PSCI 2305: Exam 2 Webtext Questions
what does the "solid south" refer to?
Democratic Party dominance in southern states following the civil war
What is the distinction between people with common interests and an interest group?
Interest groups are politically active around particular topics, while people with common interests are not
why might the public officials listen to interest groups?
Interest groups develop expertise on the policies they seek to influence and provide that expertise to public officials, thus reducing information costs.
Sub-governments are often known by what other name?
Iron triangles
How does the "the lobby" in Texas compare to that of many other states?
It has relatively strong political power.
All registered lobbyists must divulge the interests they are registered to represent. What does this allow the state to do?
Prevent conflicts of interest arising for clients who employ contract lobbyists
Which of the following is true regarding the relationship between public and private interest groups?
Public and private interest groups are not necessarily adversarial, as their goals may directly overlap in some cases.
why is the influence of watchdog groups limited?
The appointment of interest group members to state and local boards is not illegal under state law.
who are considered the fathers of american political parties?
Thomas Jefferson and Alexander hamilton
which of the following organizations spent the most on lobbying between 1998 and 2018?
US chamber of commerce
a single event in which groups of voters switch party loyalty is known as what?
a critical election
What is a public interest group?
a group that promotes policies that produce widely distributed benefits
the RNC is which of the following?
a national-level party organization
Candace lighten is an example of which of the following?
a political entrepreneur
who participated in the vote to elect nancy Pelosi speaker of the house in 2007?
all representatives in the house
which of the following BEST describes Cesar chavez?
an interest group entrepreneur
if there is a difference between industry and its consumers, which side of dispute is more likely to coalesce into an interest group
auto manufacturers are more likely to coordinate and form. an interest group
interest group money generally does which of the following?
backs ideologically-aligned candidates
why do interest groups file amicus curiae briefs?
because they may be very effective
which of the following statements accurately describes the relationship between economic class and interest groups?
blue-collar workers and those who owed education levels are less likely to belong to interest groups
inanition to filing amicus curiae briefs, interest groups can affect the outcome of litigation by doing which of the following?
bringing suit and being a party
what type of group is represented by the most lobbyists?
business
how can interest groups be most effective at achieving their policy goals when attending public meetings?
by bringing a large number of members and articulating a clear and persuasive message
how might the party in gov try. to enact the party agenda?
by coordinating executive and legislative acts
what is one way that Texas-based interest groups many attempt to influence national policy?
by filing lawsuits in federal court to challenge or shape national law
Which of following is a way that interest groups commonly seek to get their members into government?
by making strategic campaign contributions
how do interest groups overcome the free-rider problem?
by offering selective benefits
what is one of several ways an interest group could address the problem of free riding?
by requiring membership
How might interest groups be involved in campaigns?
by sponsoring or funding public events for a candidiate
how might the national committee chair try to get state and local committees to adopt policy positions?
by threatening to withhold funding
which of the following do interest groups use to show how two candidates compare in their support for issues that matter to the group? Choose the BEST answer.
candidate scorecards
the responsible party gov model suggests which of the following?
candidates should carry out campaign promises
interest groups resemble what?
constellations surrounding major parties
party activists may be described as which of the following?
contributors of resources
which of the following activities are interest groups prohibited by law from engaging in?
coordinating their campaign efforts on behalf of a candidate with thats candidates campaign
who belongs to ALEC?
corporations and legislators from various states
what is model legislation?
drafts of potential laws written by a group for use in multiple jurisdictions
which of the following explains the reasons for the two-party system in the US?
duverger's law
why was the time of the Monroe administration known as the era of good feelings?
electoral politics were dominated by the democrats-republicans
what issue caused a serious rift in the whig party?
expansion of slavery
lobbyists influence the judicial process in which of the following ways?
filing amicus curse briefs
what does amicus curiae mean?
friend of the court
which of the following is an example. of "earned media coverage"?
