Question 1

Define and describe the four main elements of "the outside game" of interest group activity.

Accepted Answer

An ideal response will:
1. Define the outside game as interest groups trying to mobilize constituencies and influence public opinion to support the group and pressure governmental actors.
2. Define and describe mobilizing membership to persuade them to take action to influence government.
3. Define and describe organizing the district which may involve pressuring campaign contributors or opinion leaders in a state of district.
4. Define and describe shaping public opinion through media advertising, distributing research, or using computers to get the group's message out to the public.
5. Define and describe getting involved in campaigns and elections to support candidates who may be sympathetic to the group.

Question 2

Why is grassroots/outside lobbying an effective political tactic?

Accepted Answer

A)  Grassroots lobbying shapes public opinion, and elected officials are known to respond to public opinion. 
B)  Interest groups rarely engage in grassroots lobbying, so when they use this tactic, elected officials take notice. 
C)  Grassroots lobbyists collect and bundle together campaign contributions from multiple individuals. This results in one large campaign contribution and thus maximizes the impact of each contributor. 
D)  Grassroots lobbying depends on building personal connections with elected officials, who are more likely to listen to groups that they know and like. 
E)  Grassroots lobbying emphasizes publicly shaming elected officials for various wrongdoings, and elected officials are strongly motivated to avoid negative publicity. 
A)  Grassroots lobbying shapes public opinion, and elected officials are known to respond to public opinion. 
B)  Interest groups rarely engage in grassroots lobbying, so when they use this tactic, elected officials take notice. 
C)  Grassroots lobbyists collect and bundle together campaign contributions from multiple individuals. This results in one large campaign contribution and thus maximizes the impact of each contributor. 
D)  Grassroots lobbying depends on building personal connections with elected officials, who are more likely to listen to groups that they know and like. 
E)  Grassroots lobbying emphasizes publicly shaming elected officials for various wrongdoings, and elected officials are strongly motivated to avoid negative publicity. A

Question 3

Interest groups are prohibited from lobbying the executive branch of the federal government.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  False

Question 4

What types of organizations engage in grassroots/outside lobbying, and why do they do so? Why is grassroots lobbying effective?

Accepted Answer

An ideal response will:
1. Note that all

Question 5

Which of the following is an example of a private interest group?

Accepted Answer

A)  the AFL-CIO 
B)  Americans for Tax Reform 
C)  the American Red Cross 
D)  Environmental Defense 
E)  the National Organization for Women 
A)  the AFL-CIO 
B)  Americans for Tax Reform 
C)  the American Red Cross 
D)  Environmental Defense 
E)  the National Organization for Women

Question 6

Which of the following statements, if true, would confirm the idea of pluralism?

Accepted Answer

A)  The number of interest groups in Washington, D.C., has decreased over the past several decades. 
B)  Elected officials rarely take into account the views of interest groups. 
C)  Business/economic interests have more lobbyists in Washington, D.C., than other types of organizations. 
D)  Elected officials seek out the opinions of multiple interest groups when creating policy. 
E)  Membership in labor unions has remained stable over the past several decades. 
A)  The number of interest groups in Washington, D.C., has decreased over the past several decades. 
B)  Elected officials rarely take into account the views of interest groups. 
C)  Business/economic interests have more lobbyists in Washington, D.C., than other types of organizations. 
D)  Elected officials seek out the opinions of multiple interest groups when creating policy. 
E)  Membership in labor unions has remained stable over the past several decades.

Question 7

Define and describe the three main elements of "the inside game" of interest group activity.

Accepted Answer

An ideal response will:
1. Define the in

Question 8

How is lobbying the executive branch similar to lobbying the courts?

Accepted Answer

A)  Both require a lobbyist to hold a law degree. 
B)  Both can involve lobbying related to the implementation of an existing policy. 
C)  Both are relatively rare, given that most lobbyists focus exclusively on Congress. 
D)  Both typically involve grassroots lobbying. 
E)  Both are viewed as inappropriate ways for interest groups to influence government. 
A)  Both require a lobbyist to hold a law degree. 
B)  Both can involve lobbying related to the implementation of an existing policy. 
C)  Both are relatively rare, given that most lobbyists focus exclusively on Congress. 
D)  Both typically involve grassroots lobbying. 
E)  Both are viewed as inappropriate ways for interest groups to influence government.

