posi section 3 QAs
True or false: CNN has continued to emphasize hard news rather than sensationalism.
false
True or false: Local, state, and national party organizations are hierarchical in structure.
false
True or false: Rupert Murdoch originally intended Fox News to be an objective, nonpartisan news channel.
false
True or false: Thanks to the Internet, the typical American watches more news today than in the 1970s.
false
True or false: The #MeToo movement did not have much of an impact on the people whose behavior it was targeting.
false
True or false: The Occupy Wall Street movement was limited to New York City.
false
The Texas Farmers Union (not to be confused with the Texas Farm Bureau) represents which segment of the Texas agricultural industry?
family farms and ranches
Which two political parties were competitive during the first party system?
federalists, democratic-republicans
Which of the following are among interest groups' judicial lobbying options?
filing amicus curiae briefs, influencing the selection of federal judges, lawsuits
In the era of Jacksonian democracy, the efforts of local party organizations, along with the extension of voting rights to citizens without property, contributed to an almost ______ increase in election turnout.
fourfold
Which of the following media channels is most preferred by Republicans because of its conservative slant?
fox news
When journalists highlight certain aspects of a situation and downplay other aspects, they are engaged in ______.
framing
Individuals may benefit from the work of interest groups even if they don't participate in the groups' activities. Because of this, some groups have difficulty recruiting members, a phenomenon known as the
free rider problem
Which of the following constitutional rights most protect the role of interest groups in the U.S. political system?
freedom of association
What are the three types of agricultural interest groups in Texas?
general farming, commodity groups, suppliers
The Occupy Wall Street movement, which began in 2011, was inspired by anger at the ______.
government bailout of the financial industry during the financial crisis of 2008
The interests of state and federal agencies are represented by ______.
government organization
The Tea Party movement did not support which of the following policies?
higher taxes, government subsidies for health insurance
Which group of Americans have the highest level of voter participation?
highest 20 percent of income earners
The typical American is exposed to _____ of discrete messages each day.
hundreds
Which of the following happened when the Fairness Doctrine was eliminated in 1987?
hundreds of radio stations switched from playing music to airing partisan talk shows
Who typically benefits the most from PAC campaign donations?
imcumbents
Who or what can be a part of membership organizations?
individual citizens, busisnesses
What is the primary goal of lobbying?
influencing members of the legislature
Which of the following accurately describe the Texas Municipal League?
influential members, highly organized, focused committees
Rather than using threats, interest groups tend to influence lawmakers by providing them with ______.
information that supports the group's policy positions
The interest group strategy that includes face-to-face meetings with legislators and providing policy information to policymakers is known as ______.
inside lobbying
Interest groups rely on what two main lobbying strategies? (Choose every correct answer.)
inside, outside (lobbying)
Which of the following represents a shared view of pluralists and their critics?
interest groups are important to bringing the concerns of groups of individuals to the attention of government
____________ is an informal but relatively stable group of persons from Congress, executive agencies, and interest groups with a mutual interest in a particular policy area.
iron triangle
________________ is an informal but relatively stable group of persons from Congress, executive agencies, and interest groups with a mutual interest in a particular policy area.
iron triangle
What purpose does party competition serve in American politics?
it allows groups of voters to act in unison, it narrows down options for voters
Which of the following is a benefit to the public that results from the promotion of a special interest?
it can have a positive effect on other interests, such as through job creation
How have advances in technology affected the free-rider problem?
it has lessened it
What is the effect of "information overload," as noted by Nobel Laureate Herbert Simon?
it reduces people's ability to concentrate on any particular message
Why is it unnecessary for the Texas Municipal League to maintain constant contact with its members?
its processes are so organized that it functions efficiently without it
Which of the following are private goods? (Choose every correct answer.)
jobs, retirement plans
In general, protest activity is ______ common in the United States than in many Western democracies.
less
Adults under 30 years of age are ______ those over 50 to follow the news.
less likely than
What percentage of voters today cast a split ticket?
less than 20 percent
______ refers broadly to efforts by groups to influence public policy through contact with public officials.
lobbying
What is the most common technique used by interest groups to promote their interests?
