Question 1

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. 
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.

Question 2

James Madison argued

Accepted Answer

A) against all interest groups. 
B) for the advocacy of self-interest free from all systems of restraint. 
C) for regulation of interests through a governing system of checks and balances. 
D) for the replacement of interest groups by formal political parties. 
E) for a powerful judiciary. 
A) against all interest groups. 
B) for the advocacy of self-interest free from all systems of restraint. 
C) for regulation of interests through a governing system of checks and balances. 
D) for the replacement of interest groups by formal political parties. 
E) for a powerful judiciary.

Question 3

Political scientist Theodore Lowi has questioned pluralist theory by suggesting that

Accepted Answer

A) special interests should never receive benefits from government. 
B) there is no concept of the public interest in a system that gives special interests the ability to determine the policies affecting them. 
C) policies that favor a series of minorities are inherently fairer than policies that ignore small groups in favor of a majority. 
D) the sum of people's special interests is a rough approximation of society's collective interest. 
E) Madisonian theory has created a perfect balance of special interest and common good. 
A) special interests should never receive benefits from government. 
B) there is no concept of the public interest in a system that gives special interests the ability to determine the policies affecting them. 
C) policies that favor a series of minorities are inherently fairer than policies that ignore small groups in favor of a majority. 
D) the sum of people's special interests is a rough approximation of society's collective interest. 
E) Madisonian theory has created a perfect balance of special interest and common good.

Question 4

Define citizens'(or noneconomic)interest groups and identify the types of noneconomic interest groups and the constituencies they serve.

Accepted Answer

Citizens (or noneconomic)groups are orga

Question 5

An amicus brief

Accepted Answer

A) is a written document in which a group explains to a court its position on a legal dispute the court is handling. 
B) is a written document in which an interest group lays out its policy preference for targeted lawmakers. 
C) prevents a lobbyist group from making campaign donations to policy makers over a specific issue. 
D) provides evidence for prosecutors of an illegal monetary relationship between a lawmaker and an interest group or PAC. 
E) prevents PACs from donating more than $5,000 to a single candidate during a primary election. 
A) is a written document in which a group explains to a court its position on a legal dispute the court is handling. 
B) is a written document in which an interest group lays out its policy preference for targeted lawmakers. 
C) prevents a lobbyist group from making campaign donations to policy makers over a specific issue. 
D) provides evidence for prosecutors of an illegal monetary relationship between a lawmaker and an interest group or PAC. 
E) prevents PACs from donating more than $5,000 to a single candidate during a primary election.

Question 6

The theory that society's interests are most effectively represented through group action is

Accepted Answer

A) republicanism. 
B) constitutionalism. 
C) elitist theory. 
D) pluralist theory. 
E) interest-group liberalism. 
A) republicanism. 
B) constitutionalism. 
C) elitist theory. 
D) pluralist theory. 
E) interest-group liberalism.

Question 7

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. 
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.

Question 8

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. 
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.

Question 9

An interest group that focuses on policy benefits for senior citizens would be an example of

Accepted Answer

A) a philosophical interest group. 
B) an ideological group. 
C) a professional group. 
D) a business group. 
E) a single-issue group. 
A) a philosophical interest group. 
B) an ideological group. 
C) a professional group. 
D) a business group. 
E) a single-issue group.

Question 10

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 Cause 
A) the NAACP 
B) the AFL-CIO 
C) the AARP 
D) MADD 
E) Common Cause

Question 11

A main difference between iron triangles and issue networks is that

Accepted Answer

A) an iron triangle includes members of the legislative,executive,and judicial branches,while issue networks bypass the judicial branch. 
B) issue networks involve a stable group of bureaucrats,legislators,and lobbyists,while iron triangles exclude lobbyists in an attempt to reach impartial decisions. 
C) issue networks are generally less stable than iron triangles,in that the members of an issue network may change as the issue develops. 
D) issue networks,being less formal,rely on outside lobbying only,while iron triangles use inside lobbying only. 
E) All these answers are correct. 
A) an iron triangle includes members of the legislative,executive,and judicial branches,while issue networks bypass the judicial branch. 
B) issue networks involve a stable group of bureaucrats,legislators,and lobbyists,while iron triangles exclude lobbyists in an attempt to reach impartial decisions. 
C) issue networks are generally less stable than iron triangles,in that the members of an issue network may change as the issue develops. 
D) issue networks,being less formal,rely on outside lobbying only,while iron triangles use inside lobbying only. 
E) All these answers are correct.

