Question 1

Members of the Texas Ethics Commission are selected by the

Accepted Answer

A)  voters in a general election. 
B)  Texas state legislature. 
C)  Texas governor. 
D)  U.S. Congress. 
A)  voters in a general election. 
B)  Texas state legislature. 
C)  Texas governor. 
D)  U.S. Congress.

Question 2

The details of political contributions and expenditures of candidates must 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. 
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.

Question 3

Texas doctors successfully used their professional organizations in lobbying the 76th Legislature to make Texas the first state that allows

Accepted Answer

A)  for the taxing of interest groups. 
B)  public school teachers to form unions. 
C)  state employees to legally go out on strike. 
D)  doctors to collectively bargain with health maintenance organizations. 
A)  for the taxing of interest groups. 
B)  public school teachers to form unions. 
C)  state employees to legally go out on strike. 
D)  doctors to collectively bargain with health maintenance organizations.

Question 4

The system of politics in Texas can be described as one with

Accepted Answer

A)  weak parties and weak interest groups. 
B)  strong parties and strong interest groups. 
C)  strong parties and weak interest groups. 
D)  weak parties and strong interest groups. 
A)  weak parties and weak interest groups. 
B)  strong parties and strong interest groups. 
C)  strong parties and weak interest groups. 
D)  weak parties and strong interest groups.

Question 5

Which of the following is true of interest groups and parties in Texas?

Accepted Answer

A)  Texas has strong political parties and influential interest groups. 
B)  Texas has weak political parties and ineffective interest groups. 
C)  Texas has strong political parties and ineffective interest groups. 
D)  Texas has weak political parties and influential interest groups. 
A)  Texas has strong political parties and influential interest groups. 
B)  Texas has weak political parties and ineffective interest groups. 
C)  Texas has strong political parties and ineffective interest groups. 
D)  Texas has weak political parties and influential interest groups.

Question 6

The principal purpose of political party activity is to

Accepted Answer

A)  achieve changes through the constitutional amendment process. 
B)  gain control of government by winning elections and thus achieve party goals. 
C)  influence public officials who are already in office to respond to the party's goals. 
D)  obtain favorable treatment for party members in governmental activities. 
A)  achieve changes through the constitutional amendment process. 
B)  gain control of government by winning elections and thus achieve party goals. 
C)  influence public officials who are already in office to respond to the party's goals. 
D)  obtain favorable treatment for party members in governmental activities.

Question 7

A lobbyist is an individual who

Accepted Answer

A)  works to get a candidate elected to office. 
B)  sits on a Congressional committee. 
C)  attempts to influence the decision making of lawmakers. 
D)  issues rulings on major court cases. 
A)  works to get a candidate elected to office. 
B)  sits on a Congressional committee. 
C)  attempts to influence the decision making of lawmakers. 
D)  issues rulings on major court cases.

Question 8

Which of the following generalizations regarding interest group leadership is correct?

Accepted Answer

A)  Interest group decisions are usually made by an active minority of the membership. 
B)  Leadership roles in interest groups are widely shared among many active members. 
C)  Elected officials are usually the leaders of interest groups. 
D)  Most interest group members can afford to devote time to interest group activities. 
A)  Interest group decisions are usually made by an active minority of the membership. 
B)  Leadership roles in interest groups are widely shared among many active members. 
C)  Elected officials are usually the leaders of interest groups. 
D)  Most interest group members can afford to devote time to interest group activities.

Question 9

Most political interest groups represent

Accepted Answer

A)  organized blue-collar labor. 
B)  professional and managerial occupations. 
C)  minimum-wage employees. 
D)  fixed-income retirees. 
A)  organized blue-collar labor. 
B)  professional and managerial occupations. 
C)  minimum-wage employees. 
D)  fixed-income retirees.

Question 10

Which of the following would not be among the interest groups that Texas legislators identify as most powerful?

Accepted Answer

A)  Public interest groups advocating campaign finance reform 
B)  An interest group representing oil and gas companies 
C)  A professional association representing physicians 
D)  A trade association representing the tobacco industry 
A)  Public interest groups advocating campaign finance reform 
B)  An interest group representing oil and gas companies 
C)  A professional association representing physicians 
D)  A trade association representing the tobacco industry

Question 11

An organization of individuals with similar views that tries to influence government to respond favorably to its views is called a(n)

Accepted Answer

A)  voluntary association. 
B)  benevolent society. 
C)  interest group. 
D)  political party. 
A)  voluntary association. 
B)  benevolent society. 
C)  interest group. 
D)  political party.

Question 12

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 13

Typically, in order to get people to the polls, which of the following is generally employed?

