Chapter 6 Interest Groups

The groups most affected by a government agency's regulations and programs are

clientele groups

The blurring of lines between the state and a special interest group in which a close alliance develops is called

co-optation.

Which of the following takes place when a public official makes a decision that might result in a personal economic advantage?

conflict of interest

"Iron triangles" are composed of which of the following?

interest groups, legislators, and bureaucrats

Dynamic alliances among a wide range of individuals and groups activated by broad public policy questions are called

issue networks

Direct contact between an interest group representative and an officer of government is an example of

lobbying

Directly contacting public officials to advocate for a public policy is known as

lobbying.

Which of the following is employed to express the values of interest groups?

lobbyists

A mass alliance of like-minded groups and individuals seeking broad changes in the direction of government policies is called a(n)

political movement.

A conflict of interest is problematic for the public because a

public officer may choose personal interest over the interests and welfare of the public.

In Texas, the right of people to join an interest group is a fundamental right

spelled out in both the U.S. Constitution and the Texas Constitution

All of the following must be reported by lobbyists EXCEPT

the number of times they meet with members of Congress.

The "revolving door" refers to

the practice of ex-legislators becoming lobbyists.

As a lobbyist you would rather have the support of

the presiding officers of the legislator

Defenders of interest groups argue that it is difficult for any one special interest group to dominate Texas state politics due to

the structure of the Texas government itself.

Which of the following concerning campaign contributions for state house and senate candidates in Texas is correct?

State law forbids giving and accepting campaign contributions 30 days before the start of a legislative session.

Which state agency has the responsibility to establish standards of conduct for lobbyists?

Texas Ethics Commission

How does Texas law approach the issue of former government officials becoming lobbyists?

There are no restrictions on this in Texas law.

The Texas Register is used by state agencies to provide

a notice of the agencies' intent to make a rule.

The ability to "get in the door" to sit down and talk to public officials is called

access.

When citizens join together in a voluntary organization in order to influence public policy, they act as

an interest group.

In Texas, when the agriculture industry forms a relationship with the commissioner of the Texas Department of Agriculture as well as with members of the house and senate agriculture committee, this is an example of

an iron triangle.

In order to be a successful lobbyist, which personality trait would be most helpful?

being extroverted

Which of the following is NOT a way that interest groups educate the public?

by contributing to legislator's campaigns

According to state law, which of the following statements about lobbying is incorrect?

All lobbyists must file financial reports with the secretary of state.

______ is the fabrication of public support for issues supported by industry and special interest groups, but it gives the impression of widespread public support.

Astroturf lobbying

Which of the following can be said of interest groups in Texas?

Business and professional groups are the most powerful interests in the state and they are frequently aligned with the Republican Party.

Which of the following statements about interest groups is incorrect?

Interest groups nominate candidates for office.

Lobbyists influence the courts in Texas in all of the following ways EXCEPT

directly lobbying judges at all court levels.

An administrative agency has wide latitude to make decisions regarding the requirements set by a law. This type of flexibility is known as

discretion

When an organization decides to endorse and recommend that its members vote for the candidate more disposed to support their values, this is an example of

electioneering.

What theory takes the view that the state is ruled by a small number of participants who exercise power to further their own self-interest?

elitist theory

Business and agriculture interest groups are interested in all of the following EXCEPT

encouraging government regulations.

Which industry group(s) in Texas had the largest number and maximum value of contracts signed with lobbyists?

energy and natural resources

Governor Greg Abbott received passage of legislation on all but one of the following high-priority emergency items. Which item did he NOT receive legislation on?

ethics reform

As an economic interest group, labor unions seek all of the following EXCEPT

fighting social injustice in the workplace.

Before a legislative session begins, a lobbyist must have successfully completed all of the following EXCEPT

getting to know the family members of legislators because through them the member can be influenced.

Which of these groups could be viewed as a mixed or hybrid organization?

groups fighting discrimination on the basis of disability

Separation of powers, checks and balances, and career bureaucrats are all reasons interest group defenders point to when explaining

how the government structure makes it hard for any group to dominate the state.

The primary goal of interest groups is to

influence government policy makers.

Interest groups pursuing both social equality and economic goals are classified as what type of group?

mixed groups

Interest groups can be classified as economic, noneconomic, and

mixed.

Which is NOT a tool used by interest groups to influence state decision makers?

nominating candidates for office

What type of interest group seeks the betterment of society as a whole or the reform of the political, social, or economic system in ways that do not directly affect their member's pocketbooks?

noneconomic interest groups

Which of the following are LEAST likely to subscribe to the Texas Register?

ordinary citizens

According to _____, public policy should be made by a multitude of competing interest groups, ensuring that policies will not benefit a single elite at the expense of the many.

pluralist

Late train contributions are campaign funds given

to the winning legislative candidate.

An organization created by smaller interest groups to promote common goals is identified as what type of organization?

umbrella