Government - Chapter 11 Quiz

A loose, informal relationship of public officials, interest groups, and activists who are all concerned with the same policies is called ________. a. a membership association b. the New Politics movement c. an issue network d. an iron triangle

c. an issue network

"Nader's Raiders" were a(n) a. prochoice group in the 1980s that sought to protect federally funded access to abortions for women in the South. b. environmental protection group in the 1970s that fought for carbon emission reductions. c. consumer advocacy group in the 1960s that fought for laws and regulations to improve product safety. d. peace group in the 1960s that fought for a reduction in the number of nuclear weapons worldwide.

c. consumer advocacy group in the 1960s that fought or laws and regulations to improve product safety

The most important attempt to limit the influence of lobbyists in recent years was the a. 1995 Lobbying Disclosure Act. b. USA PATRIOT Act. c. indictment of Jack Abramoff. d. Negotiated Rulemaking Act of 1990.

a. 1995 Lobbying Disclosure Act.

The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) has approximately ________ members today. a. 38,000,000 b. 3,800,000 c. 338,000 d. 38,000

a. 38,000,000

Which of the following was NOT part of the ethics rules enacted by Congress in 2007? a. a prohibition on all political action committee (PAC) contributions to members of Congress b. a prohibition on lobbyists from paying for most meals, trips, parties, and gifts for members of Congress c. a requirement to disclose the funds lobbyists use to rally voters to support or oppose legislative proposals d. a requirement to disclose the amounts and sources of small campaign contributions collected from clients and "bundled" into large contributions

a. a prohibition on all political action committee (PAC) contributions to members of Congress

In 1996, Congress passed legislation that a. banned the practice of lobbyists giving members of Congress an honorarium for giving speeches. b. allowed businesses to deduct lobbying costs as a business expense. c. eliminated the requirement that lobbyists register with Congress. d. lifted all limits on the number of gifts lobbyists could give members of Congress.

a. banned the practice of lobbyists giving members of Congress an honorarium for giving speeches.

When membership in an organization allows for a reduction in the price of museum tickets, it is called a ________. a. material benefit b. purposive benefit c. promotion offer d. solidary benefit

a. material benefit

The Sierra Club is a(n) ________ group. a. public interest b. ideological c. business d. labor

a. public interest

________ have been one of AARP's most effective methods of mobilizing thousands of its members for political action. a. Direct mailings b. "Telephone trees" c. Email lists d. Robocalls

b. "Telephone trees"

In 2014, there were approximately ________ political action committees (PACs) in the United States. a. 1,500 b. 5,000 c. 150 d. 15,000

b. 5,000

The fact that interest groups favor the wealthy and well educated can be understood as a reflection of what dilemma in American politics? a. Democracy has not been helpful in reducing the number of factions. b. Liberty is often inconsistent with equality. c. Organized associations and groups tend to inhibit freedom. d. There are no efficient means of organizing the working class in the United States.

b. Liberty is often inconsistent with equality.

The primary function of a political action committee (PAC) is to a. produce and carry out an institutional advertising campaign. b. raise and distribute money to election campaigns. c. raise grassroots support for a particular interest. d. build better networks between interest groups and political parties.

b. raise and distribute money to election campaigns.

________ occurs when interest groups generate phony letters, emails, and phone calls in order to resemble a grassroots movement. a.Populism b. Hardball politics c. Astroturf lobbying d. Sandlot ball

c. Astroturf lobbying

________ led the drive to kill the 2007 immigration reform bill supported by President Bush and a number of congressional Democrats. a. MoveOn.org b. Anonymous c. Grassfire.org d. EMILY's List

c. Grassfire.org

James Madison called an interest group a ________. a. plutocracy b. mob c. faction d. social movement

c. faction

The solidary benefits of interest groups include ________. a. information and money b. identification with the purpose or ideology of the group c. friendship and consciousness raising d. special services and goods

c. friendship and consciousness raising

What is the most important and beneficial resource that lobbyists provide government officials? a. campaign workers b. money c. information d. legal assistance

c. information

Most initiative campaigns today are sponsored by a. citizens who care deeply about a given issue. b. issue networks that want to change government policies without attracting attention from the public. c. interest groups seeking to circumvent legislative opposition to their goals. d. candidates for political office who see it as a way to engage in money swapping.

c. interest groups seeking to circumvent legislative opposition to their goals

The New Politics movement gave rise to ________ groups. a. ideological b. labor c. public interest d. partisan

c. public interest

One way that the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) has been effective at overcoming the free-rider problem is by providing ________ benefits to its members. a. free-rider b. elective c. selective d. public good

c. selective

Approximately ________ lobbyists are currently registered with Congress. a. 19,000 b. 1,200 c. 4,500 d. 12,000

d. 12,000

How the Constitution balances the threat posed by organized interests with the need for liberty is discussed in the a. Federalist Papers, no. 7. b. Federalist Papers, no. 51. c. Antifederalist Papers, no. 78. d. Federalist Papers, no. 10.

d. Federalist Papers, no.10.

An iron triangle is made up of an alliance between a. the federal courts, the state courts, and interest groups. b. a legislative committee, an executive agency, and the federal courts. c. the media, a legislative committee, and the federal courts. d. a legislative committee, an interest group, and an executive agency.

d. a legislative committee, an interest group, and an executive agency.

Social media are sometimes called the "weapon of the weak" because they a. are often used to attack or harass members of marginalized groups. b. are never used by political leaders or people in positions of power. c. rarely succeed in exerting any impact on political debates. d. allow small groups with limited resources to send their message across the nation and even around the world.

d. allow small groups with limited resources to send their message across the nation and even around the world.

In the lobbying world, to be "Microsofted" means that a company has a. lobbied only the federal government, opening itself up to adverse actions by state governments. b. only lobbied members of one political party, who have just lost their majority. c. allowed other companies to become free riders on its costly lobbying efforts. d. become vulnerable to adverse legislation and investigation as a result of failing to lobby the federal government.

d. become vulnerable to adverse legislation and investigation as a result of failing to lobby the federal government.

In recent years, the religious right has had a great effect on American politics through ________. a. iron triangles b. gaining access c. campaign financing d. grassroots mobilization

d. grassroots mobilization

The Teamsters and the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) are examples of ________. a. public interest groups b. business groups c. ideological groups d. labor groups

d. labor groups

When a coalition of credit card companies forms an interest group called the Partnership to Protect Consumer Credit, this suggests that a. credit card companies are interested in the public good. b. public interest groups are now actively involving private corporations. c. the free-rider problem does not apply to private corporations. d. private interests are hiding behind the ideals of public interests.

d. private interests are hiding behind the ideals of public interests