gaining media attention by using events or by providing assistance with a story
which of the following would be considered an advantage of the two-party system?
guaranteed legislative majority
what three types of lobbyists constitute "the lobby"?
in-house, contract, and public advocacy firm lobbyists
which of the following would be considered a disadvantage of having interest groups in society?
interest groups overemphasize minority interests
which of the following would be considered an advantage go having interest groups in society?
interest groups provide opportunities for communities of like-minded individuals to network and participate on politics
how does scorekeeping by interest groups help voters?
it helps them establish which candidates align with them on particular issues
if lots of ind file amicus curiae briefs saying the the supreme court should not take a case review, how is the court likely to respond?
it will take the case because the groups' involvement signals the case importance
groups concerned with private interests may include which of the following?
labor associations
What are the three components that make up an iron triangle?
legislators, government bureaucrats, and interest groups
close relationships between interest groups and lawmakers would likely result in which of the following?
less governmental transparency
why might a group prefer a public demonstration to letter writing or petitions?
letters and petitions are comparatively discreet, while demonstrations may call broader public attention to an issue
which of the following would be considered a disadvantage of the two-party system?
limited access to minor parties
which of the following does the toothpick rule allow?
lobbyists may serve food to members of congress as long as its handheld food
who developed the idea of the collective action problem?
mancur olson
the automobile association of America is a good example of an org that provides which of the following benefits to its members?
material benefits
the Pendleton civil service reform act of 1883 stipulated that public employees be hired according to what criteria?
merit
since the 1950's, republicans and democrats have become which of the following?
more polarized
how many lobbyists are currently registered in Washington DC?
more than 11,000
effective lobbying results in?
mutually beneficial relationships
solitary benefits of joining an interest group would include which of the following?
networking
which parties existed t the time of the founding?
none
the election of 1860 divided the country between which of the following"
northern and southern states
what is the main obstacle preventing the formation of interest groups?
overcoming the collective action problem
what are 527 organizations allowed to do?
participate in issue advocacy
what is the primary function of lobbyists?
providing current information to lawmakers
which of the following tasks are party workers primarily responsible for?
raising money, mobilizing voters, and conducting research
the "contract from america" succeeded in doing which of the following?
securing the house of representatives for the republicans
interest groups are organized around?
sets of issues
the electoral system in the US is characterized by which of the following?
single-member districts
which of the following represents a notable instance of party members working across party lines
southern democrats voting to oppose healthcare reform
grassroots lobbying include which of the following actions?
staging demonstrations
why is ALEC?
the American legislative exchange council
the democratic-republican party was most closely aligned with which of the following?
the anti-federalists
which part of the constitution discusses political parties?
the constitution does not discuss political parties
interest groups would not exist if every person based their political decisions on which of the following?
the ease of free riding
if the democrats and the republicans are the opposing teams, interest groups are which of the following?
the fans
the political party formed by Andrew Jackson is the ancestor of which of the following?
the modern democratic party
the power if which of the following appears to be increasing?
the party in gov
in his farewell address, George Washington outlined his views on which of the following?
the spirit of party as an aspect of human nature
what did James Madison identify as the most prevalent cause of interest groups?
the unequal distribution property
what is "grassroots mobilization"?
the use of strategic efforts by ordinary citizens to organize political actions
what action did the blue dog democrats take with regard to health care reform
they defied party leadership
which of the following is true of party workers, candidates and members?
they increase party influence over gov
what function do minor parties serve in the political system?
they spotlight issues ignored by the major parties
what was the main concern for early organizers of the tea party movement?
wasteful government spending and bureaucratic growth
interest groups that observe and report on governmental activities are known as what
watchdogs
under what circumstance is a threatened group more likely to form?
when it has resources
in which of the following scenarios would an interest group be MOST likely to form?
when the gov threatens to limit corporate tax breaks
who was the first republican president
Abraham lincoln
Which Interest groups are most successful and influential in Texas?
Business interests
