Chapter 6 Inquizitive Texas Government

The - is responsible for regulating the oil and gas industry in Texas. Critics have accused it of being -. Recent efforts at reforming it have been -.

- Texas Railroad Commission - being captured by interest groups - unsuccessful Despite its name, The Texas Railroad Commission is most responsible for overseeing the energy sector in Texas. Over 80 percent of campaign donations to candidates for commissioner come from the industries the commission regulates, leading many critics to charge that it has been captured by the interest groups it is supposed to oversee.

Interest groups use - to combine contributions from many donors into one large contribution in order to - the group's impact on the candidate.

Bundling, Increase

Groups that represent which of the following interests tend to dominate the Texas legislature?

Business

"Dark money," or political money where the donors of the money do not have to be disclosed, originated in which U.S. Supreme Court case?

Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission

Effective interest groups tend to have which of the following resources available to them?

Correct answers: -members -money - credibility Incorrect answers: - biased information

Why are former legislators perceived to be effective lobbyists?

Correct answers: They are often close to or friendly with other lawmakers. They have intimate knowledge of the government process. Incorrect answers: They are willing to work for free. They are shielded from corruption laws as former legislators

Despite the attention paid to lobbyists by business interests, the interest groups that spend the most on lobbying are public interest groups.

False

Texas is near the top of the nation in measures of social connectedness that lead to civic engagement.

False

The rights to associate with others and to petition government are not guaranteed by either the U.S. or the Texas Constitution.

False

Which Founder and author of the Federalist Papers is best known for arguing that "factions" would play an important and useful role in American politics?

James Madison

An interest group is called a(n) - when it is organized as an umbrella organization that seeks to coordinate the various activities of member groups in a number of targeted areas.

Peak association

A(n) - is a private group that raises and distributes funds for use in a candidate's election campaigns.

Political action committee

Match each of the following examples of interest groups to the general types of interest groups that best describe them.

Public employee interest group: - Texas State Teachers Association Professional group: - Texas Medical Association Civil rights group: - League of United Latin American Citizens Public interest group: - Sierra Club

What are "late-train" contributions?

contributions to the winning legislative candidate

Which of the following is the main goal of a lobbyist?

influencing governmental decisions on behalf of an interest group

What do interest groups most want from policy makers?

policies that are beneficial to their group

When someone receives the benefits of collective action without contributing, it is known as which of the following?

the free rider problem

Watch the animation on lobbying in Texas and determine which of the following statements are accurate

Correct Answer(s) Because of Texas's large population, a relatively large number of lobbyists seek to influence state government. Incorrect Answer(s) Texas has more lobbyists per 100,000 people than most other states. Because of Texas's large population, Texas has a large ratio of lobbyists per 100,000 people.

Which of the following descriptions of interest groups are accurate?

Correct Answer(s) Business interests often have more influence than other interests. Groups that represent a narrow set of interests are often more successful than those that represent broad interests. Incorrect Answer(s) Interest groups that advocate for major policy changes are more successful than those that advocate for the status quo. Even when groups successfully organize large coalitions to achieve broad public interests, they rarely have a lasting impact.

Which of the following are changes in campaign financing allowed by the Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission decision?

Correct Answer(s) Certain types of interest groups can avoid having to disclose their political contributors. Interest groups can spend unlimited funds on behalf of candidates so long as the efforts are not coordinated with a campaign. Incorrect Answer(s) Citizen's United helped curb "dark money" in politics. Incumbents now have an opportunity to see which political donors oppose them for re-election.

Analyze the figure below, and determine which of the following statements are correct.

Correct Answer(s) Incumbents in the house race received more money than did both incumbents and challengers in the senate race. More money is contributed to incumbents than to challengers. Incorrect Answer(s) Challengers in house races received more money than did incumbents in senate races. In the senate race, more money was given to challengers than to incumbents.

Which of the following are reasons for forming a political action committee (PAC)?

Correct Answer(s) Substantial contributions from PACs mean greater attention from candidates. PACs can send a message to a candidate. PACs can serve as an intermediary between parties. Incorrect Answer(s) PACs offer greater accountability and transparency.

Study the following table, and determine which of the following statements are accurate. (Measures of Texas Civic Health)

Correct Answer(s) Texas ranks last among all the states in voting rates. Half of all Texans believe that they can trust all or most people in their neighborhood. Incorrect Answer(s) Texas ranks among the top 10 when compared to other states in contacting or visiting public officials. Texas has a higher percentage of registered voters than the national average.

Which of the following are arguments former legislators make to defend taking lobbying jobs after leaving office?

Correct Answer(s) They have a right to make a living. They are in the best position to educate legislators. They possess unique knowledge. Incorrect Answer(s) They are public servants who do not personally profit from their backgrounds.

Which of the following would be considered an interest group?

Correct Answer(s) citizens from across Texas who join an organization that advocates school reform doctors who join together to lobby for more funding for hospitals members of a community who join together to advocate for improvements in their neighborhood Incorrect Answer(s) politicians who believe in tax reform and pass laws to lower taxes

Which of the following are the most common ways lobbyists influence members of the Texas legislature?

Correct Answer(s) entertainment gifts campaign contributions information on pending bills Incorrect Answer(s) bribery

What are ways that political action committees (PACs) can engage in the electoral process?

Correct Answer(s) issue advocacy get-out-the-vote efforts campaign contributions Incorrect Answer(s) running candidates creating political parties

Which of the following are strategies that interest groups use to promote their concerns?

Correct Answer(s) litigation lobbying electioneering campaigns and get-out-the vote efforts Incorrect Answer(s) vetoing bills

Which of the following are examples of incentives that interest groups use to overcome free rider problems?

Correct Answer(s) subscription to a magazine invitation to special conferences listing an individual's name as a sponsor of an organization Incorrect Answer(s) denial of government benefits that derive from an interest group's lobbying

Watch the animation on campaign spending by employees of different industries and determine which of the following statements are accurate.

Correct answers: - Employees from finance, insurance, and real estate provide the most campaign contributions among the groups listed. - Most campaign donations go to Republicans in the Texas legislature. Incorrect answers: - Of the eleven major types of groups discussed, all contribute more donations to Republicans than Democrats in the Texas legislature

Analyze the infographic below, and determine which of the following statements about contributions to the Texas legislature in 2014 are correct. (Which interest groups contribute the most?)

Correct answers: - Lawyers and lobbyists give about equally to Democrats and Republicans - Labor contributed more money to Democrats than to Republicans - Finance, insurance, and real estate interest groups contributed more money than any other interest groups Incorrect answers: - Democrats receive more funds from interest groups than do Republicans

Analyze the infographic below, and determine which of the following statements are accurate. (Registered lobbyists: How does Texas compare?)

Correct answers: - The northeastern region of the U.S. has more lobbyists per capita than Texas Incorrect answers: - Texas has more registered lobbyists per capita than just about any other state - Bigger states tend to have more lobbyists per capita than smaller states - California has more lobbyists per capita than Texas

Which of the following is the primary goal of an interest group?

Influence all branches of government at all levels

What is the term used to describe former legislators who become lobbyists?

Revolving Door

In general, Texas has relatively - rates of civic engagement. Because of this, individual effects on the Texas political process are likely to be -.

low, low