Question 1

How are interest groups regulated? Are these regulations effective?

Accepted Answer

Interest groups, also known as advocacy

Question 2

About how many registered lobbyists were there in Texas at the start of the 86th legislative session in 2019?

Accepted Answer

A)  27 
B)  270 
C)  2,700 
D)  27,000 
E)  270,000 
A)  27 
B)  270 
C)  2,700 
D)  27,000 
E)  270,000

Question 3

Which of the following goals would a business organization be least likely to pursue?

Accepted Answer

A)  Tax reductions,breaks,and subsidies 
B)  Limits on lawsuits against corporations 
C)  Fewer concessions to labor unions 
D)  Increased safety and environmental standards 
E)  A freeze on minimum wage increases 
A)  Tax reductions,breaks,and subsidies 
B)  Limits on lawsuits against corporations 
C)  Fewer concessions to labor unions 
D)  Increased safety and environmental standards 
E)  A freeze on minimum wage increases

Question 4

The Texas Association of Business (TAB)is an example of which type of group?

Accepted Answer

A)  A trade association 
B)  A trade union 
C)  An umbrella organization 
D)  A public interest group 
E)  A political action committee 
A)  A trade association 
B)  A trade union 
C)  An umbrella organization 
D)  A public interest group 
E)  A political action committee

Question 5

Describe how lobbyists attempt to influence elected officials through personal contact and through grassroots mobilization.How might these techniques enhance representative government,and how might they distort the democratic process?

Accepted Answer

Lobbyists attempt to influence elected o

Question 6

Which of the following causes would the Texas Freedom Network be unlikely to support?

Accepted Answer

A)  Defending civil liberties 
B)  Strengthening public schools 
C)  Protecting religious freedom 
D)  Defending the traditional family 
E)  Eliminating references to evolution in textbooks 
A)  Defending civil liberties 
B)  Strengthening public schools 
C)  Protecting religious freedom 
D)  Defending the traditional family 
E)  Eliminating references to evolution in textbooks

Question 7

What effect does the decentralized structure of Texas politics and governance have on the ability of interest groups to influence public policy?

Accepted Answer

A)  It decreases the ability of interest groups to influence public policy. 
B)  It eliminates the ability of interest groups to influence public policy. 
C)  It increases the ability of interest groups to influence public policy. 
D)  It benefits economic and professional interest groups only. 
E)  It benefits single-issue interest groups only. 
A)  It decreases the ability of interest groups to influence public policy. 
B)  It eliminates the ability of interest groups to influence public policy. 
C)  It increases the ability of interest groups to influence public policy. 
D)  It benefits economic and professional interest groups only. 
E)  It benefits single-issue interest groups only.

Question 8

Which of the following interest group techniques is considered illegal and unethical?

Accepted Answer

A)  Lobbying 
B)  Campaign financing 
C)  Providing favors and gifts 
D)  Electioneering 
E)  Offering bribes to elected officials 
A)  Lobbying 
B)  Campaign financing 
C)  Providing favors and gifts 
D)  Electioneering 
E)  Offering bribes to elected officials

Question 9

When are so-called "late train" campaign donations typically made?

Accepted Answer

A)  Within two weeks after a candidate announces he or she is running for office 
B)  During the regular legislative session 
C)  In the week leading up to Election Day 
D)  On Election Day 
E)  Immediately following the November election into early December 
A)  Within two weeks after a candidate announces he or she is running for office 
B)  During the regular legislative session 
C)  In the week leading up to Election Day 
D)  On Election Day 
E)  Immediately following the November election into early December

Question 10

Common Cause Texas is an example of which type of interest group?

Accepted Answer

A)  A public interest group 
B)  A trade association 
C)  A trade union 
D)  An umbrella organization 
E)  A religion-based group 
A)  A public interest group 
B)  A trade association 
C)  A trade union 
D)  An umbrella organization 
E)  A religion-based group

Question 11

Based on what you have learned about interest group membership and objectives,and using your career goals as a starting point,which type of interest group are you more likely to join and why? Assess the strength of your potential group relative to other kinds of groups active in Texas politics.

