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CHAPTER 11
Interest Groups
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. An interest group is
a.
a political party.
b.
a commercial organization.
c.
an organization of people with a common goal seeking to influence public policy.
d.
a charity organization.
e.
a regulatory group.
2. Interest groups are an important way for people to have their voices heard because
a.
the size and diversity of our country.
b.
the decentralizing effects of our Constitution.
c.
the vast number of nonprofit organizations.
d.
the weaknesses of our political parties.
e.
All of the above are true.
3. The number of interest groups has grown rapidly since the
a.
1940s.
b.
1950s.
c.
1960s.
d.
1970s.
e.
1980s.
4. During the 1830s and 1840s, the number of religious associations
a.
increased sharply.
b.
declined slightly.
c.
rejected American style government.
d.
supported American style government.
e.
advocated for the Whig party.
5. Which is NOT an example of an interest group?
a.
Chamber of Commerce
b.
National Association of Manufacturers
c.
American Medical Association
d.
Green Party
e.
Urban League
6. PACs are created by __________ groups.
a.
business
b.
labor union
c.
trade association
d.
ideological
e.
All of the above are true.
7. In 2009, groups spent roughly __________ on lobbying.
a.
$1.5 billion
b.
$2 billion
c.
$800 million
d.
$3.5 billion
e.
$500 million
8. The activity of lobbyists is protected by the __________.
a.
First Amendment
b.
Second Amendment
c.
Fifth Amendment
d.
Tenth Amendment
e.
Fourteenth Amendment
9. In Great Britain, interest groups are
a.
more numerous than in the United States.
b.
responsible for forming successful political parties, like the Green Party.
c.
smaller in number than in the United States with only a few big interest groups existing.
d.
large, numerous, and very influential.
e.
None of the above is true.
10. The launching of the Chamber of Commerce was an example of an interest group that formed as a
result of
a.
government policy.
b.
the emergence of talented leadership.
c.
the enlargement of governmental responsibilities.
d.
broad economic developments.
e.
legislative capitulation.
11. The formation of antislavery organizations during the 1830s and 1840s was an example of interest
groups that formed as a result of
a.
government policy.
b.
the emergence of talented leadership.
c.
the enlargement of governmental responsibilities.
d.
broad economic developments.
e.
legislative capitulation.
12. The growth of numerous public-interest lobbies in the 1960s was an example of interest groups that
formed as a result of
a.
government policy.
b.
the emergence of talented leadership.
c.
the enlargement of governmental responsibilities.
d.
broad economic developments.
e.
legislative capitulation.
13. Which interest group is an example of an institutional interest?
a.
League of Women Voters
b.
Boy Scouts
c.
Sierra Club
d.
National Association of Counties
e.
National Rifle Association
14. Americans are more likely to join _________ than are citizens of other countries.
a.
labor unions
b.
business and trade associations
c.
charitable organizations
d.
religious and civic associations
e.
professional organizations
15. The reason Americans participate in civic associations more frequently than do citizens of
other countries is
a.
their greater dissatisfaction with the government.
b.
their more intense attachment to parties.
c.
their European heritage.
d.
the fact that they are less sensitive to the free-rider problem.
e.
their sense of political efficacy and civic duty.
16. Which of the following is true of most people who are sympathetic to the aims of a mass-membership
interest group?
a.
They do not join it.
b.
They join it but do not pay dues.
c.
They join it, pay dues, but do not participate in its activities.
d.
They join it, pay dues, and participate in its activities.
e.
They join it but participate without paying dues.
17. People who join interest groups for a sense of pleasure, status, or companionship are joining
because of
a.
solidary incentives.
b.
material incentives.
c.
purposive incentives.
d.
party incentives.
e.
concurrent incentives.
18. Members of a farm bureau are most likely to have joined as a result of _________ incentives.
a.
solidary
b.
concurrent
c.
purposive
d.
party
e.
material
19. Organizations that attract members by appealing to a coherent set of usually controversial principles
are called
a.
political parties.
b.
pressure groups.
c.
splinter groups.
d.
ideological interest groups.
e.
out-party groups.
20. Which is an example of a conservative public-interest law firm?
a.
