Governing Texas - Fifth Edition (Chapter 6: Interest Groups and Lobbying)

Using the information presented in the infographic, complete the following statement on contributions to Texas legislature candidates in 2018. In the 2018 legislative races, interest groups representing finance, insurance, and real estate; ideologies/single issues; and general business were the top three contributors. Republicans received about -- million from these groups, and Democrats received about -- million.

$31.5 (republicans) ; $5.8 (democrats)

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. -Groups provide valuable research and education to policy makers and the public on specific issues. 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 Supreme Court ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission?

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) -Citizens United helped curb the amount of "dark money" flowing in politics. -Incumbents now have an opportunity to see which political donors oppose them for re-election.

Analyze the infographic below, and then determine which of the following statements about contributions to the Texas legislature in 2018 are correct.

Correct Answer(s) -Lawyers and lobbyists gave 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 Answer(s) -Democrats received more funds from interest groups than did Republicans.

Texas ranked 39th in state government integrity according to the Center for Public Integrity, with the lowest scores being in which areas?

Correct Answer(s) -regulating lobbyists -holding legislators accountable -enforcing ethics Incorrect Answer(s) -creating budgets

What is the usefulness of "late-train" contributions?

Correct Answer(s) -to help retire campaign debt of winning candidates -to build a relationship with a winning candidate after the election Incorrect Answer(s) -to help elect a candidate in the Texas railroad commissioner's race -to support a PAC

Because of their significant influence in Texas, particularly in the primary elections, Republican candidates must pay close attention to the issues that are important to which subset of voters?

Evangelical Christians

Influential political scientist E. E. Schattschneider once stated, "The flaw with the pluralist heaven is that the heavenly chorus sings with a strong upper-class accent." Which of the following best expresses what he meant by this?

Interest groups represent issues important to higher socioeconomic groups.

Read the excerpt from the textbook to determine the answer to the question below. When Representative Ken King (R-Canadian) introduced a bill regarding education on the House floor, Representative Abel Herrero (D-Corpus Christi) asked his colleagues in the House whether Raise Your Hand Texas had taken a position on his bill. At that point, one of them showed Herrero a text message showing that the group had supported the bill during the committee stage of the process. The scene from the state legislature illustrates which important point about the role interest groups serve in the policy-making process?

Legislators use support from groups as information cues on the quality of legislation.

Which of the following is a primary criticism of the practice known as the "revolving door"?

Officials take actions to improve their chances of lucrative lobbying futures.

The text below describes the purpose of the Coalition of Independent Educator Associations (CIEA). The Coalition of Independent Educator Associations (CIEA) is made up of non-unionized education associations across America. Keeping educators connected, CIEA collaborates and focuses on serving its members in each state and on the national level. Source: cieaonline.org Judging from the organization's description, CIEA could be best categorized as what kind of interest group?

PEAK Association

Which of the following statements on the number of lobbyists per 100,000 people is accurate?

States in the southern part of America tend to have fewer lobbyists per 100,000 people.

Complete the following statement. The power of -- means that groups are more likely to contribute to candidates or parties that are already in office even if a -- may have views closer to their own positions.

incumbency advantage; challenger

What is the single biggest benefit of interest groups to policy makers?

information

Complete the following statement. The small staffs and limited office funds of most legislators often lead them to rely on -- to provide -- of legislation that legislators can tweak to make their own.

interest groups; first drafts

Review the image of the transcript from the ad that was run during the 2013 Super Bowl and then answer the question. An advertisement from a political action committee intended to attract support from the public by promoting a position, like the ad detailed in the transcript from Mayors Against Illegal Guns, is known as what?

issue advocacy

Read the following quotation, and then answer the question that follows. I recommend trying this kind of grassroots organizing for a week or a year, or a month or a lifetime—working for whatever change you want to see in the world. Then one day you will be talking to a stranger who has no idea you played any part in the victory she or he is celebrating. —Gloria Steinem, cofounder of Ms. magazine and American feminist leader In this quote about organizing around interests for policy change, what is the meaning of grassroots?

mobilizing other individuals within the public to action

Interest groups may provide supporting individuals and groups with special recognition in publications, identifying them as sponsors of the group and supporters of the cause. What are these benefits called?

solidary benefits