Chapter 7
What percentage of Americans belong to a voluntary group or association?
80 percent
Question Mode Multiple Choice Question Which of the following is an example of an economic interest group?
A labor union
Which of the following factors related to an interest group's organizational environment can increase its success?
A lack of competition from opposing interest groups Highly skilled leadership within the group itself
Becoming an interest group member can satisfy which of the following? (Choose every correct answer.)
A need for a sense of belonging A desire to increase opportunities for occupational advancement
Which of the following is the most accurate description of consumer interest groups such as Public Citizen?
Acting as watchdogs, these groups advocate for legislation that protects the public from unsafe products and unfair business practices.
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.
Why do many interest groups form political action committees (PACs)?
Because contributing to a candidate's campaign can help gain access for interest group lobbyists
How do interest groups foster civic participation? (Choose every correct answer.)
By increasing the political involvement of individuals By increasing community engagement
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 types of interests would belong to the category of public and ideological interest groups?
Consumer interests Religious interests
Which of the following would likely be a concern of a consumer group?
Dangerous building design Faulty kitchen appliances Deceptive bank practices
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.
Which of the following demographic characteristics are related to both the likelihood of interest group participation and the types of participation engaged in?
Education Social class Income Race
Which of the following are examples of indirect strategies employed by interest groups in advancing their interests?
Electioneering Public outreach
Which theory states that a small, close-knit group of people who possess wealth and power control policy making in government?
Elite theory
Lobbying elected officials includes which of the following activities?
Face-to-face meetings with members of Congress
True or false: Both elitists and pluralists agree that interest groups are unable to exercise any control over the government.
False
True or false: Groups that work for collective benefits are generally able to attract contributions from all individuals who reap those benefits.
False
Which of the following factors makes interest group membership more likely?
High income level
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
A group that urges the public to call members of Congress as a way to demonstrate support for a piece of legislation are employing which interest group strategy?
Indirect
Which of the following are the two types of strategies that interest groups use to advance their causes?
Indirect strategies Direct strategies
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 activists. Of the following key functions of interest groups, which two are best exemplified by the Women's March movement?
Interest groups mobilize citizens and stimulate them to participate in civic and political affairs. Interest groups provide average citizens with an avenue of access to activism.
How do interest groups foster civic participation?
Interest groups provide ways for people to organize to influence government
Which of the following attempt to influence U.S. government policy via interest-group membership and/or lobbying?
International corporations based abroad U.S. citizens of a foreign nation's heritage A foreign government
Which philosopher/constitutional framer believed that people with similar interests would form and join groups to prompt government action?
James Madison
Which political leader wrote that the government must dilute the influence of factions and interest groups by allowing them to increase and compete with one another?
James Madison
On what two key types of resources do interest groups rely in order to remain effective?
Membership Financing
Which of the following has/have increased participation among groups that have not historically joined interest groups?
Online interest groups
Key factors in an interest group's organizational environment include which of the following? (Choose every correct answer.)
Opposition Leadership
Which of the following would be an example of an indirect strategy utilized by interest groups?
Orchestrating a protest
A(n) ______ is an entity whose specific goal is to raise and spend money to influence the outcome of elections.
PAC
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
Which of the following are key functions of interest groups?
Protect the common good Educate the public about policy issues Serve as part of the system of checks and balances
Which types of interests would belong to the category of public and ideological interest groups?
Religious interests Consumer interests
Which of the following would be least likely to be on the agenda of a consumer interest group?
School prayer
Which of the following are key functions of interest groups?
Serve as part of the system of checks and balances Educate the public about policy issues Protect the common good
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 factors can be used to predict an interest group's prospects for success?
The group's organizational environment The group's financial and other resources
The setting in which an interest group attempts to achieve its goals is referred to as its
The setting in which an interest group attempts to achieve its goals is referred to as its
How are issue networks formed?
They are made up of individuals who have interests in and expertise regarding particular policy issues.
True or false: Educational attainment is a strong predictor of traditional interest group participation.
True
True or false: Foreign governments, such as that of China, lobby the U.S. government for favorable trade policies.
True
True or false: Young, less affluent African Americans and Latinos are increasingly participating in online interest groups.
True
An interest group pursues broad policy goals, whereas a PAC
concentrates on raising money and donating to political campaigns.
Foreign nationals are prohibited from
contributing money to American political campaigns.
Two factors that impact the success of interest groups are a group's organizational resources and its organizational ______ .
environment
wo 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 person known as a(n) rider derives a benefit without contributing to its achievement.
free
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
One broad category that political scientists use to classify interest groups is by the
kinds of issues that concern them.
Professional lobbyists are almost always
lawyers.
An example of a direct interest group strategy is
litigation.
The interest group strategy that includes face-to-face meetings with legislators, hosting legislative receptions and events, and making telephone calls is known as
lobbying.
All of the following are included in the measurement of a group's organizational resources except
marketing effectiveness.
For those disenchanted with the two-party system, interest groups
offer an alternative means of participation.
Proponents of ______ theory believe that interest groups facilitate political participation and policy debates.
pluralist
The main goal of political action committees is to
raise and spend money to influence the outcome of elections.
The idea that it is not logical for people to participate in collective action when they can secure the collective good without participating is based on the
rational choice theory.
One example of a corporate or business interest group is
the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA).
In the policy-making process, members of Congress, the executive departments and agencies, and organized interest groups are said to make up the iron .
triangle or triangles
Interest groups lobbying for policies representing groups of industries or corporations are known as organizations.
umbrella