Rotary Club
b.
American Civil Liberties Union
c.
NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund
d.
Atlantic Legal Foundation
e.
Kiwanis
21. When the purpose of the organization will benefit nonmembers, it is customary to call the group a(n)
a.
public-interest lobby.
b.
ideological interest group.
c.
political party.
d.
public-interest law firm.
e.
pressure group.
22. Ralph Nader became famous after testifying in favor of a bill regarding
a.
Social Security.
b.
air pollution.
c.
workers’ compensation.
d.
automobile safety.
e.
gun control.
23. Which Think Tank is associated with liberal causes?
a.
Cato Institute
b.
Heritage Foundation
c.
Hudson Institute
d.
Center for American Progress
e.
American Enterprise Institute
24. Which of the following statements about a social movement is generally true?
a.
The more extreme its position, the smaller its size.
b.
The more liberal its position, the larger its size.
c.
The more moderate its position, the smaller its size.
d.
The more purposive its membership incentives, the smaller its size.
e.
It can only take place when courts are open to the prospect of radical change in the law.
25. The Sierra Club was organized in the
a.
1990s.
b.
1980s.
c.
1970s.
d.
1960s.
e.
1890s.
26. Of the following environmental groups, this one tends to be the most liberal.
a.
Sierra Club
b.
Wilderness Society
c.
National Wildlife Federation
d.
Teddy Conservation
e.
Environmental Defense Fund and Environmental Action
27. The National Organization for Women (NOW) is an example of a feminist organization whose
membership incentives are primarily
a.
material.
b.
purposive.
c.
solidary.
d.
sociological.
e.
concurrent.
28. Purposive incentives are most likely to motivate people who join the
a.
Illinois Farm Bureau.
b.
National Organization for Women (NOW).
c.
parent-teacher associations (PTAs).
d.
American Association of Retired Persons (AARP).
e.
Rotary Club.
29. The League of Women Voters is an example of a feminist organization whose membership incentives
are primarily
a.
material.
b.
purposive.
c.
concurrent.
d.
ideological.
e.
solidary.
30. The launching of the environmental movement was assisted by
a.
a hurricane in Pensacola, Florida.
b.
several incidents of contaminated water in Boston.
c.
an oil spill on the Santa Barbara beaches.
d.
the highly publicized deaths of dozens of sperm whales.
e.
controversies surrounding the spread of diseases in animals.
31. The peak of the labor union movement in the United States occurred in the year
a.
1923.
b.
1932.
c.
1945.
d.
1956.
e.
1978.
32. Today, only about __________ of American workers are covered by unions.
a.
12 percent
b.
25 percent
c.
35 percent
d.
45 percent
e.
55 percent
33. Since 1983, labor unions membership has declined due to
a.
a shift in the nation’s economic life away from industrial production and toward
service delivery.
b.
an increase in public service unions.
c.
a loss of America’s economic influence abroad.
d.
federal regulations banning unions.
e.
None of the above is true.
34. Which of the following would probably have the most difficulty raising money?
a.
A lobbying organization representing a nonprofit organization
b.
A lobbying organization representing a for-profit organization
c.
A membership organization relying on appeals to purpose
d.
A membership organization relying on solidary incentives
e.
A lobbying organization representing a collection of Fortune 500 companies
35. The single most important activity of interest groups, in the eyes of many lobbyists and academic
students of lobbying, is
a.
delivering large numbers of protestors.
b.
supplying credible information.
c.
providing financial resources.
d.
interacting with the media.
e.
providing public relations.
36. Probably the best measure of an interest group’s influence is its
a.
size.
b.
wealth.
c.
organizational skill.
d.
contacts.
e.
issue dexterity.
37. Lobbyists are restrained from misrepresenting facts or misleading legislators by
a.
the 1984 Truth-in-Lobbying Law.
b.
the open nature of the lobbying process.
c.
governmental regulatory agencies such as the FTA.
d.
the fear of losing legislators’ trust and confidence.
e.
supervision of the federal courts.
38. When the Civil Aeronautics Board regulated the air industry by setting airline rates and conferring air
routes on various cities, most of those appearing at its hearings were
a.
airline companies.
b.
passenger representatives.
c.
government officials.
d.
members of the public.
e.
airport employees.