Question 12

Economic groups have an advantage over noneconomic groups because

Accepted Answer

A) they nearly always have larger memberships. 
B) they are organized primarily for political purposes. 
C) they have better leadership. 
D) they have greater access to financial resources. 
E) their members are committed to their causes. 
A) they nearly always have larger memberships. 
B) they are organized primarily for political purposes. 
C) they have better leadership. 
D) they have greater access to financial resources. 
E) their members are committed to their causes.

Question 13

An informal grouping of officials,lobbyists,and policy specialists who come together temporarily around a policy problem is

Accepted Answer

A) an iron triangle. 
B) an issue network. 
C) a caucus. 
D) a policy system. 
E) an ideological network. 
A) an iron triangle. 
B) an issue network. 
C) a caucus. 
D) a policy system. 
E) an ideological network.

Question 14

Theodore Lowi's theory of interest-group liberalism

Accepted Answer

A) constitutes a partial and wrongful abdication by government of its authority over policy. 
B) argues that lawmakers are rightly prevented from using government to promote group interests. 
C) posits that interest groups result in an efficient use of society's resources. 
D) describes the effect of groups on policy,resulting in a system of rule by majorities. 
E) deals with the tendency of officials to support the policy demands of the interest group or groups that have a special stake in a policy. 
A) constitutes a partial and wrongful abdication by government of its authority over policy. 
B) argues that lawmakers are rightly prevented from using government to promote group interests. 
C) posits that interest groups result in an efficient use of society's resources. 
D) describes the effect of groups on policy,resulting in a system of rule by majorities. 
E) deals with the tendency of officials to support the policy demands of the interest group or groups that have a special stake in a policy.

Question 15

Economist Mancur Olson concluded that groups

Accepted Answer

A) exercise too much power in the American system. 
B) increase the flexibility of government. 
C) can have their benefits reduced by concerted political opposition. 
D) are shown to have too much power when examined individually. 
E) help the government break away from long-term or previous commitments and apply funding to new problems or issues. 
A) exercise too much power in the American system. 
B) increase the flexibility of government. 
C) can have their benefits reduced by concerted political opposition. 
D) are shown to have too much power when examined individually. 
E) help the government break away from long-term or previous commitments and apply funding to new problems or issues.

Question 16

Effective inside lobbying is based upon

Accepted Answer

A) countering the aims of other groups. 
B) providing useful and persuasive information to key officials. 
C) mobilizing the group's members. 
D) bribing or threatening officials. 
E) using the media to exert pressure. 
A) countering the aims of other groups. 
B) providing useful and persuasive information to key officials. 
C) mobilizing the group's members. 
D) bribing or threatening officials. 
E) using the media to exert pressure.

Question 17

Roughly how many American workers currently belong to unions?

Accepted Answer

A) one in two 
B) one in four 
C) one in eight 
D) one in six 
E) one in ten 
A) one in two 
B) one in four 
C) one in eight 
D) one in six 
E) one in ten

Question 18

Compare iron triangles and issue networks.

Accepted Answer

An iron triangle is a small and informal

Question 19

According to the Center for Responsive Politics,what was roughly the amount spent on lobbying in the United States in 2009?

Accepted Answer

A) $250 billion 
B) $10 billion 
C) $350 million 
D) $35 billion 
E) $3.5 billion 
A) $250 billion 
B) $10 billion 
C) $350 million 
D) $35 billion 
E) $3.5 billion

Question 20

During his visit to this country in the 1830s,Alexis de Tocqueville described the United States as "a nation of ________".

