chapter-11test interest groups

CHAPTER 11

Interest Groups

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS

Ans: EPage: 265Type: Factual

1. James Madison believed that the latent causes of faction were rooted in

a. the two-party system.b. capitalist society.c. religious conflict.d. an improperly designed constitution. e. the nature of man.

Ans: CPage: 266Type: Conceptual

2. Which of the following is not a reason for the proliferation of interest groups in this country?

a. Social diversityb. Governmental fragmentationc. Ideological leadershipd. The weakness of political partiese. Federalism

Ans: EPage: 265Type: Conceptual

3. In the United States, unlike Great Britain, interest groups can easily gain access to government because

a. political parties are relatively powerful.b. power is centralized in the legislative branch.c. important decisions are made in only a few places.d. our constitutional system is so limited. e. political authority is widely dispersed.

Ans: DPage: 266Type: Conceptual

4. In many European countries, including Austria, France, and Italy, interest groups are less common than in the United States because

a. political authority is widely dispersed.b. the relationship between party and interest group is not as

close.c. political decision making is lodged in many officials.d. political parties wield greater power. e. the media enjoy more freedom.

Ans: CPage: 267Type: Factual

5. The two periods in U.S. history in which the number of interest groups expanded most rapidly were

a. 1790–1810 and 1970–1990.b. 1860–1880 and 1950–1970.c. 1900–1920 and 1960–1980.d. 1920–1940 and 1950–1970.e. 1800–1820 and 1940–1960.


6. It has been observed that interest groups are created more rapidly in some periods than in others. This suggests that these groups

a. are the result of the diversity of U.S. society.b. arise when labor is strong.c. arise when labor is weak.d. arise when social conditions demand action. e. do not arise inevitably out of natural social processes.


7. The emergence of large, mass-membership unions was an example of interest groups forming as a result of

a. government policy.b. the evolution of talented leadership.c. the enlargement of governmental responsibilities.d. broad economic developments. e. legislative capitulation.

Ans: APage: 267Type: Conceptual

8. The launching of the Chamber of Commerce was an example of interest groups forming as a result of

a. government policy.b. the emergence of talented leadership.c. the enlargement of governmental responsibilities.d. broad economic developments. e. legislative capitulation.

Ans: BPage: 267Type: Conceptual

9. The formation of antislavery organizations in the 1830s and 1840s was an example of interest groups forming as a result of



10. The growth of numerous public-interest lobbies in the 1960s was an example of interest groups forming as a result of



11. An example of an interest group formed as a result of broadly felt economic phenomena is that of

a. labor unions.b. the Chamber of Commerce.c. antislavery organizations.d. public-interest lobbies. e. All of the above.


12. One type of interest group whose representation in Washington has skyrocketed since 1970 is the

a. professional organization.b. trade association.c. corporate lobby.d. union lobbies. e. public-interest lobby.

Ans: APage: 268Type: Factual

13. An organization that seeks to influence public policy is most accurately referred to as a(n)

a. interest group.b. lobby.c. institutional interest.d. membership interest. e. referenced interest.


14. The U.S. wine industry is represented in Washington by a group that seeks to influence public policy regarding wine. This group is most accurately called a(n)

a. membership interest.b. solidary group.c. institutional interest.d. public-interest lobby. e. referenced interest.


15. The U.S. tobacco industry is represented in Washington by a strong lobby that seeks to influence public policy regarding the use of tobacco. This lobby is most accurately referred to as a(n)

a. membership interest.b. solidary group.c. institutional interest.d. public-interest lobby. e. referenced interest.


16. An example of a typical activity that an institutional interest might conduct on behalf of a client would be

a. lobbying for laws to protect the client from foreign competition.

b. forming small local chapters to raise campaign funds.c. offering life insurance at reduced rates for its members.d. offering a cash payment to legislators in exchange for a crucial

vote. e. offering a cash payment to legislators to appear at a public

meeting.


17. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce represents thousands of different businesses locally and in Washington. Is it still called an institutional interest, even though it has no single client?

a. Yes, because membership is voluntary.b. Yes, because it still acts on behalf of other organizations.c. No, because membership is nonvoluntary.d. No, because institutional interests represent a single

organization. e. No, because membership is connected to one’s occupational

background.

