PAC and interest group AP classroom

The animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) urges its members to take action in support of what they term "animal friendly" legislation through their website. In addition to providing information about important issues that legislators may vote on, the nonprofit organization also describes the best ways to contact a legislator and tips on how best to interact with lawmakers. Which of the following is being illustrated in the scenario? A Interest groups sometimes form around a narrow set of issues with the goal of impacting policy making. B Interest groups lacking funding can overcome the free-rider problem by proposing legislation on their website. C Interest groups work to mobilize citizens and members of Congress to form an iron triangle. D Interest groups post messages on social media to request donations from members.

A Interest groups sometimes form around a narrow set of issues with the goal of impacting policy making.

An interest group is most likely to have influence in Congress when the issue at stake A is narrow in scope and low in public visibility B is part of the president's legislative package C has been dramatized by the media D engages legislators' deeply held convictions E divides legislators along party lines

A Is narrow in scope and low in public visibility

The National Education Association (NEA) is an organization of teachers, administrators, and other educators who work together to advance the interests and impact of public education. One of the NEA's goals is to support public education by ending government funding of voucher programs that promote school privatization. Vouchers give parents financial incentives to send their children to private schools rather than having children attend local public schools. Which of the following strategies would be the most effective way to achieve the NEA's goal of furthering the interest of public education? A Lobby members of congressional committees to vote against all legislation that would support school voucher programs. B Petition Congress to hold an oversight hearing of the Department of Education on private and public school funding. C Increase membership in the NEA by offering new members financial benefits. D Request that the Supreme Court to declare the school voucher and privatization programs unconstitutional.

A Lobby members of congressional committees to vote against all legislation that would support school voucher programs.

An interest group would likely have the greatest influence on policy matters involving A narrow issues, only a few interest groups, and technical information B broad, highly visible national issues C broad foreign policy issues D major constitutional questions about civil rights and liberties E areas in which members of Congress have considerable expertise and commitment

A Narrow issues, only a few interest groups, and technical information

Which of the following makes a correct comparison between political parties and interest groups in the United States? A Political Parties Interest Groups Political parties recruit and run candidates in elections. Interest groups seek to influence public policy. B Political Parties Interest Groups Political parties have small constituencies and thus try to win elections by energizing their base to vote for them. Interest groups alert and educate voters regarding pending legislation. C Political Parties Interest Groups Political parties have organizations that donate money to candidates for public office. Interest groups are barred by law from donating money to political campaigns. D Political Parties Interest Groups Political parties achieve the bulk of the changes they seek through the use of the courts. Interest groups build relationships with congressional committees and the bureaucracy to form iron triangles.

A Political parties: political parties recruit and run candidates in elections Interest groups: interest groups seek to influence public policy.

Which of the following is true of amicus curiae briefs? A They are used by interest groups to lobby courts. B They are used exclusively by liberal interest groups. C They are used exclusively by conservative interest groups. D They are now unconstitutional. E They are the means by which a litigant seeks Supreme Court review of a lower court decision.

A They are used by interest groups to lobby courts.

Which of the following is true of political action committees (PACs) ? A They make campaign contributions in hopes of gaining access to legislators. B They are a part of political party organizations. C They are allowed to contribute to only one candidate in any election. D They nominate candidates for president at national party conventions. E They operate at the state level but not at the national level.

A They make campaign contributions in hopes of gaining access to legislators

The three points of an iron triangle include A an independent agency, a state, and a member of Congress B an administrative agency, an interest group, and a congressional committee C a cabinet department, an interest group, and the House majority leader D a regulatory commission, a corporation, and the White House Office E the Executive Office of the President, an interest group, and a Senate committee

B An administrative agency, an interest group, and a congressional committee.

One of the best strategies that interest groups can use to achieve their goals is A pressing for changes in high-profile public policies B lobbying members of Congress to make small changes in existing policy C using the judiciary to invalidate federal legislation D encouraging states to use their Tenth Amendment rights and ignore federal law E running candidates for office

B Lobbying members of congress to make small changes in existing policy

The free rider problem occurs when A interest groups seek public funding to advance their special interests B people benefit from an interest group's efforts without making any contribution C elected officials provide government services for those who have helped their campaigns D political campaigns manipulate the news media in order to obtain free advertising E congressional candidates win elections because they belong to the party of a popular president

B People benefit from an interest groups efforts without making any contribution.

