Question 1

According to pluralist scholars, what role do interest groups play in American politics?

Accepted Answer

Pluralist scholars believe that interest

Question 2

Which of these is an example of a lobbying effort that was NOT successful?

Accepted Answer

A)  NARAL's pressure regarding John Roberts' nomination for Chief Justice 
B)  NAACP and school segregation 
C)  Enron's attempt to have Congress remove federal oversight on many of its energy-trading and acquisitions activities 
D)  large media companies and news organizations getting the FCC to loosen rules on ownership 
E)  All of the above have been successful campaigns by interest groups. 
A)  NARAL's pressure regarding John Roberts' nomination for Chief Justice 
B)  NAACP and school segregation 
C)  Enron's attempt to have Congress remove federal oversight on many of its energy-trading and acquisitions activities 
D)  large media companies and news organizations getting the FCC to loosen rules on ownership 
E)  All of the above have been successful campaigns by interest groups.

Question 3

The authors of your text conclude that "narrow, special, and privileged interests dominate the interest group world and play the biggest role in determining what government does in the United States." Why do they write this? What evidence, if any, can you put forth that might call this conclusion into question?

Accepted Answer

The authors of the text likely come to t

Question 4

One way that interest groups influence the courts is by

Accepted Answer

A)  donating money to judges' efforts to be appointed to the federal bench. 
B)  supporting or opposing the appointment of a justice to the Supreme Court. 
C)  apply for standing in a case to indirectly influence court decisions. 
D)  A & B 
E)  all of the above 
A)  donating money to judges' efforts to be appointed to the federal bench. 
B)  supporting or opposing the appointment of a justice to the Supreme Court. 
C)  apply for standing in a case to indirectly influence court decisions. 
D)  A & B 
E)  all of the above

Question 5

The opening vignette in Chapter 7 primarily concerns campaign finance reform.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

A private interest association

Accepted Answer

A)  collects money and makes contributions to candidates in federal elections. 
B)  tries to gain advantages or protections for its own members, predominantly economic groups. 
C)  is another broad and generic name for an interest group. 
D)  is a type of group that might be involved in public interest activities. 
E)  tries to get government to act in ways that will serve interests that are broader and more encompassing than the direct economic or occupational interests of their own members. 
A)  collects money and makes contributions to candidates in federal elections. 
B)  tries to gain advantages or protections for its own members, predominantly economic groups. 
C)  is another broad and generic name for an interest group. 
D)  is a type of group that might be involved in public interest activities. 
E)  tries to get government to act in ways that will serve interests that are broader and more encompassing than the direct economic or occupational interests of their own members.

Question 7

Lobbyists are expected to make substantial contributions to the campaign war chests of representatives and senators.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

The ________ in the United States encourages the formation of interest groups.

Accepted Answer

A)  politics of interest groups 
B)  political culture 
C)  rules of the political game 
D)  concentration of power 
E)  none of the above 
A)  politics of interest groups 
B)  political culture 
C)  rules of the political game 
D)  concentration of power 
E)  none of the above

Question 9

Which of these supports the argument that the proliferation of interest groups has made American politics less and less democratic?

Accepted Answer

A) The interest group system is by and for the privileged. 
B)  The interest group system gives individuals and groups another tool to keep elected officials responsive to their needs. 
C)  The day-to-day work of popular sovereignty is done by interest groups. 
D)  The rise of citizen groups has made the interest group system less unequal. 
E)  They all support the argument that the interest group system has made the United States less democratic. 
A) The interest group system is by and for the privileged. 
B)  The interest group system gives individuals and groups another tool to keep elected officials responsive to their needs. 
C)  The day-to-day work of popular sovereignty is done by interest groups. 
D)  The rise of citizen groups has made the interest group system less unequal. 
E)  They all support the argument that the interest group system has made the United States less democratic.

Question 10

The "inside game" of interest group activity depends most significantly on

Accepted Answer

A)  favors given. 
B)  substantial honoraria. 
C)  access. 
D)  bribery. 
E)  ideas. 
A)  favors given. 
B)  substantial honoraria. 
C)  access. 
D)  bribery. 
E)  ideas.

Question 11

Public interest or citizens' groups are generally

Accepted Answer

A)  created by political action committees. 
B)  organized around some cause or idea. 
C)  well-financed groups that represent large corporations. 
D)  based on an economic or occupational interest. 
E)  effective at providing material incentives for membership. 
A)  created by political action committees. 
B)  organized around some cause or idea. 
C)  well-financed groups that represent large corporations. 
D)  based on an economic or occupational interest. 
E)  effective at providing material incentives for membership.

Question 12

Inequalities of representation and resources are accentuated by the ability of some interest groups to form relatively stable alliances with important government institutions and decision-makers.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

According to the authors of Struggle for Democracy, most observers believe that the political power of labor unions

Accepted Answer

A)  is increasing. 
B)  is about where it has been since the 1950s. 
C)  has eroded in dramatic ways over the past several decades. 
D)  is becoming increasingly tied to the socialist movement. 
E)  has never been important in American politics. 
A)  is increasing. 
B)  is about where it has been since the 1950s. 
C)  has eroded in dramatic ways over the past several decades. 
D)  is becoming increasingly tied to the socialist movement. 
E)  has never been important in American politics.

