Chapter 9
Outside lobbying is aimed at bringing
public pressure to bear on policymakers.
Which of the following statements are true concerning interest groups?
They can support controversial issues that lawmakers often avoid & broaden the range of issues that lawmakers address.
The primary purpose of economic interest groups is to
secure material benefits for their members.
An interest group may form a political action committee
whose main goal is to raise and spend money to influence the outcome of elections.
Which definition refers to an interest group?
an organisation seeking to influence government policy
Interest groups that are not directly involved in litigation may file amicus curiae briefs
to encourage a ruling that is beneficial to their cause.
Which of the following is an advantage that economic groups have over citizens' groups?
Economic groups can provide material benefits (such as jobs) to those who are part of the group.
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
An example of an environmental interest group is
Greenpeace
Which political leader wrote that the government met dilute the influence of factions and interest groups by filtering their views through properly structured governing institutions?
James Madison
Which group represents the largest agricultural interest group int he United States today?
The American Farm Bureau
Interest groups tend to rely on the courts to advance their policy goals when they have
a low chance of achieving their goal though elected officials & faced legislative hurdles.
Which of the following are consider reasons for Americans' broad participation in groups, such as volunteer organisations?
a tradition of free association, the importance of religion, and the prominence of public education.
Which type of interest group is classified as an economic type?
agriculture
An issue network is
comprised of various actors that all have interest and expertise in particular policy issue even though they may disagree on what the outcome should be
Which of the following are the component of an iron triangle?
congressional committees, executive agencies, interest groups.
Compared with the percentage of United States workers who were union members in the 1950s and 1960s, the percentage today is
lower
The United States provides a favourable environment for interest groups because
of the tradition of free speech and association means there are few legal barriers to the activities of interest groups// the tradition of people jointing together encourages them to look to interest groups as a way of influencing policymakers// the separation of powers and federalism provide numerous points of access for interest groups to try to influence policymakers.
Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission involved which issue affecting interest groups?
the limit on corporate and union spending in federal elections
Which type of interest group represents business firms of a particular kind, such as insurance companies?
trade association
Why do many interest groups form political action committees (PACs)?
because contributing to candidates' campaigns can help gain access for interest group lobbyists
The type of interest group that addresses issues of concern to the general public and not just the group's members is called a
citizens' interest group.
The interest-group system tends to work primarily in favour of
corporate interests.
A person known as a free rider
derives a benefit without contributing to its achievement
Lobbying elected officials includes which of the following activities?
face to face meetings with members of Congress
Which of the following would be considered outside lobbying activities used by interest groups?
having group members send letters to their legislators, organising a protest on the steps of Congress, creating public service announcements to be aired on television