Chapter 9 Smartbook

An important feature of private goods is that

the group can withhold a benefit.

When lobbying Congress, what is the safest strategy?

Be aboveboard.

Among economic groups, which type are the most numerous?

business groups

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

consumer

Interest groups congressional committee government agency

electoral support to members of congress budget support for a program constituent service

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

more

The states that border Mexico all have ______ registered lobbyists.

more than 800

Political scientist Mancur Olson argues that small interest groups can be more powerful than larger groups as long as they are more

organized

Most citizens' groups are ______ interest groups because they focus on a specific issue, such as the environment.

single-issue

Compared with the percentage of United States workers who were union members in the 1950s and 1960s, the percentage today is

lower

Which group represents the largest agricultural interest group in the United States today?

the American Farm Bureau

Which one of these groups is an example of a citizens' group?

the National Organization for Women

Jobs, higher wages, and tax incentives are all examples of ______ incentives to joining interest groups.

material

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)

noneconomic interest group

is an informal but relatively stable group of persons from Congress, executive agencies, and interest groups with a mutual interest in a particular policy area.

An Iron Triangle

Which type of interest group represents business firms of a particular kind, such as insurance companies?

Trade association

A simple way to describe citizens' groups is that they are groups

anyone can join

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

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

Which of the following are the components of an iron triangle?

interest groups congressional committees executive agencies

Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission involved which issue affecting interest groups?

the limit on corporate and union spending in federal elections

Interest groups rely on what two main lobbying strategies?

Inside Lobbying Outside Lobbying

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

It has lessened it.

______ refers broadly to efforts by groups to influence public policy through contact with public officials.

Lobbying

The incentives that most noneconomic groups offer include

collective goods

An organization that collects dues in exchange for providing exclusive, members-only benefits is an example of a(n)

economic interest group

Lobbying elected officials includes which of the following activities?

face-to-face meetings with members of Congress

Interest groups tend to rely on the courts to advance their policy goals when they have

faced legislative hurdles. a low chance of achieving their goals through elected officials.

According to the Center for Responsive Politics, which interest group spends the most money each year lobbying members of government?

Chamber of Commerce

There are roughly ______ registered lobbyists who work in Washington.

12000

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

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

______ incentives include the satisfaction that you are participating in a worthy effort.

Purposive

Which of the following states have 800 or more registered lobbyists within the state?

Texas California New York

How do interest groups expand the range of issues that come to lawmakers' attention?

They focus on issues that may not have broad impact. They focus on issues that may be controversial.

Super PACs are legally forbidden from which of the following?

giving money directly to political parties giving money directly to candidates

Which type of workers make up an increasing share of union workers?

government workers

One example of an environmental interest group is

greenpeace

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

incumbents

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

information that supports the group's policy positions.

Interest group influence is particularly strong among ______ agencies that are responsible for overseeing the nation's business sectors.

regulatory

Capture theory argues that ______ sometimes focus more on the needs of industries than on the public interest.

regulatory agencies

Which of the following are private goods?

retirement plans jobs

The United States provides a favorable environment for interest groups because

the tradition of people joining together encourages them to look to interest groups as a way of influencing policymakers. the tradition of free speech and association means there are few legal barriers to the activities of interest groups. the separation of powers and federalism provide numerous points of access for interest groups to try to influence policymakers.

How are issue networks formed?

they are the result of the fact that individuals have interests and expertise in particular policy issues despite disagreeing on the outcome

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 are the chief targets of interest groups when they lobby the executive branch?

top officials of federal agencies

______ goods are those that belong to all people and cannot be withheld on an individual basis, such as clean air or water.

Collective

Which of the following are among interest groups' judicial lobbying options?

filing amicus curiae briefs lawsuits influencing the selection of federal judges

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.