39. Which of the following is an example of a legislator following a political cue?
a.
The legislator responding to public appeals
b.
The legislator responding to a material incentive
c.
The legislator responding to an organization due to the promise of campaign donations
d.
A liberal legislator looking to see whether the AFL-CIO, the American for Democratic
Action, and other liberal organizations favor a consumer proposal
e.
A liberal legislator asking for campaign donations
40. Ratings that are generated by interest groups are sometimes problematic because
a.
they are statistically complex.
b.
they are provided in very lengthy reports.
c.
of arbitrary assessments or bias in measures.
d.
no one takes credit for their calculations.
e.
All of the above are true.
41. The Republican activist William Kristol used __________ to guide members of Congress in
opposition to Clinton’s health care plan.
a.
automated phone calls
b.
postal surveys
c.
Washington-based billboards
d.
e-mail talking points
e.
computer-operated fax machines
42. The lobbying firm, Cassidy and Associates, securing federal money for a university to construct a
nutrition center is an example of
a.
a logroll.
b.
a dovetail.
c.
an earmark.
d.
a scratched back.
e.
a tag line.
43. Of the following statements, which one describes earmarks?
a.
They have always existed.
b.
They became more common in the 1970s and afterward.
c.
Their expansion was prompted, in part, by the growth of the federal government.
d.
Their expansion was prompted, in part, by the efforts of lobbyists.
e.
All of the above are true.
44. In recent years, interest groups frequently use a grassroots lobbying strategy referred to as the
a.
insider.
b.
wholesale.
c.
collective.
d.
outsider.
e.
end run.
45. An example cited by the text of how grassroots opposition to a governmental action can influence
Congress is
a.
the Food and Drug Administration’s banning of saccharin.
b.
the Forest Service’s banning of campfires in national parks.
c.
the Environmental Protection Agency’s approval of acid rain.
d.
the Central Intelligence Agency’s approval of strategic assassination.
e.
the Internal Revenue Service’s approval of electronic filing.
46. The campaign finance reforms of 1973
a.
encouraged a rapid growth in political action committees (PACs).
b.
led to a slight decrease in the number of political action committees (PACs).
c.
led to a significant decrease in the number of political action committees (PACs).
d.
had no impact on the number of political action committees (PACs).
e.
reduced PAC spending.
47. The increase in political action committees (PACs) might actually reduce the probability that members
of Congress can be bought easily because
a.
there are so many restrictions on PACs.
b.
PACs have such a poor reputation among legislators.
c.
PACs are not allowed to communicate directly with members of Congress.
d.
members of Congress do not have the time to consider more than one or two points
of view.
e.
money is available on every side of almost every conceivable issue.
48. The scholarly evidence that political action committee (PAC) money buys votes in Congress
a.
is sketchy at best.
b.
is fairly strong but still inconclusive.
c.
is substantial.
d.
is conclusive.
e.
clearly documents that there is absolutely no relationship between contributions and votes.
49. The type of interest group that increased its numbers most rapidly during the early 1980s was the
a.
corporate political action committee (PAC).
b.
labor PAC.
c.
professional PAC.
d.
ideological PAC.
e.
legislative PAC.
50. The Court’s decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission allowed __________ to fund
“electioneering communications” within 30 days of a primary election.
a.
business corporations
b.
nonprofit organizations
c.
unions
d.
Options A, B, C, and D are true.
e.
None of the above is true.
51. Sometimes money affects legislative behavior not so much by buying votes as by ensuring
a.
access.
b.
veto power.
c.
procedural fairness.
d.
favorable implementation.
e.
sympathy in administrative hearings.
52. A government official might leave her position and join a corporation to which she previously awarded
government contracts. This is a clear example of
a.
agency lacing.
b.
government operating on its own inner logic.
c.
a conflict of interest.
d.
double dipping.
e.
the revolving door.
53. All of the following activities are specifically forbidden by the Ethics in Government Act of
1978 EXCEPT
a.
bribery.
b.
refusal of a president to disclose income from stocks and bonds.
c.
employment of a former government official by a lobbying group.
d.
outside employment by a government official if such employment might create a conflict
of interest.
e.
solicitation of funds for the performance of duties.
