Chapter 11. Groups and Interests

Ballot measures sponsored by businesses or business groups are much more likely to pass than those initiatives sponsored by citizen groups.

false

Because of reforms put in place in the 1970s, the amount of electoral spending by interest groups has remained about the same since then.

false

Coordination and accountability are more easily achieved in bigger groups with lots of members.

false

Lobbying refers to direct contact by an interest group specifically with a member of Congress.

false

Interest groups are often categorized by the causes or people they represent. Match each example of a specific interest group to the correct interest group category.

labor groups Correct label: AFL-CIO professional associations Correct label: American Bar Association public interest groups Correct label: The Sierra Club economic and corporate groups Correct label: American Beverage Association government groups Correct label: National League of Cities

Out of the 20 top spenders on lobbying in the infographic, more than half spent under $20 million in 2018.

true

Which statement about interest groups is accurate?

very large number of interest groups would suggest a more pluralistic society.

Washington, D.C., is home to many different interest groups. Place the interest groups in order from those with the most presence in the nation's capital to those with the least.

- corporate groups and trade associations - citizen groups - government groups - professional associations - labor groups

Lobbying Congress mostly involves what two activities?

- testifying at legislative hearings - meeting with legislators and staffs

Different interest groups make use of lobbying more than others. Place the interest groups in order from those that spend the most on lobbying to those that spend the least.

1. Corporate groups and trade associations 2. Citizen groups 3. Labor groups

As the size of an interest group increases, its potential political influence (1); at the same time, the free-rider problem it faces (2). As groups get smaller, the free-rider problem they face (3).

1. Increases2. Increases3. Decreases

PACs play an important role in congressional elections. In House elections, PACs are particularly beneficial to (1), who receive about half of their campaign funds from PACs, whereas (2), only receive about 15 percent of their campaign funds from PACs. Senate candidates overall are (3), reliant on PAC contributions than candidates for the House of Representatives. However, in Senate elections, (4) still have the advantage in terms of PAC donations.

1. Incumbents 2. Challengers 3. Less 4. Incumbents

Interest groups provide different sorts of benefits to attract members. (1) benefits are provided in the form of emails, conferences, training events, and other communications from a group. (2) benefits include meeting like-minded people, developing friendships, and the networking opportunities individuals gain from being a member of an organization.

1. Informational2. Solidary

Attempts to reduce the influence of organized interests, particularly corporate and business interests, have been mostly (1). This is because overt corruption, which many reforms have been designed to stop, is (2). Instead, the influence of organized and corporate interests on policy is a result of inequalities of resources and information. One source of information inequality stems from the fact that lobbyists can focus on (3) policies, whereas policy makers must focus on (4) policy areas.

1. Unsuccessful2. Infrequent3. Specific4. Broad

In 2018, the gap between the organizations that spent the most and the least on lobbying was how many millions of dollars?

82,500

Label the each example of an interest group benefit with the type of benefit it represents.

An individual joins an environmental protection organization to meet and network with other local environmentalists. (Solidary) An interest-group member receives discounts from local businesses related to the interest group. (Material) An interest-group member receives a free T-shirt for joining. (Material) An individual draws pride from having contributed to an interest group's introduction of a particular piece of legislation. (Purposive)

Which statement(s) accurately describe how lobbyists interact with Congress?

Correct Answer(s) Lobbyists provide policy information to busy members of Congress. Lobbyists provide political information to members of Congress. Incorrect Answer(s) Studies have found little correlation between the amount of money a lobbyist provides to a representative and the amount of attention a lobbyist receives in return. Lobbyists give expensive gifts to members of Congress in exchange for favorable legislation.

What are advantages that corporate and professional groups have over citizen groups when attempting to influence public policy?

Correct Answer(s) They are focused on issues out of the public and media's attention. They are more likely to be mobilized on relevant issues. They are more likely to monitor all relevant issues and policy areas. They often defend the status quo against policy changes. Incorrect Answer(s) The sheer number of members provides political leverage over policy makers.

What are the three parts of an iron triangle?

Correct Answer(s) a congressional committee a supportive interest group an administrative agency Incorrect Answer(s) a favorable judge the president

What resources do the most successful groups have?

Correct Answer(s) staff money members Incorrect Answer(s) corporate sponsors

What are three ways in which interest groups attempt to lobby the judicial branch?

Correct Answer(s) submitting an amicus curiae brief to the courts financing a lawsuit of those with claims that would be favorable to the interest group filing a lawsuit on behalf of the group

Based on the level of donations from these interest groups, which policy areas do you think Congress would be more likely to consider?

Correct Answer(s) technology companies health care business interests Incorrect Answer(s) homelessness climate change

Which of the following groups are generally considered unrepresented in Washington, D.C.?

Correct Answer(s) the poor the homeless Incorrect Answer(s) the young the elderly

What do interest groups do when they "go public"?

Correct: -Share public opinion -Mobilize supporters Incorrect -Meet with members of congress -Testify at committee meetings

Which of the following represent actual restrictions or conditions imposed by the government on lobbying practices?

Correct: Lobbyists are required to disclose the amounts of small campaign contributions they "bundle" into large contributions. Trade associations must disclose the proportion of dues that go toward lobbying .Incorrect: Lobbyists are not allowed to "bundle" small campaign contributions from multiple clients into large contributions.

Which of the following statements about PACs are accurate?

Correct: Evidence suggests that interest groups' campaign contributions influence behavior in Congress. The Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA) failed to restrict PAC operations overall. Incorrect: The Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 curtailed the power of PACs during the 1970s and 1980s. Given the negative public opinion of PACs, politicians are increasingly reluctant to take PAC donations.

How can interest groups use ballot initiatives to achieve their goals?

Groups can put laws of interest directly to the voters, bypassing the legislative process.

Sort the following attributes into whether they are more characteristic of interest groups or of political parties.

Interest Groups: try to influence the policies of government through lobbying, more limited in scope Political Parties: run candidates in elections, more interested in the personnel of government

One of the more famous quotes in political science (yes, there are famous quotes among political scientists) is Schattschneider's "[t]he flaw in the pluralist heaven is that the heavenly chorus sings with a strong upper-class accent.″ What did he mean by this?

Interest-group politics tends to favor business and corporate interests.

Match the organization to the correct description.

Super PAC's: cannot contribute directly to candidates, may raise unlimited sums from corporations, unions, and individuals PAC's : started in the 1970s, can contribute up to $5,000 to a federal candidate for office

The American system of federalism, whereby power is shared across multiple levels of government, is one explanation for why America has a large number of active interest groups.

True

When are groups more likely to encourage less conventional methods of political participation, such as participation in protests or demonstrations?

When the group lacks resources.

Identify a primary reason interest groups make PAC donations to politicians' campaigns.

gain access to the lawmaker

What is an example of an outsider strategy?

grassroots mobilization

------are the most closely related type of interest group to public interest groups.

ideological groups

Interest groups may use - to leverage mass-circulation magazines, newspapers, and television to improve their standing in the community at large, whereas -occurs when a lobbying group urges its members to contact their elected representatives directly with letters, emails, or phone calls.

institutional advertising grassroots mobilization

The following terms are often confused: -- are concerned with influencing the policies of government, --- are interested in influencing who gets elected, and -- are interested in the personnel of government, often directly running individuals for political office.

interest groups, political action committees, political parties

Which type of interest group is most likely to be involved in protesting the expansion of oil pipelines in the United States?

public interest groups