POSI 2310: Topic 3.5 Ch.10 Interest Groups

Super PACs are legally forbidden from which of the following?

-giving money directly to political parties -giving money directly to candidates

Which of the following are ways in which members of Congress benefit from ties to lobbyists?

-lobbyists provide information on specific pieces of legislation. -lobbyists testify at committee hearings -lobbyists identify bills that need their attention

Which of the following would be considered outside lobbying activities used by interest groups?

-organizing a protest on the steps of Congress -creating public service announcements to be aired on television -having group members send letters to their legislators

Labor group political action committees typically favor contributing to which of the following groups?

Democrats

The interest-group system in the U.S. overrepresents

business interests

The incentives that most noneconomic groups offer include

collective goods

The interest-group system tends to work primarily in favor of

corporate interests

Which of the following is an advantage that economic groups have over citizen's groups?

economic groups can provide material benefits (such as jobs) to those who are part of the group

True or False: Both pluralists and their critics agree that interest groups have little influence over the government.

false

True or False: Retired lawmakers cannot become lobbyists because they are forbidden by law to take a lobbying job.

false

Who typically benefits the most from interest group resources and activism?

incumbents

A(n) _______ _________ is comprised of various actors that all have interest and expertise in a particular policy issue even though they may disagree on what the outcome should be.

issue network

Which of the following are private goods?

jobs, retirement plans

Which of the following help interest groups participate more effectively in group politics?

money, contacts, skills

Most citizen's groups are _________ interest groups because they focus on a specific issue, such as the environment.

single-issue

Interest groups that are not directly involved in litigation may file amicus curiae briefs

to encourage a ruling that is beneficial to their cause.

Interest groups influence is particular strong among _________ agencies that are responsible for overseeing the nation's business sectors.

regulatory

The effort of the writers of the Constitution to devise a governing system that would guard against tyranny of the majority resulted in which consequence?

America's system of divided power provides abundant opportunities for interest groups to achieve their policy goals.

True or False: According to political scientist Mancur Olson, interest groups with smaller memberships usually prevail because they are able to join together and pool resources.

true

Rather than using threats, interest groups tend to influence lawmakers by providing them with

information that supports the group's policy positions

Which of the following types of interest groups is not classified as an economic interest group?

consumer

Compared with Europeans, Americans are ______ likely to belong to a voluntary group or association.

more

The type of interest group that addresses issues of concern to the general public and not just the group's members is called a(n) _______ interest group.

citizen's

Match the actors in an iron triangle with the benefits that they provide to other actors.

interest groups=electoral support to members of Congress congressional committee=budget support for a program government agency=constituent advice

How have advances in technology affected the free-rider problem?

it has lessened it

_________ refers broadly to efforts by groups to influence public policy though contact with public officials.

lobbying

The states that border Mexico all have ______ registered lobbyists.

more than 800