Ans: DPage: 269Type: Factual

18. Americans are more likely to join ________ than are citizens of other countries.

a. labor unionsb. business and trade associationsc. charitable organizationsd. religious and political associationse. professional organizations


19. The reason Americans participate in civic associations more frequently than do citizens of other countries is

a. their greater dissatisfaction with the government.b. their more intense attachment to parties.c. their European heritage.d. the fact that they are less sensitive to the free-rider problem. e. their sense of political efficacy and civic duty.


20. Which of the following is true of most people who are sympathetic to the aims of a mass-membership interest group?

a. They do not join it.b. They join it but do not pay dues.c. They join it, pay dues, but do not participate in its activities.d. They join it, pay dues, and participate in its activities. e. They join it, but participate without paying dues.


21. People who join the parent teacher associations (PTAs) are most likely to do so as a result of ________ incentives.

a. solidaryb. materialc. purposived. partye. tangible


22. A major function of local chapters of national membership organizations is to

a. pursue political objectives at the national level.b. represent individual clients to the national organization.c. lobby politicians to oppose other groups.d. lobby politicians to enact specific laws. e. lure members and raise money from them.


23. Solidary-type incentives are most likely to motivate people who join

a. a farm bureau.b. Public Citizen.c. the parent teacher associations (PTAs).d. the Mafia. e. American Association of Retired Persons (AARP).


24. Members of a farm bureau are most likely to have joined as a result of ________ incentives.

a. solidaryb. concurrentc. purposived. partye. material


25. Which of the following is not an example of a material incentive?

a. The opportunity for members to market their products through cooperatives

b. Low-cost life insurancec. The appeal of the organization’s stated goalsd. Free assistance in preparing tax returnse. Free assistance in estate planning


26. The National Association of Science Teachers offers its members reduced rates on automobile rentals. Such benefits to members are called ________ benefits.

a. solidaryb. materialc. purposived. partye. concurrent


27. Purposive incentives are most likely to motivate people who join

a. the Illinois Farm Bureau.b. the National Organization for Women (NOW).c. the parent teacher associations (PTAs).d. the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP). e. the Rotary Club.

Ans: BPage: 272Type: Factual

28. To be effective, purposive membership organizations count on

a. keeping issues out of the spotlight.b. keeping issues in the spotlight.c. major foundation funding.d. favorable treatment by the courts. e. litigation which receives little public attention.


29. Organizations that attract members by appealing to a coherent set of usually controversial principles are called

a. political parties.b. pressure groups.c. splinter groups.d. ideological interest groups. e. out-party groups.

Ans: APage: 272-273Type: Factual

30. The policies of public-interest organizations are predominantly shaped by

a. the elites who dominate them.b. concerned citizens who are not members.c. their membership.d. corporate sponsors. e. b and c.


31. Ralph Nader became famous after testifying in favor of a bill regarding

a. social security.b. air pollution. c. workman’s compensation. d. automobile safety. e. gun control.


32. Nader’s attempt to influence Congress was followed by

a. his promotion to lead council for the AARP. b. a clumsy attempt by General Motors to discredit his

background.c. a series of awards from the NRA. d. his presidency of the Sierra Club. e. his election to the House of Representatives.


33. Nader founded a group called

a. Automobile Responsibility Council.b. Senior Pride.c. Take Aim.d. American Worker.e. Public Citizen.


34. Recently, the Nader organization has evidenced some cracks with regard to state legislation on

a. waiting periods for gun licenses. b. Medicare reform. c. no-fault automobile insurance. d. metropolitan transportation systems. e. urban sprawl.


35. PIRG is an organization dedicated to

a. working on and studying local consumer/political issues.b. opposing the nuclear arms race.c. representing conservatives on environmental issues.d. providing campaign funds to unpopular candidates. e. supporting civil rights for gays.


36. Which consumer activist has spawned more than a dozen interest groups since the mid-1960s?

a. Michael Mooreb. Ralph Naderc. Gloria Steinemd. James Watte. Jerry Brown


37. Public-interest lobbies typically make better progress when the administration is

a. Republican.b. Democratic.c. hostile.d. friendly. e. neutral.

Ans: APage: 272 (box)Type: Factual

38. According to the text, one of the important activities of public-interest law firms is to

a. bring suits on behalf of persons harmed by some public or private policy.

b. provide members of Congress with timely information on controversial issues.

c. document lawsuits against government agencies.d. give legal advice to public-interest organizations. e. block litigation which opposes governmental regulations.

