Chapter 10: Interest Groups

How is the intensity of lobbying related to interest group success?

Groups that generate more intense support from their membership are more successful in blocking policy change.

The explosion in the number of interest groups is due in part to __________.

advances in information technology

The civil rights movement successfully challenged school segregation and employment discrimination using what primary strategy?

litigation

The free-rider problem is a situation in which __________.

potential group members choose not to join because they can enjoy the benefits of the group's activities without participating

Appealing to public opinion is an important strategy for almost all groups because __________.

public opinion influences policymakers

Which of the following has most contributed to the decline of the American labor movement?

the decline in U.S. manufacturing jobs

What evidence would an elite theorist use to support this theory?

the proliferation of corporate PACs

A political action committee (PAC) can contribute up to __________ per candidate in a primary and again in the general election.

$5,000

What is the relationship between the scope of government and the number of interest groups?

As government expands, more interest groups form.

Why do PACs typically contribute more to congressional incumbents than to their challengers?

Challengers rarely win, and thus they represent a riskier investment than incumbents.

Which statement best summarizes the political biases of corporate PACs?

Corporate PACs shift their support to whichever political party holds a majority in Congress.

Which of the following is a key difference between interest groups and political parties?

Interest groups are usually policy specialists, while political parties are policy generalists.

What distinguishes lobbying from other forms of political participation?

It is done on behalf of an organization.

Which of the following is an example of a public interest lobby?

League of Women Voters

Which of the following groups is most likely to get a high percentage of its potential members to actually join?

National Restaurant Association

A defender of PACs would most likely make which of the following arguments?

PACs allow occupational groups to achieve better representation in politics.

A lobbyist advocating for a right-to-work law would most likely make which of the following arguments?

Right-to-work laws protect an individual's right not to belong to a group.

Which statement best describes what scholars have concluded about the relationship between an interest group's financial resources and its ability to influence policy outcomes?

There is no clear relationship between groups' resources and policy outcomes.

Which of the following is a common characteristic of single-issue group members?

They are extreme in their support for their group's position.

Which statement best characterizes the impact of public interest lobbies on policies affecting consumers?

They have successfully pushed for regulations focused on product safety.

Why is the relationship between a group's financial resources and lobbying success so weak?

Well-financed groups often face strong opposition from other groups with other types of resources.

Hyperpluralists are primarily critical of policymakers for __________.

bending over backward to accommodate interest group demands

How can a lobbyist help a member of Congress?

by offering valuable political information about policy proposals

How do interest groups typically pursue their objectives?

by putting pressure on government to support specific policies

The Taft-Hartley Act authorized states to __________.

forbid union shops

Which of the following is an example of a selective benefit?

group insurance rates

In his research on the lobbying power of corporations, Lee Drutman concluded that large corporations __________.

have markedly increased their political power by greatly increasing their lobbying efforts

What are the three components of an iron triangle?

interest group, government agency, congressional committee

Industry lobbying on environmental regulations reflects the fact that interest groups often serve to __________.

monitor policy developments and develop reactive strategies

Lobbying works best with what type of elected official?

one who already supports the lobbyist's policy position

According to the theory of __________, interest groups compete with and counterbalance one another in the political marketplace.

pluralism

Pluralists believe that interest group competition often leads to __________.

policies that serve the public interest

According to hyperpluralism, interest group activities often lead to __________.

policy gridlock

In recent years, the labor movement has expanded in what sector?

the public sector

Elite theorists and pluralists differ in their __________.

views about how power is distributed among interests