Which of the following is true of political action committees (PACs) ? They are a part of political party organizations. Answer A: They are a part of political party organizations. A They make campaign contributions to gain access to legislators. Answer B: They make campaign contributions to gain access to legislators. B They are allowed to contribute to only one candidate in a given contest. Answer C: They are allowed to contribute to only one candidate in a given contest. C They effectively control the presidential campaigns. Answer D: They effectively control the presidential campaigns. D They may operate at the state level but not at the national level.

B They make campaign contributions to gain access to legislators.

The bar graph shows the National Rifle Association's spending on Democratic and Republican candidates over several decades of election cycles in support of gun ownership rights. How could a visual best be created to better understand how the spending of the NRA compares to that of gun control proponents? A A line graph that compares the amount that gun control proponents gave to Democrats over time B A table that shows how much each member of Congress received in contributions from both gun control advocates and the NRA C A pie chart that tallies total spending by both the NRA and gun control proponents since 1992 D The graph that includes information regarding important gun control laws that have been passed since 1992

C A pie chart that tallies total spending by both NRA and gun control proponents since 1992.

For which of the following tasks would using the bar graph as currently designed be the LEAST helpful? A Comparing whether the National Rifle Association (NRA) prefers Democrats or Republicans B Tracking the campaign spending of the NRA over time C Calculating the election cycle spending based on the intervals shown on the vertical axis D Determining which years the NRA spent the most money on elections

C Calculating the election cycle sending based on the intervals shown on the vertical axis.

All of the following are commonly used by interest groups to influence the political process EXCEPT A lobbying B contributing money to candidates C nominating candidates D filing lawsuits E appealing to the public opinion

C Nominating candidates

Interest groups use political action committees (PACs) to A provide expertise to members of Congress when they are writing legislation B lobby the executive bureaucracy when they are considering new rules and regulations C raise and spend money on election campaigns D generate research that can be used to influence public opinion E hire policy experts who will promote their views in the media

C Raise and spend money on election campaigns

Which of the following is a correct statement about political action committees (PAC's)? *This item is subject to changes in the campaign finance laws A The number of PAC's has remained stable over the past decade. B Most PAC money is distributed to challengers in an effort to unseat hostile incumbents. C The amount of money that PAC's can contribute directly to an individual candidate is limited by law. D PAC's are illegal in most states. E PAC's rarely attempt to influence legislation through lobbying activities.

C The amount of money that PAC's can contribute directly to an individual candidate is limited by law.

Two interest groups are competing for influence in Congress. One group represents banking institutions, while the other advocates for consumer protections. A critic of the influence of interest groups would make which of the following claims? A The interest groups will nominate a slate of candidates for office to compete against each other in the next election in order to determine which interests prevail. B The consumer protection group will appeal only to Republican leaders, while the banking interests will appeal only to Democratic leaders. C The banking interest group likely has greater financial resources and access to policy makers than the consumer protection group. D The consumer protection group is prohibited by federal regulations from direct lobbying.

C The banking interest group likely has grater financial resources and access to policy makers than the consumer protection group.

In 1987 the cooperation among the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the National Organization for Women (NOW), and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) to defeat Robert Bork's nomination to the United States Supreme Court was an example of A impeachment B litigation C coalition building D the recall process E the initiative process

Coalition building

A corporate lobbyist would be LEAST likely to have an informal discussion about a pending policy matter with which of the following? A A member of the House in whose district the corporation has a plant B A member of the White House staff concerned about the issue C A member of the staff of the Senate committee handling a matter of concern to the corporation D A federal judge in whose court a case important to the corporation is being heard E A journalist for a major newspaper concerned about the issue

D A federal judge in whose court a case important to the corporation is heard.

(Graph) If a researcher were interested in understanding how much the NRA spent in each state, what visual could be created to accurately display this information in the bar graph? A A table that gives details about the home states of candidates receiving money from the NRA in 1994 B An infographic that explains how the NRA has helped Republicans win elections in the South C A pie chart that shows the amount of money the NRA spent in each state since 1992 D A map showing the dollar amounts spent by the NRA in each state since 1992

D A map showing the dollar amounts spent by the NRA in each state since 1992.

Which of the following is the main reason interest groups are often successful in getting legislation passed to benefit their members? A It is easy to garner support from most members of Congress on any issue. B All members of society desire the legislation that special interests pursue. C It is very easy to get legislation passed in Congress. D A narrow constituency derives the benefits from such legislation but the costs are spread broadly across the population. E Interest group activity represents the democratic process at work because individual interest groups often represent more than half the population.

