SJDC - POLSC 1 - Chapter 7
Which of the following is an example of an economic interest group?
Agricultural
What is the primary difference between interest groups and political action committees (PACs)?
An interest group pursues the group's broad goals, while PACs raise and spend money to influence election outcomes.
How do political scientists generally categorize interest groups?
By what kinds of issues concern them and who benefits from their activities
Which type of group typically has a problem with free riders?
Citizens' groups
Which example would not be a direct interest group strategy?
Civil disobedience
Which is a common reason people might cite as a key motivator for joining an interest group?
Decision makers being more likely to listen to their concerns
__________ interest group strategies involve meetings between interest group representatives and policymakers.
Direct
Which of the following is a problem with the growth in importance of interest group politics in the United States?
Disadvantaged economic groups are not adequately represented.
______ interest groups secure government and material benefits for their members.
Economic
Which of the following are examples of indirect strategies employed by interest groups in advancing their interests?
Electioneering Public outreach
True or false: Both elitists and pluralists agree that interest groups are unable to exercise any control over the government.
False
Which of the following factors related to an interest group's organizational environment can increase its success?
Highly skilled leadership within the group itself A lack of competition from opposing interest groups
Which of the following demographic characteristics are related to both the likelihood of interest group participation and the types of participation engaged in?
Income Race Social class Education
What makes indirect interest group strategies different from direct strategies?
Indirect strategies are directed more toward the public than elected officials.
The Women's March, which began in response to President Trump's inauguration in 2017, is a grassroots movement that has created entry points for new grassroots activists. Of the following key functions of interest groups, which two best exemplify the the Women's March movement?
Interest groups provide average citizens with an avenue of access to activism. Interest groups mobilize citizens and stimulate them to participate in civic and political affairs.
How do interest groups foster civic participation?
Interest groups provide ways for people to organize to influence government. By increasing community engagement By increasing the political involvement of individuals
Which political leader wrote that the government must dilute the influence of factions and interest groups by filtering their views through properly structured governing institutions?
James Madison
When an interest group endorses a candidate who is running for office, what key function is it fulfilling?
Performing a role in the electoral system
Match the type of incentive for joining an interest group to its definition.
Solidary: Joining because of social associations Purposive: Joining because of similarly held beliefs Economic: Joining because certain services or activities are available only to members
Which of the following most accurately describes an interest group's organizational resources?
The tools it has to achieve its goals
The typical makeup of a foreign policy interest group includes which of the following?
a foreign government U.S. citizens of the foreign nation's heritage international corporations based abroad
Which of the following most accurately characterizes direct strategies?
contact between the interest group and policymakers
Foreign nationals are prohibited from
contributing money to American political campaigns.
Which of the following refer to the two types of strategies that interest groups use to advance their causes?
direct strategies indirect strategies
Which is not a correct category of interest groups?
domestic
Two factors that impact the success of interest groups are a group's organizational resources and its organizational __________.
environment
One of the factors included in the evaluation of an organization's resources is
financial potential.
A formally organized group that seeks to influence government decision making or policy making is referred to as a(n) __________ group.
interest or special interest
Key factors in an interest group's organizational environment include which of the following?
leadership opposition
All of the following are included in the measurement of a group's organizational resources except
marketing effectiveness.
Which of the following has/have increased interest group participation among groups that have not historically joined interest groups?
online interest groups
Proponents of ______ theory believe that interest groups facilitate political participation and policy debates.
pluralist
One of the criticisms of interest group participation is that
political action committees have caused campaigns to become too expensive.
Which of the following are key functions of interest groups?
protect the common good serve as a method for checks and balances educate the public about policy issues
The idea that it is not rational for people to participate in collective action when they can secure the collective good without participating is based on
rational choice theory.
Why did Congress enact laws to create PACs?
to provide a means of overseeing the flow of money into political campaigns