54. Former executive branch employees may not appear before any agency for __________ on matters
that came within the former employee’s official sphere of responsibility.
a.
one month
b.
six months
c.
one year
d.
two years
e.
ten years
55. The Federal Regulation of Lobbying Act of 1946 required groups and individuals seeking to influence
legislation to
a.
limit their activities to seven pieces of legislation.
b.
limit their activities to either the House or the Senate.
c.
prepare and publish written statements of intent.
d.
register and file quarterly financial reports.
e.
register, file statements of intent, and limit their activities to one legislative chamber.
56. The Federal Regulation of Lobbying Act of 1946 was __________ by the Supreme Court.
a.
expanded
b.
declared unconstitutional
c.
limited
d.
never actually reviewed
e.
amended
57. The text suggests that the Federal Regulation of Lobbying Act of 1946
a.
had considerable effect.
b.
had a slight impact on lobbying activities.
c.
had little practical effect.
d.
was effective with respect to registration of lobbyists.
e.
resulted in accurate reporting of interest-group finances.
58. Under current law, an individual must register as a lobbyist if they spend at least __________ of their
time lobbying.
a.
90 percent
b.
70 percent
c.
50 percent
d.
20 percent
e.
5 percent
59. In practice, the reforms of Democrats have allowed reimbursements for travel by lobbyists if
a.
the travel consists of one-day trips.
b.
the lobbyists do not initiate the trip.
c.
the lobbyists do not make the reservations.
d.
the lobbyists do not pick up incidental expenses unrelated to the visit.
e.
All of the above are true.
60. The text suggests that today’s lobbying laws are
a.
more lax than ever.
b.
tighter than ever.
c.
less relevant than ever.
d.
too complex to have any particular impact.
e.
completely without teeth.
TRUE/FALSE
1. The Audubon Society can be considered an interest group.
2. The centralizing effects of the U.S. Constitution help promote the formation of interest groups.
3. The weakness of our political parties encourages the creation of interest groups.
4. The number of interest groups has grown rapidly since the 1960s.
5. The First Amendment’s freedom of speech and the right to petition government clauses protect the
activities of interest groups.
6. Americans are more likely to join religious and political organizations than labor or business groups.
7. In a classic study, Gabriel Almond and Sidney Verba found that citizens in Germany and Great Britain
were more likely to state that they would protect an unjust regulation than citizens in the United States.
8. Solidary incentives are the sense of pleasure, status, or companionship that arises out of meeting
together in small groups.
9. The Women’s Legal Defense Fund is an example of a conservative public-interest law firm.
10. Public-interest groups often do better when the government is in the hands of an administration that is
hostile to their views.
11. Civil rights is an issue on which the labor movement followed the attitudes of the rank and file in its
lobbying activities.
12. A social movement need not have liberal goals.
13. Women’s organizations that attract members with purposive incentives must take strong positions on
divisive issues.
14. Today, only about 12 percent of American workers are covered by unions.
15. Economic trends away from manufacturing and toward service delivery have affected union
membership.
16. Unions composed of government workers are becoming the most important part of the
union movement.
17. College-educated people tend to join more organizations.
18. The text argues that most conflicts in U.S. politics are conflicts within the upper middle class.
19. Interest groups can legally supply money to public officials who are running for office.
20. The phrase revolving door refers to interest-group contributions to congressional candidates.
ESSAY
1. Discuss interest groups in America, Great Britain, and Germany.
2. What four factors account for the increase in interest groups in recent years?
3. Discuss James Madison’s worries, expressed in Federalist 10, about the formation of “factions.”
4. Discuss the difference between the two kinds of interest groups—institutional and
membership interests.
5. Identify and explain three types of incentives that are offered by mass-membership organizations.
6. Define a public interest law firm. Discuss how these firms act to influence government.
7. Describe three types of feminist organizations.
8. What are earmarks? How are they related to interest group politics.
9. What information must all registered lobbyists report twice a year?
10. What new regulations were applied to lobbyists as of March 2007?
