14: Interest Groups Flashcards
Which best describes interest groups in the early to mid-1800s?
Most interest groups were based around civil rights of women and often took on unconventional forms of protest.
They were mostly single-issue groups, seated in Christian revivalism, or focused on business interests.
They focused largely on transportation issues, especially the creation of a system of national highways and interstates.
They were largely anti-religion and focused efforts on the rights of industrial laborers.
They were mostly single-issue groups, seated in Christian revivalism, or focused on business interests.
How did James Madison propose to overcome the problem of factions?
By banning the formation of interest groups
By adopting a system of direct democracy
By discouraging citizens from expressing their political views in public
By allowing groups to participate in the political process
By allowing groups to participate in the political process
Which of the following groups lobbies on behalf of business interests?
The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP)
The Chamber of Commerce
The National Rifle Association
The National Education Association
The Chamber of Commerce
An appeal to membership in an interest group based on passion or purpose would be most appropriate for a(n) ______ interest group or organization.
religious or ideological
trade
business
professional
religious or ideological
A leader of the National Rifle Association (NRA) would be very unlikely to propose a policy position of highly restricted gun control because _______.
the strength of single-issue groups is the intensity of members’ beliefs, which are shared by their leaders
very few interest groups are governed democratically, but the NRA is and such a proposal would never pass
members may drop out if they disagree with leadership or do not like the direction the organization is taking
NRA members enjoy an unusual amount of influence on the organization’s leadership and policy decisions
the strength of single-issue groups is the intensity of members’ beliefs, which are shared by their leaders
One reason for the rise of public interest groups in the 1960s and 1970s was __________.
Americans’ growing cynicism about government during the Vietnam War
the decline in political parties
technological developments that made interest group activities easier
the lifting of legal restrictions on lobbying activities
Americans’ growing cynicism about government during the Vietnam War
The __________ problem occurs when people fail to join a group because they can get the benefits the group offers without contributing to the group’s efforts.
hyperpluralist
free rider
pluralist
collective good
free rider
Which Constitutional provision guarantees the right of interest groups to organize?
Second Amendment
The majority faction clause
First Amendment
Preamble
First Amendment
The Supreme Court’s decision in Citizens United v. FEC created the possibility for unlimited spending in elections by __________.
individual donors
corporations
political parties
foreign contributors
corporations
How are interest groups most likely to attempt to influence court decisions?
Using money from political action committees to try to shape public opinion on the issue
Lavishing expensive gifts on judges
Urging Congress to change court jurisdictions
Filing amicus curiae briefs arguing in favor of a particular outcome
Filing amicus curiae briefs arguing in favor of a particular outcome
Which is an interest group least likely to do?
Influence how policies are implemented
Support candidates running for elections
Influence the legislative process
Run candidates in elections
Run candidates in elections
The __________ effort occurs at the end of the campaign and is an attempt to get the candidate’s supporters to the polls on Election Day.
direct mail
inoculation advertising
wooing the undecided
get-out-the-vote
get-out-the-vote
Which is the most telling indicator of whether or not an individual is likely to join and participate in an interest group?
Religious affiliation
Party affiliation
Level of wealth
Geographic location
Level of wealth
Which interest group is a good example of the modern trend of fewer members physically attending events, but thousands or tens of thousands participating in social media such as Twitter or Facebook?
Occupy Wall Street
Children’s Defense Fund
Liberty University Coalition
EMILY’s List
Occupy Wall Street
Why has the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) been so successful at attracting large numbers of Americans to join?
Some states require all people older than the age of 65 to have a valid AARP membership.
AARP offers its members popular benefits such as consumer discounts and other services.
AARP’s political action committee is one of the wealthiest in the United States.
AARP has the support of wealthy benefactors who help fund their organization.
AARP offers its members popular benefits such as consumer discounts and other services.
Which best describes the ability of watchdog groups to monitor lobbying activities?
Due to a 1995 lobbying disclosure law, it is now easier to monitor lobbying activities.
A 2007 law reduced disclosure requirements, making it more difficult to monitor lobbying activities.
It is difficult to monitor congressional lobbying, which has no disclosure requirements.
It is difficult to monitor executive branch lobbying, which has no disclosure requirements.
Due to a 1995 lobbying disclosure law, it is now easier to monitor lobbying activities.
Which of the following is an example of lobbying?
Fundraising for a cause by selling small goods or services
Trying to influence government officials to support a particular policy decision
Protesting government policy decisions by having a sit-in at a college
Expressing indignation at changes in policy by blogging about the issue
Trying to influence government officials to support a particular policy decision
How did the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 affect lobbyists?
It limited the number of hours each lobbyist could work during a single session of Congress.
It required all organizations and firms to register their employees as lobbyists if they worked with government contracts.
It set limits on how many lobbyists could be employed by a political action committee (PAC).
It required lobbyists to file a report regarding each of their clients, including how much money they were paid by them for lobbying services.
It required lobbyists to file a report regarding each of their clients, including how much money they were paid by them for lobbying services.
Something of value that cannot be withheld from a nonmember of a group, for example, a tax write-off or a better environment.
collective good
Founded in 1867 as an educational organization for farmers, The Grange evolved into the first truly national interest group by working to protect the political and economic concerns of farming communities and rural areas.
The Grange
A conservative religious interest group credited with helping to mobilize conservative Evangelical Christian voters from its founding in 1978 through the presidency of Ronald Reagan (1981-1989).
Moral Majority
The theory that interest groups form as a result of changes in the political system.
disturbance theory
Founded in 1886, the AFL brought skilled workers from several trades together into one stronger national organization for the first time. It merged in 1955 with the Congress of Industrial Organizations to form the AFL-CIO.
American Federation of Labor (AFL)
A major interest group, founded in 1835, to advocate for the abolition of the institution of slavery throughout the United States.
American Anti-Slavery Society
Lobbying reform banning gifts to members of Congress and their staffs, toughening disclosure requirements, and increasing time limits on moving from the federal government to the private sector.
Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007