Question 9

An interest group filing an amicus curiae brief is an example of __________.

Accepted Answer

A)  grassroots or outside lobbying 
B)  how interest groups influence elections 
C)  lobbying an executive branch agency 
D)  how groups influence the president 
E)  lobbying the judicial branch 
A)  grassroots or outside lobbying 
B)  how interest groups influence elections 
C)  lobbying an executive branch agency 
D)  how groups influence the president 
E)  lobbying the judicial branch

Question 10

Critics of pluralism have noted that __________.

Accepted Answer

A)  government decisions reflect the balance of competing interests in society 
B)  resources and political power are unequally distributed within society 
C)  individuals with shared grievances always form interest groups to press their demands upon government 
D)  government is too responsive to the demands of interest groups 
E)  the formation of one group typically stimulates the formation of an opposing group 
A)  government decisions reflect the balance of competing interests in society 
B)  resources and political power are unequally distributed within society 
C)  individuals with shared grievances always form interest groups to press their demands upon government 
D)  government is too responsive to the demands of interest groups 
E)  the formation of one group typically stimulates the formation of an opposing group

Question 11

How do interest groups lobby the courts?

Accepted Answer

A)  through letter-writing campaigns addressed to particular judges 
B)  by publishing editorials in major newspapers stating their views on cases 
C)  by getting involved in the appointment of federal judges 
D)  by testifying before congressional committees 
E)  by meeting with judges to express their views on cases 
A)  through letter-writing campaigns addressed to particular judges 
B)  by publishing editorials in major newspapers stating their views on cases 
C)  by getting involved in the appointment of federal judges 
D)  by testifying before congressional committees 
E)  by meeting with judges to express their views on cases

Question 12

Research has shown that business/economic interest groups outnumber all other types of organizations in terms of their lobbying presence in Washington, D.C. Why do some scholars view this as problematic for the functioning of our political system? Could it be argued that this is not a problem at all?

Accepted Answer

An ideal response will:
1. Note that tho

Question 13

The formation of interest groups seems to happen only when interests are threatened by a change in the social and economic environment or in government policy.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

What is the main objective of most labor unions?

Accepted Answer

A)  to protect consumers from unsafe products 
B)  to protect the interests of businesses within an industry 
C)  to protect jobs and secure favorable wages and benefits for their members 
D)  to ensure equality of all people under the law 
E)  to support free trade policies 
A)  to protect consumers from unsafe products 
B)  to protect the interests of businesses within an industry 
C)  to protect jobs and secure favorable wages and benefits for their members 
D)  to ensure equality of all people under the law 
E)  to support free trade policies

Question 15

A(n) __________ refers to an organization that seeks to influence public policy.

Accepted Answer

A)  corporation 
B)  interest group 
C)  institute 
D)  faction 
E)  administration 
A)  corporation 
B)  interest group 
C)  institute 
D)  faction 
E)  administration

Question 16

__________ refers to communicating with government officials to persuade them to support a particular policy decision.

Accepted Answer

The answer of __________ refers to communicating with government officials...

Question 17

How does grassroots/outside lobbying differ from other efforts by interest groups to influence government?

Accepted Answer

A)  Grassroots/outside lobbying focuses more than other forms of advocacy on cultivating relationships with elected officials. 
B)  Grassroots/outside lobbying is more effective than other forms of advocacy. 
C)  Grassroots/outside lobbying is more heavily regulated than other forms of advocacy. 
D)  Grassroots/outside lobbying focuses more than other forms of advocacy on influencing public opinion to support groups' goals. 
E)  Grassroots lobbying is more costly than other forms of advocacy. 
A)  Grassroots/outside lobbying focuses more than other forms of advocacy on cultivating relationships with elected officials. 
B)  Grassroots/outside lobbying is more effective than other forms of advocacy. 
C)  Grassroots/outside lobbying is more heavily regulated than other forms of advocacy. 
D)  Grassroots/outside lobbying focuses more than other forms of advocacy on influencing public opinion to support groups' goals. 
E)  Grassroots lobbying is more costly than other forms of advocacy.

