Question 1

The best description of the ideal of pluralism is that

Accepted Answer

A)  the public good should always trump individual interests. 
B)  interests should be free to compete with each other for governmental influence. 
C)  interest groups are factions that endanger liberty. 
D)  democracy is best served by legalizing but regulating the influence of interest groups. 
E)  interest groups are factions that endanger political and economic equality. 
A)  the public good should always trump individual interests. 
B)  interests should be free to compete with each other for governmental influence. 
C)  interest groups are factions that endanger liberty. 
D)  democracy is best served by legalizing but regulating the influence of interest groups. 
E)  interest groups are factions that endanger political and economic equality.

Question 2

The theory of pluralism states that all interests should be free to compete for influence and the result will be compromise and moderation.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 3

Which of the following has Congress not done in recent years in order to limit the influence of interest groups?

Accepted Answer

A)  limited the size of gifts to its own members from lobbyists and interest groups 
B)  banned the practice of honoraria for giving speeches 
C)  prohibited lobbyists from paying for most meals, trips, and parties for members of Congress 
D)  broadened the definition of people and organizations that must register as lobbyists 
E)  outlawed all contact between lobbyists and members of Congress during legislative sessions 
A)  limited the size of gifts to its own members from lobbyists and interest groups 
B)  banned the practice of honoraria for giving speeches 
C)  prohibited lobbyists from paying for most meals, trips, and parties for members of Congress 
D)  broadened the definition of people and organizations that must register as lobbyists 
E)  outlawed all contact between lobbyists and members of Congress during legislative sessions

Question 4

When membership in an organization allows for a reduction in the price of museum tickets, it is called a

Accepted Answer

A)  solidary benefit. 
B)  promotion offer. 
C)  material benefit. 
D)  bribe. 
E)  purposive benefit. 
A)  solidary benefit. 
B)  promotion offer. 
C)  material benefit. 
D)  bribe. 
E)  purposive benefit.

Question 5

What contemporary political scientists call an interest group, James Madison called a(n)

Accepted Answer

A)  mob. 
B)  faction. 
C)  oligarchy. 
D)  corporation. 
E)  social movement. 
A)  mob. 
B)  faction. 
C)  oligarchy. 
D)  corporation. 
E)  social movement.

Question 6

The increased number and importance of interest groups

Accepted Answer

A)  causes a subsequent expansion in government. 
B)  is a response to an increase in the size and activity of government. 
C)  is a response to a decrease in the size and activity of government. 
D)  is a direct result of a more broadly defined First Amendment freedom of association. 
E)  is due to the decline in the United States' multiparty system. 
A)  causes a subsequent expansion in government. 
B)  is a response to an increase in the size and activity of government. 
C)  is a response to a decrease in the size and activity of government. 
D)  is a direct result of a more broadly defined First Amendment freedom of association. 
E)  is due to the decline in the United States' multiparty system.

Question 7

Which of the following has been eliminated as a result of 2002 campaign-finance reforms?

Accepted Answer

A)  PACs 
B)  soft money 
C)  laws limiting the amount a candidate may spend of his or her personal fortune 
D)  interest group lobbying 
E)  grassroots mobilization 
A)  PACs 
B)  soft money 
C)  laws limiting the amount a candidate may spend of his or her personal fortune 
D)  interest group lobbying 
E)  grassroots mobilization

Question 8

Describe some of the different strategies that interest groups may employ to gain influence on government. What types of interest groups choose what kinds of policies?

Accepted Answer

Interest groups can employ a variety of

Question 9

One way that the AARP has been effective at overcoming the free-rider problem is by providing ______ benefits to its members.

Accepted Answer

A)  selective 
B)  elective 
C)  free-rider 
D)  pluralism 
E)  public good 
A)  selective 
B)  elective 
C)  free-rider 
D)  pluralism 
E)  public good

Question 10

What is an interest group? Describe some different types of interest groups active in American politics. What are some of the similarities these different types share in terms of organization and recruitment?

Accepted Answer

An interest group is an organized group

Question 11

Which group is best adapted to organizing the lower classes?

