of Congress is known as a(n)
a. logroll
b. dovetail
c. earmark
d. back-scratch
e. tag line
34. Over half of all political action committees (PACs) are sponsored by
a. corporations
b. labor unions
c. trade associations
d. public interest groups
e. citizens’ groups
35. The Court’s decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission allowed ______to fund “electioneering communications” within 30 days of a primary election
a. business corporations
b. nonprofit organizations
c. unions
d. all of the above
e. none of the above
36. All of the following activities are specifically forbidden by the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 except
a. bribery
b. refusal of a president to disclose income from stocks and bonds
c. employment of a former government official by a lobbying group
d. outside employment by a government official if such employment might create a conflict of interest
e. solicitations of funds for the performance of duties
37. Disruption or making trouble is
a. a tactic most commonly used by extremist groups
b. a tactic used by have-nots and those who otherwise would have little influence
c. becoming less and less common in politics
d. a tactic used by conservatives
e. a quite conventional political resource
38. In 1968, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) revoked the tax-exempt status of the Sierra because of its
a. advocacy of unpopular cause
b. direct foreign investments
c. illegal banking activities
d. international fund-raising
e. extensive lobbying activities
39. ____are used to by interest groups to create public support.
a. media campaigns
b. lobbyists
c. interest groups
d. FEC
40. People usually join organizations that support special interest groups for all the following reasons EXCEPT_____.
a. economic self interest
b. shared beliefs, attitudes, or values
c. desire to meet people with opposing viewpoints
d. social needs or a desire for fellowship
41. PACs have gained increasing importance as political campaigns have become more _____.
a. simple
b. lengthy
c. focused on a single issue
d. expensive
42. All of the following are likely to have their views represented by a special interest group EXCEPT _____.
a. a member of a low socio-economic level
b. a member of a professional organization
c. a member of a senior citizens’ organization
d. a member of an organization opposing abortion
43. This is a lobbyist’s strongest weapon.
a. information
b. gifts
c. financial aid
d. propaganda
44. The number of PACs grew after Congress passed laws about campaign contributions that____.
a. limited contributions from organizations
b. limited contributions from individuals
c. permitted direct contributions from corporations and labor unions
d. allowed unlimited contributions from groups and individuals
45. What famous founding father once discussed factions and the effect these groups would have on government and policy?
a. James Madison
b. Thomas Jefferson
c. Patrick Henry
d. George Washington
SHORT ANSWER:
1. Identify and explain three types of incentives that are offered by mass-membership organizations.
2. Describe three types of feminist organizations.
3. Explain what earmarks are and how they are related to interest group politics.
4. What information must al l register lobbyists report twice a year?
5. What new regulations were applied to lobbyists as of March 2007?
6. Interest groups attempt to influence the policy-making process in a number of ways and through multiple access points. Select one of the following groups:
- American Medical Association (AMA)
- Sierra Club
- Nation Rifle Association (NRA)
- National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)
Identify and give an example how they would use each of the following techniquesto achieve their objectives based on their resources, characteristics, and goals.
- Litigation
- Campaign contributions
- Grassroots lobbying/mass mobilization
- Lobbying of government institutions