Question 18

Discuss the relationship between lobbyists and the executive branch in terms of what each offers the other.

Accepted Answer

An ideal response will:
1. Discuss how i

Question 19

Why is the outside strategy of "organizing the district" particularly effective?

Accepted Answer

An ideal response will:
1. Describe what

Question 20

In recent years, political action committees (PACs) have declined as vehicles for campaign contributions.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Define and describe the four main elements of "the outside game" of interest group activity.

Why is grassroots/outside lobbying an effective political tactic?

Interest groups are prohibited from lobbying the executive branch of the federal government.

What types of organizations engage in grassroots/outside lobbying, and why do they do so? Why is grassroots lobbying effective?

Which of the following is an example of a private interest group?

Which of the following statements, if true, would confirm the idea of pluralism?

Define and describe the three main elements of "the inside game" of interest group activity.

How is lobbying the executive branch similar to lobbying the courts?

An interest group filing an amicus curiae brief is an example of __________.

Critics of pluralism have noted that __________.

How do interest groups lobby the courts?

The formation of interest groups seems to happen only when interests are threatened by a change in the social and economic environment or in government policy.

What is the main objective of most labor unions?

A(n) __________ refers to an organization that seeks to influence public policy.

__________ refers to communicating with government officials to persuade them to support a particular policy decision.

How does grassroots/outside lobbying differ from other efforts by interest groups to influence government?

Discuss the relationship between lobbyists and the executive branch in terms of what each offers the other.

Why is the outside strategy of "organizing the district" particularly effective?

In recent years, political action committees (PACs) have declined as vehicles for campaign contributions.

Democracy and American Politics

The Constitution

Federalism: States and Nation

The Structural Foundations of American Government and Politics

Public Opinion

The News Media

Social Movements

Political Parties

Voting, Campaigns, and Elections

Congress

The Presidency

The Executive Branch

The Courts

Civil Liberties: the Struggle for Freedom

Civil Rights: the Struggle for Political Equality

Domestic Policies

Foreign Policy and National Defense

Filters

Exam 7: Interest Groups and Business Organizations

Define and describe the four main elements of "the outside game" of interest group activity.

Why is grassroots/outside lobbying an effective political tactic?

Interest groups are prohibited from lobbying the executive branch of the federal government.

What types of organizations engage in grassroots/outside lobbying, and why do they do so? Why is grassroots lobbying effective?

Which of the following is an example of a private interest group?

Which of the following statements, if true, would confirm the idea of pluralism?

Define and describe the three main elements of "the inside game" of interest group activity.

How is lobbying the executive branch similar to lobbying the courts?

An interest group filing an amicus curiae brief is an example of __________.

Critics of pluralism have noted that __________.

How do interest groups lobby the courts?

The formation of interest groups seems to happen only when interests are threatened by a change in the social and economic environment or in government policy.

What is the main objective of most labor unions?

A(n) __________ refers to an organization that seeks to influence public policy.

__________ refers to communicating with government officials to persuade them to support a particular policy decision.

How does grassroots/outside lobbying differ from other efforts by interest groups to influence government?

Discuss the relationship between lobbyists and the executive branch in terms of what each offers the other.

Why is the outside strategy of "organizing the district" particularly effective?

In recent years, political action committees (PACs) have declined as vehicles for campaign contributions.

Democracy and American Politics

The Constitution

Federalism: States and Nation

The Structural Foundations of American Government and Politics

Public Opinion

The News Media

Social Movements

Political Parties

Voting, Campaigns, and Elections

Congress

The Presidency

The Executive Branch

The Courts

Civil Liberties: the Struggle for Freedom

Civil Rights: the Struggle for Political Equality

Domestic Policies

Foreign Policy and National Defense

Filters