5.6, 5.7 Interest Groups

Question 1

interest group functions

Answer 1

educate voters and office holders
hire lobbyists
testify at Congressional committee hearings
mobilize get out the vote campaigns
raise money and advertise

Question 1

Interest Groups

Answer 1

Purpose: To influence public policy, often for a specific purpose
narrow purpose for specific policy goals

Question 2

Draft legislation

Answer 2

suggest and support leaders, work with congressional committees to propose change to bills

Question 3

lobbyists

Answer 3

Policy specialists who provide information to lawmakers to persuade them to vote in favor of the groups interest

Question 4

AmicusCuriae Brief

Answer 4

“Friend of the court” briefs submitted by groups not directly involved in the case

Question 5

litigation

Answer 5

groups file lawsuits, challenging policies in the courts

Question 6

grassroots lobbying

Answer 6

persaud the public on an issue: requires the citizens to take action

Question 7

iron triangles/issue networks

Answer 7

Influence how policies are made and implemented
Congressional committees, interest groups and bureaucratic agencies

Question 8

Inequality of political and economic resources

Answer 8

some interest groups have larger memberships and better funding

Question 9

unequal access to decision makers

Answer 9

Well-funded groups and those with large memberships typically have more access

Question 10

free rider problem

Answer 10

People lack an incentive to join and interest group when they can benefit from the group’s efforts without joining

Question 11

revolving door

Answer 11

members of Congress retire and are hired as lobbyists

Question 12

single-issue groups

Answer 12

focus on one specific issue

Question 13

protest movements

Answer 13

grassroots movements based around protests and marches to demand policy change

Question 14

civil disobedience

Answer 14

intentionally break the law as a form of peaceful protest