lobbying the state legislature
The responsibility of the Texas Ethics Commission is to enforce laws relating to which of the following?
lobbying, campaign finance, registration for certain interest groups
Jobs, higher wages, and tax incentives are all examples of ______ incentives to joining interest groups.
material
All media outlets, whether broadcast, print, cable, or on the Internet, that are in the business of creating and reporting original news stories are called the news
media
The largest expenditure in presidential campaigns is for which of the following?
media
Iron triangles work to the mutual benefit of the three members of the triangle. Match each iron triangle member to what it gets from the relationship.
members of congress <--> electoral support interest group <--> beneficial policy decisions federal agency <--> support for their administrative programs
In what ways does a professional association differ from a trade association?
members typically hold a professional license issued by the state, the state regulates their scope of practice
Compared to citizens in Europe, Americans are ______ likely to contribute time and money to political campaigns.
more
The states that border Mexico all have ______ registered lobbyists.
more than 800
Why is the news shaped by news organizations need to attract and keep viewers?
most news organizations choose coverage that will draw an audience for advertisers
Which statement best describes the "softening" of American news in the 1980s and 1990s?
most news outlets incorporated celebrity gossip, sensational crimes, and human interest stories to attract a broader audience
A ______ political system is made up of at least three political parties.
multiparty
When the Fairness Doctrine was eliminated in 1987, most radio stations dropped their ______.
newscasts
Although the American press originally had a political orientation, it eventually shifted to a journalistic orientation, which emphasizes ______.
newsworthy information and events
When a political party makes a(n) ______ for an elected office, it selects a person to run as the party's candidate in the general election for that office.
nomination
Which of the following describes a high-choice media system?
one in which people have a large number of places to go for information
What usually happens after a third party is relatively successful in attracting votes during a U.S. national election?
one or both major parties will try to co-opt the issue or issues that made the third party successful
Local party organizations generally play an active role ______.
only during campaign periods
A(n) ______ primary is one in which any registered voter, regardless of party affiliation, may vote.
open
Which of the following are true of grassroots parties?
open to all citizens, operate at the local level
Political scientist Mancur Olson argues that small interest groups can be more powerful than larger groups as long as they are more ______.
organized
Most partisan Internet sites also take the "______" approach described in the Tufts University study.
outrage
Tufts University's Sarah Sobieraj and Jeffrey Berry's study described the basis for partisan talk show programming as paritsan "______."
outrage
______ lobbying involves bringing public pressure on policymakers, such as organizing a letter writing campaign to members of Congress.
outside
lobbying includes initiating letter-writing campaigns and influencing the news media.
outside
What is a potential problem with the media's watchdog function, according to critics?
overzealous coverage of minor scandals heightens the public's distrust of government officials
Who led the impassioned plea for tougher gun control measures after the Parkland shooting?
parkland students
Why is it important that the media perform the common-carrier function?
people cannot support or oppose a leaders plans if they do not know about them
Organizations that nominate and seek to elect candidates to government office are known as ______.
political parties
Which of the following is true of the professionalism of the Texas legislature?
poor working conditions and low pay contribute to high turnover among legislative staff
The strongest ideological party in U.S. history was the ______.
populist party
When the journalists use framing, they are ______.
presenting a selective version of reality
The _____ is the public official who has the greatest access to the media.
president
Which of the following accurately ranks the amount of media coverage of candidates from highest to lowest?
presidential candidates, senate candidates, house candidates
Internet political participation peaks during which of the following?
presidential elections
_______ goods refer to benefits that are given directly to particular individuals as a result of belonging to an interest group.
private
Which of the following are functions of political consultants?
producing promotional materials, advising on how to run a successful campaign, gathering voter opinions
In Texas, how are public sector employee organizations classified, due to their inability to engage in collective bargaining?
professional associations
Voting for a candidate's promises rather than his or her past actions is an example of what is called ______ voting.
prospective
What is the primary goal of retail trade associations?
