Question 1

Explain the view that interest groups are really an elitist phenomenon. Support or dispute this view with examples.

Accepted Answer

Interest groups are often seen as an eli...

Question 2

Which of the following best describes an interest group?

Accepted Answer

A)   Any association of individuals
B)   A group of people who want to gain control of the government
C)   An organization that actively attempts to influence government policy
D)   Any organization that requires members to pay dues
E)   An organization set up to support a particular candidate for public office

Question 3

Enticing individuals to join an interest group for solidary incentives has become easier because of which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A)   Changes in federal law
B)   The creation of virtual currency
C)   The intense partisanship in the federal government
D)   The increased diversity of the U.S. population
E)   The advent of social media

Question 4

Which of the following is seen as the most desired result of lobbying efforts?

Accepted Answer

A)   A positive view of the interest group by the executive branch
B)   A positive view of the interest group by the general public
C)   Legislation passed by Congress and signed by the president that is favorable to that interest group's members
D)   A positive view of the interest group by the judicial branch
E)   The largest salaries for the leaders of that interest group

Question 5

Which of the following theories sees political struggle as the pitting of different groups against each other to reach a compromise?

Accepted Answer

A)   Pluralism
B)   Majoritarianism
C)   Socialism
D)   Elitism
E)   Totalitarianism

Question 6

Direct techniques used by interest groups include which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A)   Using YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook to generate influence
B)   Using public relations firms to polish their image with the public
C)   Building alliances with other groups to increase their collective effectiveness
D)   Using constituents to lobby Congress on behalf of an issue
E)   Staging demonstrations, marches, and boycotts

Question 7

Since 1960, the greatest growth in unionization has occurred among which of the following groups?

Accepted Answer

A)   Military personnel
B)   Public employees
C)   Professional athletes
D)   Private sector employees
E)   Information technology employees

Question 8

Interest groups are seen as having legitimate concerns about particular issues, but not necessarily about broader issues.  This explains the success of interest groups that focus on which of the following issues?

Accepted Answer

A)   Gun control
B)   Funding of abortions
C)   Tobacco farming
D)   Pro-Israel groups such as the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPA
C)  
E)   All of these are correct.

Question 9

According to poll data, what fraction of the American population belongs to at least one group or association?

Accepted Answer

A)   One-third
B)   One-half
C)   One-quarter
D)   Two-thirds
E)   One-tenth

Question 10

The concept that interest groups are really an elitist phenomenon rather than a manifestation of pluralism is supported by which of the following facts?

Accepted Answer

A)   Public-interest groups are the most powerful groups.
B)   Only a small percentage of the interest groups lobbying Congress are business groups.
C)   The power of unions has declined over the past three decades.
D)   Religious groups and recreational groups have the largest financial footprint in Washington, D.C.
E)   Most Americans are not represented by interest groups.

Question 11

Some argue that the interest group system is most likely to leave out which of the following groups?

Accepted Answer

A)   Poor Americans
B)   Workers in the public sector
C)   Workers in the private sector
D)   The agriculture industry
E)   Small businesses

Question 12

If a group of people supporting housing equity organized themselves and attempted to affect policymakers, they would have formed which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A)   An interest group
B)   A political party
C)   A lobby
D)   A civil interest group
E)   A social movement

Question 13

Groups specially formed to raise and contribute funds to support electoral candidates and that are subject to campaign finance laws are known as which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A)   Political action committees
B)   Unions
C)   Special interests
D)   501 (c) (3)  organizations
E)   501 (c) (4)  organizations

Question 14

Explain the different types of incentives people have for participating in various types of interest groups.

Accepted Answer

There are several different types of inc...

Question 15

What role do interest groups play in educating policymakers about political issues?

Accepted Answer

A)   Interest groups are never considered a valid source of information because they are so biased.
B)   So few people are members of interest groups that any communication policymakers receive from such groups is considered insignificant.
C)   They are an important source of political information.
D)   They tend to confuse policymakers and often alienate them.
E)   They serve to overwhelm policymakers with too much information.

Question 16

Which of the following statements best characterizes social movements?

Accepted Answer

A)   Social movements represent issues of concern only to social elites.
B)   Social movements may express the opinions of the weak and oppressed.
C)   Social movements rarely demand social change.
D)   Interest groups seldom spawn social movements.
E)   Traditional political parties often spawn social movements.

Question 17

Which of the following is true of political endorsements by interest groups?

Accepted Answer

A)   They are relatively ineffective today.
B)   They are not very important because candidates can publicize the fact that their campaign is endorsed by groups but they cannot identify the specific source of the endorsement.
C)   They are important because the group can publicize its choices in its membership publications.
D)   They are a violation of campaign finance reform laws.
E)   They are allowed in local elections but forbidden in races for federal office.

Question 18

Discuss the tactics used by interest groups as part of information campaigns.

Accepted Answer

Interest groups use a variety of tactics...

Question 19

Leaders of some of the largest interest groups, such as the NRA or AARP,  are said to form "an elite within an elite" for which of the following reasons?

Accepted Answer

A)   They live in or near Washington, D.C.
B)   They work in or near Washington, D.C.
C)   They are highly paid, putting them in an upper-income bracket.
D)   They have access to members of Congress and their staffs on a regular basis.
E)   All of these are correct.

Question 20

Generating public pressure and awareness may do which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A)   Convince policymakers that public opinion overwhelmingly supports the interest group's position
B)   Mislead the public on environmental issues
C)   Bypass the legislative process
D)   Force bureaucrats to answer to congressional committees
E)   Lobby lawmakers directly

Exam 7: Interest Groups

If a group of people supporting housing equity organized themselves and attempted to affect policymakers, they would have formed which of the following?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Explain the view that interest groups are really an elitist phenomenon. Support or dispute this view with examples.

Correct AnswerAnswered by ExamLex AIInterest groups are often seen as an eli...View AnswerShow Answer

Direct techniques used by interest groups include which of the following?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following statements best characterizes social movements?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Generating public pressure and awareness may do which of the following?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Enticing individuals to join an interest group for solidary incentives has become easier because of which of the following?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Leaders of some of the largest interest groups, such as the NRA or AARP, are said to form "an elite within an elite" for which of the following reasons?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The concept that interest groups are really an elitist phenomenon rather than a manifestation of pluralism is supported by which of the following facts?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following best describes an interest group?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Since 1960, the greatest growth in unionization has occurred among which of the following groups?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following is seen as the most desired result of lobbying efforts?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Interest groups are seen as having legitimate concerns about particular issues, but not necessarily about broader issues. This explains the success of interest groups that focus on which of the following issues?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Groups specially formed to raise and contribute funds to support electoral candidates and that are subject to campaign finance laws are known as which of the following?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

According to poll data, what fraction of the American population belongs to at least one group or association?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Discuss the tactics used by interest groups as part of information campaigns.

Correct AnswerAnswered by ExamLex AIInterest groups use a variety of tactics...View AnswerShow Answer

Which of the following theories sees political struggle as the pitting of different groups against each other to reach a compromise?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

What role do interest groups play in educating policymakers about political issues?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Explain the different types of incentives people have for participating in various types of interest groups.

Correct AnswerAnswered by ExamLex AIThere are several different types of inc...View AnswerShow Answer

Some argue that the interest group system is most likely to leave out which of the following groups?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following is true of political endorsements by interest groups?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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Interest groups are often seen as an eli...
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Answered by ExamLex AI
Interest groups use a variety of tactics...
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Answered by ExamLex AI
There are several different types of inc...
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