D A narrow constituency derives the benefits from such legislation but the costs are spread broadly across the population

In the process and structure of public policy-making, "iron triangles" refer to the A bargaining and negotiating process between the President and Congress about the direction of domestic policy B dominance of corporate power in setting the national policy agenda for economic expansion C interrelationship among federal, state, and local levels of government in the policy process D networks of congressional committees, bureaucratic agencies, and interest groups that strongly influence the policy process E group of presidential advisers who formulate the President's foreign policy agenda

D Networks of congressional committees, bureaucratic agencies, and interest groups that strongly influence the policy process.

In the process and structure of public policymaking, "iron triangles" refer to the A bargaining and negotiating process between the President and Congress about the direction of domestic policy B dominance of corporate power in setting the national policy agenda for economic expansion C interrelationship among federal, state, and local levels of government in the policy process D networks of congressional committees, bureaucratic agencies, and interest groups that strongly influence the policy process E group of presidential advisers who formulate the President's foreign policy agenda

D Networks of congressional committees, bureaucratic agencies, and interest groups that strongly influence the policy process.

If we resort to violence then one of two things will happen: either the violence will be escalated and there will be many injuries and perhaps deaths on both sides, or there will be total demoralization of the workers. Nonviolence has exactly the opposite effect. If, for every violent act committed against us, we respond with nonviolence, we attract people's support. We can gather the support of millions who have a conscience and would rather see a nonviolent resolution to problems. We are convinced that when people are faced with a direct appeal from the poor struggling nonviolently against great odds, they will react positively. The American people and people everywhere still yearn for justice. It is to that yearning that we appeal. ...When victory comes through violence, it is a victory with strings attached. If we beat the growers at the expense of violence, victory would come at the expense of injury and perhaps death. Such a thing would have a tremendous impact on us. We would lose regard for human beings. Then the struggle would become a mechanical thing. When you lose your sense of life and justice, you lose your strength...." César Chávez, "He Showed Us the Way," 1978 Which of the following best describes César Chávez' view on the use of violence versus nonviolence? A The use of violence should be the primary tactic as it will address the feelings of frustration and anger throughout the movement. B The use of violence will motivate the American people as people everywhere still yearn for justice. C The use of nonviolent actions, such as demonstrations and marches, does not bring honor to the cause and will negatively impact the movement. D The use of nonviolent actions allows more people to be involved in the movement and effect change.

D The use of nonviolent actions allows more people to be involved in the movement and effect change.

Which of the following form an "iron triangle"? A President, Congress, Supreme Court B President, House majority leader, Senate majority leader C Interest group, Senate majority leader, House majority leader D Executive department, House majority leader, President E Executive department, Congressional committee, interest group

E Executive department, congressional committee, interest group

Which of the following techniques would a corporate lobbyist be likely to use to influence political outcomes in Congress? I. Organizing a demonstration in Washington just because a key House vote II. Ensuring that the corporation's political action committee (PAC) makes donations to the campaigns of members of key committees III. Meeting informally with Senate aides over lunch or cocktails IV. Bringing influential constituents to Washington to discuss important policy matters with their representatives A II only B I and II only C III and IV only D I, III, and IV only E II, III, and IV only

E II, III, and IV only.

Lobbyists try to influence legislators mainly through A "wining and dining" legislators B orchestrating petition drives and letter-writing campaigns C placing persuasive advertisements in the media D threatening to help the legislator's opponent in the next election E providing legislators with information on technical issues

E Providing legislators with information on technical issues.

The primary function of political action committees (PAC's) is to A serve as fund-raising organizations for challengers B provide members of Congress with unbiased information regarding proposed legislation C consult with the President regarding domestic policy D encourage broader participation in politics among the electorate E raise campaign funds to support favored candidates

E Raise campaign funds to support flavored candidates.

Interest groups engage in all of the following activities EXCEPT A testifying before congressional committees B sponsoring issue advocacy ads C lobbying federal agencies D filing federal lawsuits E using the franking privilege

E Using the franking privilege

In 1980, a small group of parents personally affected by drunk driving formed the group Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). Over the past four decades, they have grown in number and have lobbied on state and local levels promoting legislation such as stricter limits on blood alcohol levels for drivers. MADD is an example of which of the following? A Political party with the goal of influencing public opinion B Social movement with the goal of influencing the federal budget C Single-issue group with the goal of impacting policy making D Bureaucratic agency implementing policy

Single issue group with the goal of impacting policy making.