protect their trades from undesirable state regulations
Which of the following is the primary goal of most state and local interest groups?
protecting local interests from state activites
Which of the following are part of the money chase of politics?
pursuing wealthy patrons, raising funds
In terms of leadership and organization, the Texas Municipal League draws strength from its ______.
quick adoption of stands on key legislative items, strong, proactive legislative committee
Research suggests that when interest groups have submitted amicus briefs, they have been ______ in swaying courts.
quite effective
A permanent shift in party allegiances or electoral support is known as a party ______.
realignment
Which type of third party arises from a belief that partisan politics is a corrupting influence that needs to be changed?
reform parties
Capture theory argues that ______ sometimes focus more on the needs of industries than on the public interest.
regulatory agencies
The national, state, and local organizations of the Republican and Democratic parties are ______.
relatively independent; that is, each level does not have much control over the others
The Texas Apartment Association, the Texas Restaurant Association, and the Beer Alliance of Texas are all examples of ______.
retail trade groups
Voting for a candidate's past performance rather than future promises is an example of what is called ______ voting.
retrospective
An interest group is an organization that ______.
seeks to influence government policy
Today, political candidates tend to ______.
set up and run their own campaign organizations
The media's ability to function as signalers and influence what people are thinking about and discussing is called agenda
setting
Which of the following are traditional functions of the news media (press)?
signaling, watchdog, common-carrier
Third parties formed to promote a stance on a particular issue are known as ______.
single issue parties
Harvard's Robert Putnam refers to the sum of face-to-face civic interactions among citizens in a society as
social capital
Which of the southern states has fewer than 400 registered lobbyists?
south carolina
Which of the following voting blocs migrated to the Republican Party during the 1980s and 1990s?
southern whites
Which of the following is not an example of a state and local interest group?
state board of education
In order to raise enough funds for their campaigns, political candidates raise money from all of the following groups except ______.
state governments
Many voters cast a ______, where they only vote for candidates of one party.
straight ticket
Unlike participation through interest groups or political parties, participation in political movements ______.
takes place largely outside established institutions
Compared to iron triangles, the relationship between actors in an issue network tends to be more ______.
temporary
Which of the following is an example of a peak business organization?
texas association of manufacturers
Which one of these groups is an example of a citizens' group?
the National Organization for Women (NOW)
Adolph Ochs, the architect of objective journalism, had taken ownership of which newspaper?
the New York Times
To date, what is the most successful of the recent political movements?
the Tea Party movement
What organization provides legislative staff assistance in research and information?
the Texas Legislative Council
Which statement best describes economic activity in Texas?
the Texas economy is highly diversified with a strong presence in several industries
Which of the following make it likely that interest groups will continue to dominate state politics in Texas?
the decentralized administrative structure, the traditionalistic/individualistic political culture, low levels of political participation
YouTube political bloggers with the largest audiences are concentrated on ______.
the extreme right
Which of the following rules required a broadcast station to provide a "reasonable opportunity for the discussion of conflicting views of public importance"?
the fairness doctrine
Which one of the following forms of media has had the biggest role in making politics more participative?
the internet
What sparked the Black Lives Matter movement?
the killing of unarmed young black men by police officers
The killing of George Floyd by police in Minneapolis in 2020 led to ______.
the largest protests yet of police violence against Black Americans
Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010) involved which issue affecting interest groups?
the limit on corporate and union spending in federal elections
What is another name for the plurality system?
winner take all system
Which of the following media typically have a signaling function?
wire services, television networks, daily newspapers
Which term refers to the irresponsible and sensationalist approach to news reporting that characterized journalism in the early 1900s?
yellow journalism
How is interest group influence weakened in competitive, two-party states?
the parties assume a greater role in recruiting and supporting candidates, replacing a vital function of interest groups
In priming, who or what determines how people will interpret the information they receive?
the press
What was Madison's constitutional solution to the problem of factions?
the system of checks and balances
The United States provides a favorable environment for interest groups because ______.
the tradition of people joining together encourages them to look to interest groups as a way of influencing policymakers., the separation of powers and federalism provide numerous points of access for interest groups to try to influence policymakers., the tradition of free speech and association means there are few legal barriers to the activities of interest groups.