Accepted Answer

A) freeloaders 
B) loners 
C) joiners 
D) fighters 
E) stalwarts 
A) freeloaders 
B) loners 
C) joiners 
D) fighters 
E) stalwarts

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

James Madison argued

Political scientist Theodore Lowi has questioned pluralist theory by suggesting that

Define citizens'(or noneconomic)interest groups and identify the types of noneconomic interest groups and the constituencies they serve.

An amicus brief

The theory that society's interests are most effectively represented through group action is

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

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

An interest group that focuses on policy benefits for senior citizens would be an example of

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

A main difference between iron triangles and issue networks is that

Economic groups have an advantage over noneconomic groups because

An informal grouping of officials,lobbyists,and policy specialists who come together temporarily around a policy problem is

Theodore Lowi's theory of interest-group liberalism

Economist Mancur Olson concluded that groups

Effective inside lobbying is based upon

Roughly how many American workers currently belong to unions?

Compare iron triangles and issue networks.

According to the Center for Responsive Politics,what was roughly the amount spent on lobbying in the United States in 2009?

During his visit to this country in the 1830s,Alexis de Tocqueville described the United States as "a nation of ________".

Political Thinking and Political Culture: Becoming a Responsible Citizen

Constitutional Democracy: Promoting Liberty and Self-Government

Federalism: Forging a Nation

Civil Liberties: Protecting Individual Rights

Equal Rights: Struggling Toward Fairness

Public Opinion and Political Socialization: Shaping the Peoples Voice

Political Participation: Activating the Popular Will

Political Parties, Candidates, and Campaigns: Defining the Voters Choice

The News Media: Communicating Political Images

Congress: Balancing National Goals and Local Interests

The Presidency: Leading the Nation

The Federal Bureaucracy: Administering the Government

The Federal Judicial System: Applying the Law

Economic and Environmental Policy: Contributing to Prosperity

Welfare and Education Policy: Providing for Personal Security and Need

Foreign Policy: Protecting the American Way

State and Local Politics: Maintaining Our Differences

Filters

Exam 9: Interest Groups: Organizing for Influence

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

James Madison argued

Political scientist Theodore Lowi has questioned pluralist theory by suggesting that

Define citizens'(or noneconomic)interest groups and identify the types of noneconomic interest groups and the constituencies they serve.

An amicus brief

The theory that society's interests are most effectively represented through group action is

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

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

An interest group that focuses on policy benefits for senior citizens would be an example of

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

A main difference between iron triangles and issue networks is that

Economic groups have an advantage over noneconomic groups because

An informal grouping of officials,lobbyists,and policy specialists who come together temporarily around a policy problem is

Theodore Lowi's theory of interest-group liberalism

Economist Mancur Olson concluded that groups

Effective inside lobbying is based upon

Roughly how many American workers currently belong to unions?

Compare iron triangles and issue networks.

According to the Center for Responsive Politics,what was roughly the amount spent on lobbying in the United States in 2009?

During his visit to this country in the 1830s,Alexis de Tocqueville described the United States as "a nation of ________".

Political Thinking and Political Culture: Becoming a Responsible Citizen

Constitutional Democracy: Promoting Liberty and Self-Government

Federalism: Forging a Nation

Civil Liberties: Protecting Individual Rights

Equal Rights: Struggling Toward Fairness

Public Opinion and Political Socialization: Shaping the Peoples Voice

Political Participation: Activating the Popular Will

Political Parties, Candidates, and Campaigns: Defining the Voters Choice

The News Media: Communicating Political Images

Congress: Balancing National Goals and Local Interests

The Presidency: Leading the Nation

The Federal Bureaucracy: Administering the Government

The Federal Judicial System: Applying the Law

Economic and Environmental Policy: Contributing to Prosperity

Welfare and Education Policy: Providing for Personal Security and Need

Foreign Policy: Protecting the American Way

State and Local Politics: Maintaining Our Differences

Filters