Question 1

Under federal law, PACs can contribute no more than ________ per candidate for federal office for a primary election and general election combined.

Accepted Answer

A)   $2,000
B)   $10,000
C)   $40,000
D)   $50,000
E)   $100,000

Question 2

The second-largest number of PACs are those associated with

Accepted Answer

A)   single-issue groups, such as environmental groups and right-to-life groups.
B)   labor.
C)   business.
D)   agriculture.
E)   foreign governments.

Question 3

A pluralist could be expected to argue that

Accepted Answer

A)   the presidency is more representative of society's interests than is the Congress.
B)   society is best seen as a collection of separate interests.
C)   U.S. society is best run by a power elite.
D)   most interests are poorly represented through the group process.
E)   the judiciary is more representative of society's interests than is the Congress.

Question 4

According to the Center for Responsive Politics, what was roughly the amount spent on lobbying in the United States in 2009?

Accepted Answer

A)   $250 billion
B)   $10 billion
C)   $350 million
D)   $35 billion
E)   $3.5 billion

Question 5

The theory that society's interests are most effectively represented through group action is

Accepted Answer

A)   republicanism.
B)   constitutionalism.
C)   elitist theory.
D)   pluralist theory.
E)   interest-group liberalism.

Question 6

Most lobbyists receive support from elected officials in direct exchange for

Accepted Answer

A)   money.
B)   information.
C)   bribery.
D)   coercion.
E)   deception.

Question 7

During his visit to this country in the 1830s, Alexis de Tocqueville described the United States as "a nation of ________."

Accepted Answer

A)   freeloaders
B)   loners
C)   joiners
D)   fighters
E)   stalwarts

Question 8

Identify the defining characteristics of an interest group. How do interest groups differ from political parties?

Accepted Answer

An interest group is any organization th...

Question 9

In the 2012 presidential election, super PACs spent about ___ million dollars.

Accepted Answer

A)   27
B)   94
C)   150
D)   320
E)   600

Question 10

Super PACs have been criticized primarily for

Accepted Answer

A)   being a tool that provides unfair advantages to liberal Democrats.
B)   leveling the playing field for monetary influence in federal elections.
C)   making it more likely that minor parties will gain control of government.
D)   giving too much influence to the wealthy.
E)   refusing to abide by FEC regulations.

Question 11

Another name for an interest group is

Accepted Answer

A)   pressure group.
B)   cabal.
C)   political party.
D)   coalition.
E)   constituency.

Question 12

A purposive incentive is defined as

Accepted Answer

A)   a goal of direct economic gain.
B)   the opportunity to contribute to a worthy goal or purpose.
C)   a goal benefiting a specific group.
D)   any common purpose that brings groups together.
E)   corporate profit.

Question 13

Effective inside lobbying is based upon

Accepted Answer

A)   countering the aims of other groups.
B)   providing useful and persuasive information to key officials.
C)   mobilizing the group's members.
D)   bribing or threatening officials.
E)   using the media to exert pressure.

Question 14

Which of the following groups primarily uses litigation as its lobbying method?

Accepted Answer

A)   NRA
B)   ACLU
C)   NAACP
D)   AARP
E)   NEA

Question 15

The dominant labor interest group is

Accepted Answer

A)   the Teamsters Union.
B)   United Auto Workers.
C)   the AFL-CIO.
D)   the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.
E)   the Communication Workers of America.

Question 16

The most numerous economic groups are

Accepted Answer

A)   labor groups.
B)   business groups.
C)   professional groups.
D)   occupational groups.
E)   farm groups.

Question 17

James Madison's solution to the problem of factions (special interests)  has, in the modern policy process, actually contributed to the problem by

Accepted Answer

A)   suppressing the claims of special interests, thereby making it more difficult for them to get their opinions heard by officials.
B)   resulting in a fragmentation of authority among policymakers, thereby providing groups more opportunities to get their way.
C)   eroding the strength of political parties, thereby increasing the opportunity for group influence.
D)   weakening the legislative branch, thereby allowing groups to bully Congress into accepting their demands.
E)   eroding the power of the mass media, thereby increasing the opportunity for group influence.

Question 18

Define economic groups. Identify four types of economic interest groups and the constituencies they serve.
D.C., concentrate their activities on policies that are concerned with business, such as tax, tariff, and regulatory decisions. Business interests are also represented by associations such as the National Association of Manufacturers and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Labor groups seek to promote policies that benefit workers in general and union members in particular. They have been politically active for a long time, and the AFL-CIO is the largest labor group. Farm groups represent various segments of the farm community; for example, the Farm Bureau promotes agribusiness and large farms, while the Farmers Union promotes the interests of smaller family farms. Professional groups, such as the American Medical Association, represent various professions and attempt to influence policy on their behalf.