Ans: APage: 272 (box)Type: Factual

39. Which of the following is not a liberal public-interest law firm?

a. The Center for Individual Rightsb. American Civil Liberties Unionc. NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fundd. Women’s Legal Defense Funde. Natural Resources Defense Council

Ans: DPage: 272 (box)Type: Factual

40. Which of the following is not a conservative public-interest law firm?

a. Atlantic Legal Foundationb. Criminal Justice Legal Foundationc. Landmark Legal Foundationd. Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rightse. Washington Legal Foundation


41. Which of the following statements about a social movement is generally true?

a. The more extreme its position, the smaller its size.b. The more liberal its position, the larger its size.c. The more moderate its position, the smaller its size.d. The more purposive its membership incentives, the smaller its

size. e. It can only take place when courts are open to the prospect of

radical change in the law.


42. The launching of the environmental movement was assisted by

a. a hurricane in Pensacola, Florida. b. several incidents of contaminated water in Boston.c. an oil spill on the Santa Barbara beaches. d. the highly publicized death of dozens of sperm whales.e. controversies surrounding the spread of diseases in animals.


43. The League of Women Voters is an example of a feminist organization whose membership incentives are primarily

a. material.b. purposive.c. concurrent.d. ideological. e. solidary.


44. The National Organization for Women (NOW) is an example of a feminist organization whose membership incentives are primarily

a. material.b. purposive.c. solidary.d. sociological. e. concurrent.


45. The peak of the union movement in the United States occurred in the year

a. 1923.b. 1932.c. 1945.d. 1956. e. 1978.


46. The proportion of the non-farm work force that is unionized today is approximately

a. 11 percent.b. 20 percent.c. 35 percent.d. 50 percent. e. 65 percent.


47. A major cause in the decline of union membership in the United States was a(n)

a. shift in the nation’s economic life toward industrial production.b. decline in public support for unions.c. shift in the nation’s economic life away from service delivery.d. increase in the number of union members with purposive

incentives. e. increase in the number of union members with concurrent

incentives.


48. Which of the following interest groups will probably have the most difficult time raising money?

a. A lobbying organization representing a nonprofit organizationb. A lobbying organization representing a for-profit organizationc. A membership organization relying on appeals to purposed. A membership organization relying on solidary incentivese. a and b


49. Each of the following is an important source of funds for lobbying organizations except

a. foundation grants.b. membership dues.c. government grants.d. direct-mail solicitations. e. a, b, and c.


50. Some $21 million was donated to various liberal interest groups between 1970 and 1980 by the

a. Lilly Foundation.b. Ford Foundation.c. Pew Memorial Trust.d. Sloan-Kettering Fund. e. Rockefeller Family Fund.


51. Of the three major sources of funds available to interest groups, the one that is unique to modern interest groups is

a. foundation grants.b. federal grants and contracts.c. low interest loans from the political parties.d. public funding via the personal income tax return. e. computerized direct-mail solicitations.


52. The nonprofit and other organizations that receive the lion’s share of federal grants and contracts are rarely if ever

a. influential in Congressional policy making. b. the same organizations from year to year. c. large organizations. d. subject to performance audits or independent research

evaluations. e. religious organizations.


53. In the 1980s, the Reagan administration attempted to cut back on federal funds for nonprofit groups that were supposedly

a. religious.b. liberal.c. conservative.d. business oriented. e. foreign sponsored.


54. To say that “the pressure system has an upper-class bias” is to

a. state an important principle of lobbying.b. state an incorrect view of lobbying.c. say much about the people who join groups, but nothing about

the positions the groups will take.d. say much about the positions groups take, but nothing about

the people who join these groups. e. say much about the people who join groups, but nothing about

their talents and skills.


55. The Americans who are most likely to join interest groups are

a. religious people.b. people in small communities.c. people from the lower socioeconomic classes and members of

minority groups.d. people in economic distress. e. people with better-than-average incomes.


56. Although knowing that the oil industry, for example, is represented by more than 170 interest groups may be useful, this fact is important only if these groups

a. represent different interests.b. are all membership groups.c. are all lobbying organizations.d. always protect the oil industry. e. are representative of the population of oil interests.