In describing sources of news on the Web, what do analysts mean by the metaphor "the long tail"?
there are a few heavily visited websites on one end and thousands of lightly visited sites on the other
The United States has a high-choice media system, which means that _____.
there are a large number of sources from which people can choose to get their information
An important feature of private goods for an economic group is that ______.
they are benefits the group can withhold
What has happened to the New England states since the 1980s?
they have shifted toward the democrats
America's plurality, or winner-take-all, system of electing candidates works to the disadvantage of ______.
third parties
What are the main goals of interest groups' public relations activities?
to create a favorable image for the group, to influence public opinion regarding a particular issue
What was the goal of yellow journalism?
to lure in readers by any means
What is the chief goal of grassroots lobbying efforts by interest groups?
to mobilize supporters to advocate for their organization
Interest groups need money for which of the following?
to pay full time staff, public relations, electioneering, lobbying
Which of the following are the chief targets of interest groups when they lobby the executive branch?
top officials of federal agencies
Primaries in which candidates of both parties are on the same ballot and the first and second finishers compete in the general election are called ______ primaries.
top two
Which type of interest group represents business firms of a particular kind, such as insurance companies?
trade association
Strong antiunion feelings are a reflection of Texas's ______ political culture.
traditionalistic/individualistic
True or false: According to political scientist Mancur Olson, interest groups with smaller memberships usually prevail because they are able to join together and pool resources.
true
True or false: All media outlets, including those on the Internet, are part of the news media.
true
True or false: Nonmembership organizations do not have broad-based citizen support.
true
True or false: Public employees in Texas do not have the right to bargain collectively.
true
True or false: The Tea Party movement was opposed to higher taxes to support government programs.
true
True or false: Those interest groups that are poorly organized run the risk of being ignored politically.
true
Americans participate more in politics than do citizens of other western democracies except in which of the following activities?
turningout to vote on election day
How many major political parties are there in the United States today?
two
The U.S. government functions as a(n) ______ system.
two-party system
The degree to which education level and income are so closely tied to voter participating in the United States is _____ when compared to European countries.
unusual
Republicans are ______ times more likely than Democrats to say that Fox is their main source of news.
13
In the 1970s, the average reader devoted more than 30 minutes to reading the printed newspaper. That average is now ______ minutes.
16
Approximately how many nonmembership organizations are registered with the Texas Ethics Commission?
2,000
What percentage of party activists work within local political party organizations?
95 percent
Which of the following statements about negative ads and negative campaigning are true? (Choose every correct answer.)
Abraham Lincoln was the target of insulting comments about his appearance during election campaigns., Negative campaigning in presidential elections was used as long ago as when Thomas Jefferson ran for office.
Why is participation in local organizations twice as high in the United States as it is in Europe?
Americans have an incentive to participate because there is more local control over policy in the United States than in Europe. Americans are more likely to attend church and engage in church-related community work.
Which of the cable news networks most fully treats news as a form of entertainment?
CNN
What did James Madison think of the future of interest groups?
He believed that competition between groups would prevent any one from dominating.
Which of the following statements correctly describes the relationship between income and political participation in the United States?
Higher-income citizens are the most active because they have the resources to participate effectively.
How does the Constitution deal with the issue of interest groups?
Interest groups are protected by the First Amendment to the Constitution.
What is the primary reason that geographic distribution positively affects the power of interest groups?
It allows groups to command the interest of more legislators.
What are the advantages enjoyed by a large interest group such as the AARP?
It has a large staff that lobbies the federal government., It is well-financed, even though individual members' dues are low., It can generate a large amount of mail to members of Congress.
the proportion of eligible adult citizens who actually vote in a given election is known as
voter turnout
Why did the communist movement fail in America?
Its goals were too at odds with American values.
Which of the following are ways in which members of Congress benefit from ties to lobbyists?
Lobbyists provide information on specific pieces of legislation., Lobbyists identify bills that need their attention.