Accepted Answer

Economic groups promote the economic int...

Question 19

The limits of interest groups' influence might be gauged by the Democratic backlash against the ________, which tried to block the North American Free Trade Agreement in 1993.

Accepted Answer

A)   ACLU
B)   Sierra Club
C)   Izaak Walton League
D)   AARP
E)   AFL-CIO

Question 20

Economist Mancur Olson refers to what aspect of interest groups as "the size factor"?

Accepted Answer

A)   Larger interest groups are able to draw on greater financial resources, which makes them more capable of getting the ear of lawmakers and thus achieving policy change.
B)   The interests of groups with large memberships would typically prevail over the interests of smaller groups.
C)   Small groups are ordinarily more united on policy issues and often have more resources, enabling them to win out more often than large groups.
D)   The smaller an interest group, the more likely that its motivating issue will be subsumed by the agenda of a larger interest group.
E)   Small interest groups can often enhance their bargaining power by linking themselves to the agenda of a larger interest group that has greater resources.

Exam 9: Interest Groups: Organizing for Influence

Correct Answer
verified
Economic groups promote the economic int...
View Answer

Economist Mancur Olson refers to what aspect of interest groups as "the size factor"?

Correct Answer
verified

The most numerous economic groups are

Correct Answer
verified

James Madison's solution to the problem of factions (special interests) has, in the modern policy process, actually contributed to the problem by

Correct Answer
verified

The dominant labor interest group is

Correct Answer
verified

Which of the following groups primarily uses litigation as its lobbying method?

Correct Answer
verified

Super PACs have been criticized primarily for

Correct Answer
verified

Under federal law, PACs can contribute no more than ________ per candidate for federal office for a primary election and general election combined.

Correct Answer
verified

According to the Center for Responsive Politics, what was roughly the amount spent on lobbying in the United States in 2009?

Correct Answer
verified

Another name for an interest group is

Correct Answer
verified

The theory that society's interests are most effectively represented through group action is

Correct Answer
verified

Most lobbyists receive support from elected officials in direct exchange for

Correct Answer
verified

Identify the defining characteristics of an interest group. How do interest groups differ from political parties?

Correct Answer
verified
An interest group is any organization th...
View Answer

In the 2012 presidential election, super PACs spent about ___ million dollars.

Correct Answer
verified

The limits of interest groups' influence might be gauged by the Democratic backlash against the ________, which tried to block the North American Free Trade Agreement in 1993.

Correct Answer
verified

A pluralist could be expected to argue that

Correct Answer
verified

Effective inside lobbying is based upon

Correct Answer
verified

During his visit to this country in the 1830s, Alexis de Tocqueville described the United States as "a nation of ________."

Correct Answer
verified

The second-largest number of PACs are those associated with

Correct Answer
verified

A purposive incentive is defined as

Correct Answer
verified

Exam 9: Interest Groups: Organizing for Influence

Correct AnswerverifiedEconomic groups promote the economic int...View AnswerShow Answer

Economist Mancur Olson refers to what aspect of interest groups as "the size factor"?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The most numerous economic groups are

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

James Madison's solution to the problem of factions (special interests) has, in the modern policy process, actually contributed to the problem by

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The dominant labor interest group is

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following groups primarily uses litigation as its lobbying method?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Super PACs have been criticized primarily for

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Under federal law, PACs can contribute no more than ________ per candidate for federal office for a primary election and general election combined.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

According to the Center for Responsive Politics, what was roughly the amount spent on lobbying in the United States in 2009?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Another name for an interest group is

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The theory that society's interests are most effectively represented through group action is

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Most lobbyists receive support from elected officials in direct exchange for

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Identify the defining characteristics of an interest group. How do interest groups differ from political parties?

Correct AnswerverifiedAn interest group is any organization th...View AnswerShow Answer

In the 2012 presidential election, super PACs spent about ___ million dollars.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The limits of interest groups' influence might be gauged by the Democratic backlash against the ________, which tried to block the North American Free Trade Agreement in 1993.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

A pluralist could be expected to argue that

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Effective inside lobbying is based upon

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

During his visit to this country in the 1830s, Alexis de Tocqueville described the United States as "a nation of ________."

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The second-largest number of PACs are those associated with

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

A purposive incentive is defined as

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Correct Answer
verified
Economic groups promote the economic int...
View Answer

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
verified
An interest group is any organization th...
View Answer

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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