57. Of the nearly 7,000 groups represented in Washington, approximately what percentage are corporations?

a. 5b. 10c. 50d. 70e. 98


58. The example of farmers illustrates that interest groups from the same sector are often

a. an unbeatable combination.b. divided among themselves.c. unrepresentative of their numbers.d. unsure of their own best interests. e. unified, but incapable of action.


59. Probably the best measure of an interest group’s influence is its

a. size.b. wealth.c. organizational skill.d. contacts. e. issue dexterity.


60. Probably the most effective commodity at the command of interest groups is

a. money.b. allegiance.c. persuasiveness.d. media access. e. information.


61. The value of information, the power of the lobbyists, and thus the success of interest groups are greatest when the issue

a. involves other interest groups also.b. is fairly narrow.c. is broad enough to gather mass support.d. is a highly visible national policy. e. is both broad and visible.


62. Lobbyists are restrained from misrepresenting facts or misleading legislators by

a. the 1984 Truth-in-Lobbying Law.b. the open nature of the lobbying process.c. governmental regulatory agencies such as the FTA.d. the fear of losing legislators’ trust and confidence. e. supervision of the federal courts.


63. When the Civil Aeronautics Board was setting airline rates and conferring air routes on various cities, most of those appearing before it at its hearings were

a. airline companies.b. passenger representatives.c. government officials.d. lawyers. e. airport employees.


64. In addition to seeking technical information from lobbyists, public officials often look to them for

a. help in persuading uncommitted voters.b. assistance in their personal lives.c. legal expertise.d. political cues on particular issues. e. inside tips on campaigning slogans.


65. The primary purpose of legislative ratings used by various interest groups is to

a. inform the general electorate of major issues.b. compare the performances of different legislators.c. provide a cover for illegal influence peddling.d. influence the behavior of legislators. e. guide administrative officers in the interpretation of federal

regulations and statutes.


66. Republican activist William Kristol used __________ to guide members of Congress in opposition to Clinton’s health care plan.

a. automated phone callsb. postal surveysc. Washington-based bill boardsd. e-mail talking pointse. computer-operated fax machines


67. The outsider strategy is increasingly used by lobbyist because

a. Congress is less individualistic.b. modern technology has made it possible. c. there are few visible issues before Congress.d. there are more lobbyists than there once were. e. there are more regulations focusing on insider strategies.


68. One method used by lobbyists to convince undecided legislators that public opinion on an issue is inclined toward their direction is to

a. encourage local citizens to send telegrams.b. supply the legislators with recent ratings.c. supply the legislators with technical information.d. cultivate the goodwill of government officials. e. threaten a lawsuit.


69. Of the exertion of public pressure on legislators, the text concludes that it

a. generally works.b. is not clear how often it works.c. rarely works.d. works best with new legislators. e. works best with senior legislators.


70. In recent years, interest groups frequently use a grassroots lobbying strategy referred to as

a. insider.b. wholesale.c. collective.d. outsider. e. end-run.


71. An example cited by the text of how grassroots opposition to a governmental action can influence Congress is the example of

a. the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) banning of saccharin.

b. the Forest Service’s banning of campfires in national parks.c. the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) approval of acid

rain.d. the Central Intelligence Agency’s (CIA) approval of strategic

assassination. e. the Internal Revenue Service’s approval of electronic filing.


72. The Dirty Dozen consisted of the

a. least ethical interest groups in Washington.b. Midwestern states most responsible for acid rain.c. most deeply bureaucratized federal agencies.d. most anti-industry legislators in the Senate. e. most anti-environment legislators in the House.


73. The significance of being categorized as one of the Dirty Dozen was found in the fact that many of them

a. were convicted for ethical violations and sent to federal prison. b. had stock in major corporations. c. did not survive in office. d. were supported by Ralph Nader’s organizations. e. generated record levels of financial backing.


74. The 1993 Brady Bill was opposed by which of the following interest groups?

a. The National Organization for Women (NOW)b. The National Rifle Organization (NRA)c. The Sierra Clubd. The NAACPe. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)


75. The scholarly evidence that political action committee (PAC) money buys votes in Congress

a. is sketchy at best.b. is fairly strong but still inconclusive.c. is substantial.d. is conclusive. e. clearly documents there is absolutely no relationship between

contributions and votes.

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