Question 1

The key to direct lobbying is to focus on:

Accepted Answer

A)   converting opponents into supporters
B)   undecided legislators
C)   legislators who already share the group's policy goals
D)   legislators who are willing to accept campaign contributions
E)   legislators who are ambitious and seek higher office in the future

Question 2

In what way can people be considered a resource for an interest group?

Accepted Answer

A)   They can put pressure on elected representatives by writing letters, demonstrating, and engaging in other activities.
B)   An interest group's funds are completely influenced by its number of members.
C)   Elected officials only pay attention to interest groups with many members.
D)   Larger interest groups are more likely to have personal connections with policy makers.
E)   People force interest groups to become more democratic in their operations, making groups more efficient overall in influencing the political process. A

Question 3

Large-scale spending in elections is:

Accepted Answer

A)   unusual for all but a few 527s and political action committees (PACs) 
B)   common only among mass associations like unions
C)   typical behavior for all groups with business interests
D)   common among most 501(c)  groups, 527 groups, and PACs
E)   almost nonexistent since new campaign finance reforms went into effect in 2004

Question 4

Which of the following is an example of an interest group that is entirely political?

Accepted Answer

A)   National Rifle Association
B)   Public Citizens
C)   Automobile Association of America
D)   AARP
E)   AFL-CIO

Question 5

Which of the following statements best characterizes the influence of interest groups?

Accepted Answer

A)   Most groups are only successful some of the time, regardless of their resources.
B)   Most groups get what they want from government most of the time.
C)   Interest groups are completely powerless.
D)   Only groups with many members and large budgets are successful.
E)   Interest groups can easily buy the congressional votes they need to get what they want from the legislative process.

Question 6

The term revolving door refers to:

Accepted Answer

A)   the nature of interest group influence in Washington
B)   movement of personnel between the government and interest groups
C)   the policy expertise of interest group staff members
D)   individuals who move between the private sector and interest groups
E)   the frequent firing and rehiring of staff in the interest group community

Question 7

Which of the following are resources that interest groups can use to influence public policy?

Accepted Answer

A)   coercion
B)   expensive gifts (airline tickets, meals at restaurants, etc.) 
C)   selective benefits
D)   people, expertise, and campaign contributions
E)   solidary, material, and purposive benefits

Question 8

Money is an important resource for interest groups because:

Accepted Answer

A)   it allows interest groups to offer purposive benefits
B)   they can buy the support of legislators and other policy makers
C)   it is an easy way for policy makers to compare the importance of different groups
D)   it shows that they have support from lots of different people
E)   it gives them the ability to fund activities that help them influence policy

Question 9

Why do interest groups sometimes form coalitions to work for the same policy goal?

Accepted Answer

A)   Policy makers are more likely to respond to large coalitions with a diverse membership.
B)   Coalitions unite all interests, forcing politicians to respond to the groups' demands.
C)   Coalitions of groups can often make up a majority of Americans and create pressure through elections.
D)   Coalitions allow groups to exploit loopholes in campaign finance laws.
E)   Coalitions of groups are effective because they form the basis of so-called iron triangles.

Question 10

Grassroots lobbying is best defined as:

Accepted Answer

A)   using high-paid professionals to contact legislators
B)   whipping up public opinion through media contacts
C)   attempting to change what the public thinks about an issue
D)   using group members to contact legislators
E)   using group members to create chaos through mass protest and civil disobedience

Question 11

It makes more sense to ask when interest groups are powerful rather than ask whether or not they are powerful.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

Since 2000,the total amount of money spent on lobbying has:

Accepted Answer

A)   increased
B)   remained stable from year to year
C)   decreased
D)   fluctuated tremendously from year to year
E)   been impossible to track, because groups have a constitutional right to privacy and do not have to disclose all of their lobbying expenses A

Question 13

When an interest group contacts a public official and tries to influence public policy,it is engaged in:

Accepted Answer

A)   electioneering
B)   lobbying
C)   pluralism
D)   external strategy
E)   collusion

Question 14

How would you characterize the power of interest groups? Are they very powerful,somewhat powerful,or not powerful at all? Under what conditions would you expect them to have more influence over policy?