Accepted Answer

A)  Mail-outs, telephone calls, door-to-door solicitation, and transportation to the polls 
B)  Bribes of money and promises of a job if one votes for a specific candidate 
C)  Providing free signs and food to potential voters 
D)  Calling mass meetings and demonstrating against opponents 
A)  Mail-outs, telephone calls, door-to-door solicitation, and transportation to the polls 
B)  Bribes of money and promises of a job if one votes for a specific candidate 
C)  Providing free signs and food to potential voters 
D)  Calling mass meetings and demonstrating against opponents

Question 14

Ethics laws prohibit a candidate or official from receiving a contribution inside

Accepted Answer

A)  a commercial business building. 
B)  a religious organization's building. 
C)  the Democratic or Republican headquarters. 
D)  the Texas state capitol building. 
A)  a commercial business building. 
B)  a religious organization's building. 
C)  the Democratic or Republican headquarters. 
D)  the Texas state capitol building.

Question 15

Which of the following is true of interest group organizational patterns in the United States?

Accepted Answer

A)  All interest groups in the United States are highly decentralized. 
B)  All interest groups in the United States are highly centralized. 
C)  Some are highly centralized, and others have a decentralized organizational structure. 
D)  Interest groups at the state level are highly decentralized, while national interest groups are highly centralized. 
A)  All interest groups in the United States are highly decentralized. 
B)  All interest groups in the United States are highly centralized. 
C)  Some are highly centralized, and others have a decentralized organizational structure. 
D)  Interest groups at the state level are highly decentralized, while national interest groups are highly centralized.

Question 16

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

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 number, but are more powerful than business-related groups 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 number, but are more powerful than business-related groups in Texas.

Question 17

Which occupational group is least likely to have a large representation in an interest group?

Accepted Answer

A)  Lawyers 
B)  Accountants 
C)  Physicians 
D)  Receptionists 
A)  Lawyers 
B)  Accountants 
C)  Physicians 
D)  Receptionists

Question 18

Identify and discuss the factors that contribute to the success or effectiveness of interest groups. Which factors seem most important?

Accepted Answer

Interest groups are able to achieve succ

Question 19

Which of the following techniques do interest groups use to influence policy decisions?

Accepted Answer

A)  Lobbying 
B)  Campaign financing 
C)  Providing favors and gifts 
D)  All of these choices are techniques used by interest groups. 
A)  Lobbying 
B)  Campaign financing 
C)  Providing favors and gifts 
D)  All of these choices are techniques used by interest groups.

Question 20

Based on what you have learned about interest group membership and objectives, and using your career goal 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 someone pursuing a career in environm

Members of the Texas Ethics Commission are selected by the

The details of political contributions and expenditures of candidates must be filed with the Texas Ethics Commission

Texas doctors successfully used their professional organizations in lobbying the 76th Legislature to make Texas the first state that allows

The system of politics in Texas can be described as one with

Which of the following is true of interest groups and parties in Texas?

The principal purpose of political party activity is to

A lobbyist is an individual who

Which of the following generalizations regarding interest group leadership is correct?

Most political interest groups represent

Which of the following would not be among the interest groups that Texas legislators identify as most powerful?

An organization of individuals with similar views that tries to influence government to respond favorably to its views is called a(n)

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?

Typically, in order to get people to the polls, which of the following is generally employed?

Ethics laws prohibit a candidate or official from receiving a contribution inside

Which of the following is true of interest group organizational patterns in the United States?

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

Which occupational group is least likely to have a large representation in an interest group?

Identify and discuss the factors that contribute to the success or effectiveness of interest groups. Which factors seem most important?

Which of the following techniques do interest groups use to influence policy decisions?

Based on what you have learned about interest group membership and objectives, and using your career goal 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.

The Environment of Texas Politics

Federalism and the Texas Constitution

Local Governments

Political Parties

Campaigns and Elections

The Media and Politics in Texas

The Legislative Branch

The Executive Branch

Public Policy and Administration

The Judicial Branch

The Criminal Justice System

Finance and Fiscal Policy

Filters

Exam 7: The Politics of Interest Groups

Members of the Texas Ethics Commission are selected by the

The details of political contributions and expenditures of candidates must be filed with the Texas Ethics Commission

Texas doctors successfully used their professional organizations in lobbying the 76th Legislature to make Texas the first state that allows

The system of politics in Texas can be described as one with

Which of the following is true of interest groups and parties in Texas?

The principal purpose of political party activity is to

A lobbyist is an individual who

Which of the following generalizations regarding interest group leadership is correct?

Most political interest groups represent

Which of the following would not be among the interest groups that Texas legislators identify as most powerful?

An organization of individuals with similar views that tries to influence government to respond favorably to its views is called a(n)

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?

Typically, in order to get people to the polls, which of the following is generally employed?

Ethics laws prohibit a candidate or official from receiving a contribution inside

Which of the following is true of interest group organizational patterns in the United States?

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

Which occupational group is least likely to have a large representation in an interest group?

Identify and discuss the factors that contribute to the success or effectiveness of interest groups. Which factors seem most important?

Which of the following techniques do interest groups use to influence policy decisions?

Based on what you have learned about interest group membership and objectives, and using your career goal 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.

The Environment of Texas Politics

Federalism and the Texas Constitution

Local Governments

Political Parties

Campaigns and Elections

The Media and Politics in Texas

The Legislative Branch

The Executive Branch

Public Policy and Administration

The Judicial Branch

The Criminal Justice System

Finance and Fiscal Policy

Filters