Accepted Answer

As a future environmental lawyer, I woul

Question 12

Which of the following is an example of an electioneering technique?

Accepted Answer

A)  Coordinating a "Get Out the Vote" (GOTV)campaign 
B)  Having lunch with elected officials to establish personal relationships 
C)  Getting group members to email or call legislators to influence their vote on an important issue 
D)  Testifying at a committee hearing 
E)  Sending a legislator front-row tickets to an Astros game 
A)  Coordinating a "Get Out the Vote" (GOTV)campaign 
B)  Having lunch with elected officials to establish personal relationships 
C)  Getting group members to email or call legislators to influence their vote on an important issue 
D)  Testifying at a committee hearing 
E)  Sending a legislator front-row tickets to an Astros game

Question 13

How often must the details of political contributions and expenditures of candidates be filed with the Texas Ethics Commission?

Accepted Answer

A)  Between two and seven times each year 
B)  Every seven years 
C)  Between four and seven times each biennium 
D)  Only once during the campaign process 
E)  On a monthly basis 
A)  Between two and seven times each year 
B)  Every seven years 
C)  Between four and seven times each biennium 
D)  Only once during the campaign process 
E)  On a monthly basis

Question 14

Why does Texas have weak political parties and strong interest groups,when its characteristics would lead researchers to expect the opposite?

Accepted Answer

There are several reasons why Texas has

Question 15

Describe the characteristics of interest groups,distinguishing between an interest group and a political party.In what ways are their goals and membership different? In what ways do they interact with one another?

Accepted Answer

Interest groups are organizations that a

Question 16

What is the name for an organization of individuals with similar views that tries to influence government to respond favorably to its views?

Accepted Answer

A)  Voluntary association 
B)  Benevolent society 
C)  Interest group 
D)  Political party 
E)  Social club 
A)  Voluntary association 
B)  Benevolent society 
C)  Interest group 
D)  Political party 
E)  Social club

Question 17

Describe how interest groups attempt to influence elections through electioneering and campaign financing.Explain the role and influence of political action committees (PACs)in this process.

Accepted Answer

Interest groups attempt to influence ele

Question 18

What name is given to interest groups organized to promote policies that maximize profits and wages for their members?

Accepted Answer

A)  Economic interest groups 
B)  Social groups 
C)  Public interest groups 
D)  Social movements 
E)  Free-market interest groups 
A)  Economic interest groups 
B)  Social groups 
C)  Public interest groups 
D)  Social movements 
E)  Free-market interest groups

Question 19

In response to big spending by lobbyists,Texas voters in 1991 approved a constitutional amendment to create which state agency?

Accepted Answer

A)  Texas Ethics Commission 
B)  Texas Rangers Association 
C)  Texas Governor's Association 
D)  Texas Common Cause 
E)  Texas Lobbyist Association 
A)  Texas Ethics Commission 
B)  Texas Rangers Association 
C)  Texas Governor's Association 
D)  Texas Common Cause 
E)  Texas Lobbyist Association

Question 20

Which of the following statements regarding labor organizations in Texas is true?

Accepted Answer

A)  Labor groups are not as numerous or as powerful as business-related groups in Texas. 
B)  Labor groups are more numerous but less powerful than business-related groups in Texas. 
C)  Labor groups are more numerous and more powerful than business-related groups in Texas. 
D)  Labor groups are not as numerous but are more powerful than business-related groups in Texas. 
E)  Labor groups and business-related groups have just about equal membership and power in Texas. 
A)  Labor groups are not as numerous or as powerful as business-related groups in Texas. 
B)  Labor groups are more numerous but less powerful than business-related groups in Texas. 
C)  Labor groups are more numerous and more powerful than business-related groups in Texas. 
D)  Labor groups are not as numerous but are more powerful than business-related groups in Texas. 
E)  Labor groups and business-related groups have just about equal membership and power in Texas.

How are interest groups regulated? Are these regulations effective?

About how many registered lobbyists were there in Texas at the start of the 86th legislative session in 2019?