The mass killings at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School resulted in which of the following?
National School Walkout Day, March for Our Lives demonstrations
In some campaigns, which of the following has begun to replace in the political party as the nominating and electing agent?
PACs
Which of the following is a regulation that affects Texas PACs?
PACs cannot contribute to candidates during a window that begins 30 days prior to the legislative session and ends 20 days after the session ends., PACs must create complete reports identifying every donor who contributed at least $50 to the campaign., PACs are required to designate a campaign treasurer.
How has PAC influence affected candidates' party loyalty?
PACs have decreased loyalty to parties since they finance races and help candidates much like parties do.
Which statement best describes the prevalent view of the public concerning protest activists in the United States?
Protest activity should be tolerated.
Which of the following is an example of a government organization?
SLIGs
Which of the following is an example of a specialized "educational" association?
Texas High School Coaches Association
Why does the Texas oil industry lobby focus on influencing the Texas Railroad Commission?
The Texas Railroad Commission oversees the state oil industry
Which of the following statements best summarize the control the governor of Texas enjoys over state agencies?
The governor makes few significant appointments to state agencies and therefore possesses minimal control over policy decisions.
When a realignment in the electorate occurs, which of the following happens?
The parties reorganize themselves.
How does a well-compensated, professional legislative staff reduce the influence of interest groups?
The staff provides most of the research for legislators, who rely less on interest group research.
How does the party structure in Texas affect interest group power and influence?
The weakened structure of party competitiveness strengthens interest group influence.
How has the interest group tactic of entertaining legislators changed over the years?
There is far less provision of entertainment, food, and bribes, but it is still a key part of the process.
How are issue networks formed?
They are formed by individuals who have expertise regarding a particular policy issue as well as various views on it.
In politics, what do linkage institutions do?
They connect citizens with government.
Which of the following are distinct disadvantages of the rise of candidate-centered campaigns? (Choose every correct answer.)
They make it easier for officeholders to deny responsibility for government actions., They provide opportunities for powerful interest groups to donate money to candidates.
Which of the following correctly describes members of the "inattentive audience"?
They pay attention to news when a major event occurs, such as COVID-19., They pay only sporadic attention to the news.
How did many of the founders of the United States view political parties?
They viewed political parties with suspicion.
Which group is the largest voting bloc in the Republican Party?
white evangelical christians
Which of the following are reasons why the amount of traditional news the typical American watches has declined since the 1970s?
Younger people stopped watching the dinner-time news., Cable television and other high-choice media became available.
Who would be least likely to be a member of a professional association?
a bank teller
Interest groups tend to rely on the courts to advance their policy goals when they have ______.
a cause that's unpopular with the public, a low chance of achieving their goals through legislation
State party organizations are usually small and are directed by ______.
a full time chairperson
An "astroturf organization" is one that lacks ______.
a grassroots organization
For which of the following interest groups would the free-rider problem be most severe?
a large group with very diffuse possible benefits
What three basic elements are usually involved in a party realignment?
a shift in voters partisan support in elections, an enduring change in the parties' policies and coalitions, unusually powerful and divisive issues
Nonmembership organizations represent
a single company, organization, or individual
what is a social or political movement?
a way for disenchanted citizens to voice their displeasure with government policy
Which of the following functions do news media perform?
act as a watchdog that scrutinizes official behavior provide political information that attracts an audience provide a channel through which political leaders communicate to the public
The news media's partisan function means that they ______.
acts as advocates for particular viewpoints
Generally, protests ______ have not been popular in the United States.
against US military action
Which of the following types of interest groups is classified as an economic type?
agriculture
The effort of the writers of the Constitution to devise a governing system that would guard against tyranny of the majority resulted in which consequence?
americas system of divided power provides abundant opportunities for interest groups to achieve their policy goals
In an attempt to influence court decisions, interest groups may file "friend of the court" briefs, otherwise known as ______ briefs.
amicus curiae
What is a super PAC?
an independent-expenditure-only committee
is an organization of individuals who share common goals and tries to influence governmental decisions.