Question 14

Advocacy groups tend to be motivated by ideological concerns.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

The idea that three-way alliances form between interest groups, bureaucratic agencies, and subcommittees of Congress has been called the problem of "iron triangles."

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

Compared to labor unions in many parts of the world, American labor unions are more concerned with immediate employment issues.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

The term James Madison used for groups or parties that try to advance their own interests at the expense of the public good is

Accepted Answer

A) factions. 
B)  political parties. 
C)  interest groups. 
D)  free riders. 
E)  anti-Federalists. 
A) factions. 
B)  political parties. 
C)  interest groups. 
D)  free riders. 
E)  anti-Federalists.

Question 18

Figure 7.3 shows how

Accepted Answer

A)  Congress dominates the policy process. 
B)  the bureaucracy dominates the policy process. 
C)  interest groups dominate the policy process. 
D)  presidents dominate the policy process. 
E)  some policies are driven by an alliance between congressional committees, agencies, and interest groups. 
A)  Congress dominates the policy process. 
B)  the bureaucracy dominates the policy process. 
C)  interest groups dominate the policy process. 
D)  presidents dominate the policy process. 
E)  some policies are driven by an alliance between congressional committees, agencies, and interest groups.

Question 19

Disturbance theory is useful in explaining how successful interest groups will be lobbying Congress.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

Interest groups are

Accepted Answer

A)  sharply distinguished from pressure groups and lobbies. 
B)  private organizations that try to shape public policy. 
C)  organizations that try to gain office and run the government. 
D)  any organization that deals with the government. 
E)  organizations that field candidates for political office. 
A)  sharply distinguished from pressure groups and lobbies. 
B)  private organizations that try to shape public policy. 
C)  organizations that try to gain office and run the government. 
D)  any organization that deals with the government. 
E)  organizations that field candidates for political office.

According to pluralist scholars, what role do interest groups play in American politics?

Which of these is an example of a lobbying effort that was NOT successful?

One way that interest groups influence the courts is by

The opening vignette in Chapter 7 primarily concerns campaign finance reform.

A private interest association

Lobbyists are expected to make substantial contributions to the campaign war chests of representatives and senators.

The ________ in the United States encourages the formation of interest groups.

Which of these supports the argument that the proliferation of interest groups has made American politics less and less democratic?

The "inside game" of interest group activity depends most significantly on

Public interest or citizens' groups are generally

Inequalities of representation and resources are accentuated by the ability of some interest groups to form relatively stable alliances with important government institutions and decision-makers.

According to the authors of Struggle for Democracy, most observers believe that the political power of labor unions

Advocacy groups tend to be motivated by ideological concerns.

The idea that three-way alliances form between interest groups, bureaucratic agencies, and subcommittees of Congress has been called the problem of "iron triangles."

Compared to labor unions in many parts of the world, American labor unions are more concerned with immediate employment issues.

The term James Madison used for groups or parties that try to advance their own interests at the expense of the public good is

Figure 7.3 shows how

Disturbance theory is useful in explaining how successful interest groups will be lobbying Congress.

Interest groups are

Democracy and American Politics

The Constitution

Federalism States and Nations

Structural Foundations of the American Government

Public Opinion

News Media

Social Movements

Political Parties

Participation Voting, and Elections

Congress

The President

The Executive Branch

The Courts

Freedom: the Struggle for Civil Liberties

Civil Rights: the Struggle for Political Equality

The Budget and Economic Policies

Social Safety Nets

Foreign Policy and National Defense

Filters

Exam 7: Interest Groups and Business Corporations

According to pluralist scholars, what role do interest groups play in American politics?

Which of these is an example of a lobbying effort that was NOT successful?

One way that interest groups influence the courts is by

The opening vignette in Chapter 7 primarily concerns campaign finance reform.

A private interest association

Lobbyists are expected to make substantial contributions to the campaign war chests of representatives and senators.

The ________ in the United States encourages the formation of interest groups.

Which of these supports the argument that the proliferation of interest groups has made American politics less and less democratic?

The "inside game" of interest group activity depends most significantly on

Public interest or citizens' groups are generally

Inequalities of representation and resources are accentuated by the ability of some interest groups to form relatively stable alliances with important government institutions and decision-makers.

According to the authors of Struggle for Democracy, most observers believe that the political power of labor unions

Advocacy groups tend to be motivated by ideological concerns.

The idea that three-way alliances form between interest groups, bureaucratic agencies, and subcommittees of Congress has been called the problem of "iron triangles."

Compared to labor unions in many parts of the world, American labor unions are more concerned with immediate employment issues.

The term James Madison used for groups or parties that try to advance their own interests at the expense of the public good is

Figure 7.3 shows how

Disturbance theory is useful in explaining how successful interest groups will be lobbying Congress.

Interest groups are

Democracy and American Politics

The Constitution

Federalism States and Nations

Structural Foundations of the American Government

Public Opinion

News Media

Social Movements

Political Parties

Participation Voting, and Elections

Congress

The President

The Executive Branch

The Courts

Freedom: the Struggle for Civil Liberties

Civil Rights: the Struggle for Political Equality

The Budget and Economic Policies

Social Safety Nets

Foreign Policy and National Defense

Filters