Which of the following goals would a business organization be least likely to pursue?

The Texas Association of Business (TAB)is an example of which type of group?

Describe how lobbyists attempt to influence elected officials through personal contact and through grassroots mobilization.How might these techniques enhance representative government,and how might they distort the democratic process?

Which of the following causes would the Texas Freedom Network be unlikely to support?

What effect does the decentralized structure of Texas politics and governance have on the ability of interest groups to influence public policy?

Which of the following interest group techniques is considered illegal and unethical?

When are so-called "late train" campaign donations typically made?

Common Cause Texas is an example of which type of interest group?

Based on what you have learned about interest group membership and objectives,and using your career goals as a starting point,which type of interest group are you more likely to join and why? Assess the strength of your potential group relative to other kinds of groups active in Texas politics.

Which of the following is an example of an electioneering technique?

How often must the details of political contributions and expenditures of candidates be filed with the Texas Ethics Commission?

Why does Texas have weak political parties and strong interest groups,when its characteristics would lead researchers to expect the opposite?

Describe the characteristics of interest groups,distinguishing between an interest group and a political party.In what ways are their goals and membership different? In what ways do they interact with one another?

What is the name for an organization of individuals with similar views that tries to influence government to respond favorably to its views?

Describe how interest groups attempt to influence elections through electioneering and campaign financing.Explain the role and influence of political action committees (PACs)in this process.

What name is given to interest groups organized to promote policies that maximize profits and wages for their members?

In response to big spending by lobbyists,Texas voters in 1991 approved a constitutional amendment to create which state agency?

Which of the following statements regarding labor organizations in Texas is true?

The Environment of Texas Politics

Federalism and the Texas Constitution

Local Governments

Political Parties

Campaigns and Elections

The Media and Politics

The Legislative Branch

The Executive Branch

The Judicial Branch

Finance and Fiscal Policy

Public Policy and Administration

The Criminal Justice System

Filters

Exam 7: The Politics of Interest Groups

How are interest groups regulated? Are these regulations effective?

About how many registered lobbyists were there in Texas at the start of the 86th legislative session in 2019?

Which of the following goals would a business organization be least likely to pursue?

The Texas Association of Business (TAB)is an example of which type of group?

Describe how lobbyists attempt to influence elected officials through personal contact and through grassroots mobilization.How might these techniques enhance representative government,and how might they distort the democratic process?

Which of the following causes would the Texas Freedom Network be unlikely to support?

What effect does the decentralized structure of Texas politics and governance have on the ability of interest groups to influence public policy?

Which of the following interest group techniques is considered illegal and unethical?

When are so-called "late train" campaign donations typically made?

Common Cause Texas is an example of which type of interest group?

Based on what you have learned about interest group membership and objectives,and using your career goals as a starting point,which type of interest group are you more likely to join and why? Assess the strength of your potential group relative to other kinds of groups active in Texas politics.

Which of the following is an example of an electioneering technique?

How often must the details of political contributions and expenditures of candidates be filed with the Texas Ethics Commission?

Why does Texas have weak political parties and strong interest groups,when its characteristics would lead researchers to expect the opposite?

Describe the characteristics of interest groups,distinguishing between an interest group and a political party.In what ways are their goals and membership different? In what ways do they interact with one another?

What is the name for an organization of individuals with similar views that tries to influence government to respond favorably to its views?

Describe how interest groups attempt to influence elections through electioneering and campaign financing.Explain the role and influence of political action committees (PACs)in this process.

What name is given to interest groups organized to promote policies that maximize profits and wages for their members?

In response to big spending by lobbyists,Texas voters in 1991 approved a constitutional amendment to create which state agency?

Which of the following statements regarding labor organizations in Texas is true?

The Environment of Texas Politics

Federalism and the Texas Constitution

Local Governments

Political Parties

Campaigns and Elections

The Media and Politics

The Legislative Branch

The Executive Branch

The Judicial Branch

Finance and Fiscal Policy

Public Policy and Administration

The Criminal Justice System

Filters