Accepted Answer

The power of interest groups can vary de...

Question 15

When an interest group's leadership is concentrated in its headquarters,it has a(n) _________ organizational structure.

Accepted Answer

A)   centralized
B)   decentralized
C)   confederal
D)   peak association
E)   elite

Question 16

Citizen groups,also known as public interest groups,rarely have much of a constituency.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

Compare and contrast political parties and interest groups as forms of representation.In your opinion,which one provides better links between the public and government?

Accepted Answer

Political parties and interest groups ar...

Question 18

Which of the following summarizes tactics used by a group conducting an outside strategy?

Accepted Answer

A)   working with other groups, litigating, and mobilizing public opinion
B)   drafting legislation, conducting research, and working with other groups
C)   electioneering, grassroots lobbying, and using the initiative process
D)   using political action committees, mobilizing public opinion, and testifying before Congress
E)   astroturf lobbying, mobilizing public opinion, and drafting legislation

Question 19

A(n) ________ focuses on tactics used in Washington,while a(n) ________ focuses on working outside of Washington to accomplish policy goals.

Accepted Answer

A)   inside strategy; lobbying strategy
B)   outside strategy; lobbying strategy
C)   inside strategy; outside strategy
D)   outside strategy; inside strategy
E)   lobbying strategy; outside strategy C

Question 20

Astroturf lobbying occurs when:

Accepted Answer

A)   group members spontaneously contact policy makers
B)   a group lobbies members of Congress in their home districts
C)   a group organizes a large number of contacts with policy makers by regular people
D)   a group organizes a contacting effort directed at policy makers, but it looks spontaneous
E)   a group organizes its efforts like a football team with ground (i.e., grassroots)  and air (i.e., advertising)  attacks

Exam 8: Interest Groups

The key to direct lobbying is to focus on:

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

In what way can people be considered a resource for an interest group?

Correct AnswerverifiedA

Large-scale spending in elections is:

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following is an example of an interest group that is entirely political?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following statements best characterizes the influence of interest groups?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The term revolving door refers to:

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following are resources that interest groups can use to influence public policy?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Money is an important resource for interest groups because:

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Why do interest groups sometimes form coalitions to work for the same policy goal?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Grassroots lobbying is best defined as:

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

It makes more sense to ask when interest groups are powerful rather than ask whether or not they are powerful.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Since 2000,the total amount of money spent on lobbying has:

Correct AnswerverifiedA

When an interest group contacts a public official and tries to influence public policy,it is engaged in:

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

How would you characterize the power of interest groups? Are they very powerful,somewhat powerful,or not powerful at all? Under what conditions would you expect them to have more influence over policy?

Correct AnswerAnswered by ExamLex AIThe power of interest groups can vary de...View AnswerShow Answer

When an interest group's leadership is concentrated in its headquarters,it has a(n) _________ organizational structure.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Citizen groups,also known as public interest groups,rarely have much of a constituency.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Compare and contrast political parties and interest groups as forms of representation.In your opinion,which one provides better links between the public and government?

Correct AnswerAnswered by ExamLex AIPolitical parties and interest groups ar...View AnswerShow Answer

Which of the following summarizes tactics used by a group conducting an outside strategy?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

A(n) ________ focuses on tactics used in Washington,while a(n) ________ focuses on working outside of Washington to accomplish policy goals.

Correct AnswerverifiedC

Astroturf lobbying occurs when:

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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A

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A

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Answered by ExamLex AI
The power of interest groups can vary de...
View Answer

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Correct Answer
Answered by ExamLex AI
Political parties and interest groups ar...
View Answer

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A(n) focuses on tactics used in Washington,while a(n) focuses on working outside of Washington to accomplish policy goals.

Correct Answer
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C

Correct Answer
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