NAME______DATE______

CHAPTER 9

INTEREST GROUPS

Part A - Define the following terms in the space provided and give an example of each.

  1. Interest groups(general)______

Example______

  1. Public Policy ______

Example______

  1. Targets of influence of interest groups ______

Example ______

  1. Work-related interest groups ______

Example______

  1. Benefits to members of interest groups ______

Example ______

  1. Business interest group ______

Example ______

  1. Special population group ______

Example ______

  1. Personal interest group ______

Example ______

Part B – Fill in the reasons for the following:

  1. Why so many interest groups exist ______

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  1. Why interest groups are different from political parties ______

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  1. Why single-issue groups may be more successful than those with many interests

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  1. Why it is difficult to tell if a given interest group truly represents the people it says it represents ______

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  1. Why interest groups target different branches of the government ______

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  1. Why the professions form interest groups ______

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Part C – If a statement is true, write T in the space. If the statement is false, write F

  1. _____ Interest groups are said to lobby because they sit in the lobby of government buildings and refuse to move until they see their Congressman.
  1. _____ Lobbyists help lawmakers by providing them with information to write better legislation.
  1. _____ It is very expensive to lobby any branch of government.
  1. _____ Legal proceedings are a good way to influence public policy since they are quick and do not cost much.
  1. _____ Lobbyists must register only if the principal purpose of the group they represent is to influence government legislation.
  1. _____ Studies show that interest groups play a role in only about 5 percent of the cases brought before the Supreme Court.
  1. _____ Since the judiciary is less open to political influence than the other branches of government, interest groups do not lobby the courts.
  1. _____ An interest group’s most important resource is the amount of money that they have to spend, and where it is located.
  1. _____ Political Action Committees (PACs) are not permitted to donate money to the campaign of a political candidate.
  1. _____ Most members of interest groups do little more than pay dues and attend annual meetings, and write letters or make phone calls when asked.
  1. _____ Laws to regulate interest groups have been very successful.
  1. _____ PAC reform is a movement that has been started by the committees themselves, which are concerned that they are being taken for granted by legislators as major donors.
  1. _____ Political Financial Committees are the financial arm of interest groups, using members’ donations to support political candidates.

Part D – Answer the following questions in the space provided.

  1. Why don’t interest groups lobby the courts? ______

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  1. What makes an interest group a success? Identify at least three requirements.

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  1. Why do most interest groups come into being? ______

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  1. Are most members of interest groups active? Explain thoroughly. ______

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  1. Why have interest groups been regulated in recent years? ______

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  1. Who must register with the government? Why do you think this is so? ______

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  1. Can anyone give money to a political candidate? Explain thoroughly. ______

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  1. Describe the two ways PACs may direct money into a campaign. ______

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