an interest group
Modern lobbyists primarily concentrate on providing lawmakers with ______.
arguments and evidence for their position
The Pharmaceutical Industry Labor-Management Association (PILMA) sought to defeat a bill in Texas to lower drug prices. PILMA has no individual members and receives most of its money from the pharmaceutical industry. It is best described as a(n) ______.
astroturf organization
If you were lobbying Congress, what would be the safest strategy for you to use?
be aboveboard with members
Which of the following best describes why many interest groups form political action committees (PACs)?
because contributing to candidates' campaigns can help gain access for interest group lobbyists
What protest movement of the modern era has had the most lasting effect?
black civil rights
Which of the following media were subject to the FCC's Fairness Doctrine?
broadcast radio and television
All party organizations have a responsibility to ______.
build support among voters
The interest-group system in the United States over represents ______.
business interests
The onset of ______ increased the entertainment content in traditional news outlets as audiences for those outlets began to shrink.
cable television
Today's political campaigns rely on which of the following to be successful?
campaign strategists, pollsters, media producers
Although party organizations still manage many tasks related to elections, the lead role in elections now lies with the ______.
candidate
Because of the increasing cost of political campaigns, ______.
candidates must constantly work to raise funds
Which of the following statements describe how U.S. campaigns are both party centered and candidate centered? (Choose every correct answer.)
candidates organize their own campaigns, the same parties are represented nationwide
Political scientist Darrell West uses the term air wars to describe ______.
candidates use of televised ads
Over 70 percent of Americans' political participation via community activities takes place in which of the following?
church related groups, civic organizations, school related groups
Which type of group typically has to deal with the problem of free riders?
citizens group
Which of the following explain why Europeans with less education and income vote at higher rates in their countries than their American counterparts?
class based European organizations encourage participation, Americans face more voter registration requirements
A state that prevents members of one political party from voting for another party's nominees has which type of primary?
closed
The groups and interests that support a political party are collectively referred to as a party ______.
coalition
______ goods are those that belong to all people and cannot be withheld on an individual basis, such as clean air or water.
collective
Benefits that belong to everyone, not just the members of a group, are referred to as ______.
collective goods
A PAC is a specialized kind of interest group that ______.
collects and distributes money to candidates for office
Which of the following is an example of a group that cannot draw strength from geographic distribution?
commercial shrimp fishermen
In the early decades of the twentieth century, some publishers responded to "yellow journalism" by ______.
committing to objective journalism
Which of the following types of interest groups is not classified as an economic interest group?
consumer
Which of the following are prohibited by Texas law from making campaign contributions to candidates for statewide or legislative office?
corporations, labor unions
Which of the following industries have, in the past, dominated the Texas economy?
cotton, cattle, banking, oil
Which of the following would be considered outside lobbying activities used by interest groups?
creating public service announcements to be aired on television, organizing a protest on the steps of Congress, having group members send letters to their legislators
The audience for Huffington Post's website is overwhelmingly ______.
democratic
The news media operate as gatekeepers, which means that they ______.
determine which events will be covered and which will not
State parties are involved with which of the following activities?
election of US senators, election of governors, voter registration
An activity in which an interest group engages in order to influence the outcome of an election is known as
electioneering
______ refers to the various activities in which interest groups engage to try to influence the outcome of elections.
electionerring
Interest groups that are not directly involved in litigation may file amicus curiae briefs to ______.
encourage a ruling that is beneficial to their cause
Even if a third-party candidate fails to win an election, the candidate will sometimes accomplish which of the following?
encourage one or both major parties to address issues introduced by the third party, draw attention to an issue previously ignored by the two major candidates
Lobbying elected officials includes which of the following activities?
face-to-face meetings with members of Congress
Stories on the Internet that maintained the coronavirus pandemic was a hoax perpetuated by Democrats in order to damage President Trump are an example of ______.
fake news
True or false: Americans in the lowest 20 percent of income earners have the highest levels of participation in the United States.
false
True or false: An enormous group such as the taxpayers of the United States can exert a major influence on public policy.
false