Accepted Answer

A)  a public interest group 
B)  an ideological interest group 
C)  a professional association 
D)  a political party 
E)  a business group 
A)  a public interest group 
B)  an ideological interest group 
C)  a professional association 
D)  a political party 
E)  a business group

Question 12

The free-rider phenomenon

Accepted Answer

A)  becomes increasingly problematic in very large groups. 
B)  becomes increasingly problematic in very small groups. 
C)  is not affected in any way by the size of the group in question. 
D)  is not related to groups in any way because it is an individual-level problem. 
E)  makes collective action considerably easier. 
A)  becomes increasingly problematic in very large groups. 
B)  becomes increasingly problematic in very small groups. 
C)  is not affected in any way by the size of the group in question. 
D)  is not related to groups in any way because it is an individual-level problem. 
E)  makes collective action considerably easier.

Question 13

In order to increase enrollment, interest groups try to provide members with benefits that are unavailable to anyone else.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

A loose, informal relationship of public officials, interest groups, and activists who are all concerned with the same policies is called a(n)

Accepted Answer

A)  iron triangle. 
B)  membership association. 
C)  New Politics movement. 
D)  issue network. 
E)  527 committee. 
A)  iron triangle. 
B)  membership association. 
C)  New Politics movement. 
D)  issue network. 
E)  527 committee.

Question 15

If people were motivated to join an environmental organization because they strongly believed in protecting the environment and supported the goals of the group, then we would say they were motivated by

Accepted Answer

A)  pluralism. 
B)  solidary benefits. 
C)  purposive benefits. 
D)  informational benefits. 
E)  material benefits. 
A)  pluralism. 
B)  solidary benefits. 
C)  purposive benefits. 
D)  informational benefits. 
E)  material benefits.

Question 16

What has been the effect of interest groups on political parties? Describe some of the differences between those who join interest groups and those who participate in parties.

Accepted Answer

Interest groups have had a significant i

Question 17

The solidary benefits of interest groups include

Accepted Answer

A)  friendship and consciousness-raising. 
B)  special services and goods. 
C)  information and money. 
D)  identification with the purpose or ideology of the group. 
E)  representation before government. 
A)  friendship and consciousness-raising. 
B)  special services and goods. 
C)  information and money. 
D)  identification with the purpose or ideology of the group. 
E)  representation before government.

Question 18

Interest groups tend to proliferate at times when government is shrinking.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

By 2012, there were approximately ______ PACs in the United States.

Accepted Answer

A)  150 
B)  1,500 
C)  5,500 
D)  15,000 
E)  25,000 
A)  150 
B)  1,500 
C)  5,500 
D)  15,000 
E)  25,000

Question 20

The iron triangle is a relationship that is established through repeated litigation of class-action suits.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Exam 11: Groups and Interests

The best description of the ideal of pluralism is that

The theory of pluralism states that all interests should be free to compete for influence and the result will be compromise and moderation.

Which of the following has Congress not done in recent years in order to limit the influence of interest groups?

When membership in an organization allows for a reduction in the price of museum tickets, it is called a

What contemporary political scientists call an interest group, James Madison called a(n)

The increased number and importance of interest groups

Which of the following has been eliminated as a result of 2002 campaign-finance reforms?

Describe some of the different strategies that interest groups may employ to gain influence on government. What types of interest groups choose what kinds of policies?

One way that the AARP has been effective at overcoming the free-rider problem is by providing ______ benefits to its members.

What is an interest group? Describe some different types of interest groups active in American politics. What are some of the similarities these different types share in terms of organization and recruitment?

Which group is best adapted to organizing the lower classes?

The free-rider phenomenon

In order to increase enrollment, interest groups try to provide members with benefits that are unavailable to anyone else.

A loose, informal relationship of public officials, interest groups, and activists who are all concerned with the same policies is called a(n)

If people were motivated to join an environmental organization because they strongly believed in protecting the environment and supported the goals of the group, then we would say they were motivated by

What has been the effect of interest groups on political parties? Describe some of the differences between those who join interest groups and those who participate in parties.

The solidary benefits of interest groups include

Interest groups tend to proliferate at times when government is shrinking.

By 2012, there were approximately ______ PACs in the United States.

The iron triangle is a relationship that is established through repeated litigation of class-action suits.

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