Exam 3 - Interest Groups

Question 1

what is the role of interest groups? (4)

Answer 1

1. represent individuals, corporate interests, and the public before the govt
2. the inform the public and lawmakers about issues
3. monitor the govt
4. promote policies that benefit their interests

Question 2

political parties are older than interest groups (T/F)

Answer 2

FALSE
interest groups are older

Question 3

interest groups are a more __(1)__ organization

Answer 3

neutral

Question 4

why where early interest groups created?

Answer 4

created to provide service or bring together ppl with shared interest who wanted to make a joint case to govt

Question 5

how are interest groups different than political parties? (2)

Answer 5

1. interest groups DO NOT primary elect candidates under a PARTY LABEL (do not elect a candidate under a party)
2. do not control the operation of govt

Question 6

interest groups are more __(1)__ than political parties (3)

Answer 6

1. more issue-specific
2. narrowly focused
3. cross party lines

Question 7

interest groups are a sign of

Answer 7

a healthy civil society

Question 8

arenas that exist between state and individual and within which groups take collective action on shared interest

Answer 8

a civil society

Question 9

any formal association of individuals or organizations that attempt to influence govt decision-making and the making of public policy

Answer 9

interest group

Question 10

what is a lobbyist

Answer 10

represents the interest organization before the govt

Question 11

what can a lobbyist do?

Answer 11

influences decisions made by elected officials on behalf of individuals, groups or organizations

Question 12

Interest groups are not beneficial (T/F)

Answer 12

(FALSE, interest groups are beneficial to have an healthy civil society)

Question 13

in what forms can interest groups take?

Answer 13

1. take forms as membership organizations where individuals join voluntarily and pay dues
2. take form to represent companies

Question 14

seek particularized benefits from govt that favor either a single interest or a narrow set of interest

Answer 14

private interest groups

Question 15

attempt to promote public or collective goods that help most or all citizens

Answer 15

public interest groups

Question 16

what are collective goods

Answer 16

are benefits tangible or intangible

Question 17

what is collective action within an interest group

Answer 17

means that all members do the necessary work to keep the group funded and operating

Question 18

when do collective problems exist?

Answer 18

when people have a disincentive to take action and decide to sit back and count on someone else to do their work

Question 19

what are free riders

Answer 19

those who do not take action in a group

Question 20

what are 6 ways you can overcome a collective action problems?

Answer 20

1. obtain financial support from patrons outside the group
2. offer incentives
3. hire a lobbyist
4. offer material incentives
5. offer incentives that focus on the issues or causes promoted by the group
6. require membership to be part of an organization

Question 21

how do interest groups benefit political parties? (4)

Answer 21

1. encourage voting
2. campaign
3. contact lawmakers
4. inform the public about causes

Question 22

what are grassroots movements?

Answer 22

movements that start from the bottom up among small number of people

Question 23

how do interest groups frame their issues?

Answer 23

frame their issues that benefit their causes

Question 24

what do interest group do with those issues that concern them, in regard to govt?

Answer 24

get those issues on the govt agenda and monitor govt programs

Question 25

the power of unions have increased (T/F)

Answer 25

FALSE the power of unions have decreased

Question 26

what are 3 recent changes to U.S. Interest groups?

Answer 26

1. interest groups that represent the public has grown 2. specialization & fragmentation of existing interest have increased 3. increase in professionalizing lobbyist

Question 27

citizens with lower socioeconomic status are WELL represented by interest groups (T/F)

Answer 27

FALSE

Question 28

what are 5 reasons why those of lower socioeconomic status are not represented well by interest groups?

Answer 28

1. they do not have the same opportunities to join groups 2. they lack the free time to participate 3. financial barriers 4. they may not believe that the can make a difference or that the govt cares about them 5. unable to gain access to powerful lobbyists

Question 29

who do interest groups support?

Answer 29

candidates who are sympathetic to their views

Question 30

why do interest groups support certain candidates?

Answer 30

to have access to lawmakers once they are in office

Question 31

What are Political Action Committees?

Answer 31

groups that collect funds from donors and distribute them to candidate who support their issues

Question 32

Cons of PACs

Answer 32

1. do not have any requirements as to how much money they get 2. n transparency in where they get their money and how they spend it 3. they can create any forms of advertisement

Question 33

what group is the opposite of PACs

Answer 33

Campaign finance support

Question 34

How do interest groups influence the govt? (3)

Answer 34

1. provide lawmakers w/ information about technical details of political proposals, fellow lawmakers' stands, and constituents' perception 2. give voting cues 3. target members of relevant communities

Question 35

what are voting cues

Answer 35

give lawmakers an indication of how to vote on issues and information about ideas that can get on (basically they help lawmakers determine how they want to vote & lets them know about issues they should support)

Question 36

what are the 2 ways that interest groups work?

Answer 36

Direct and Indirect influence

Question 37

what 3 things are involved in the direct influence of an interest group?

Answer 37

1. lobbying elected officials in govt 2. lobbying bureaucrats after legislation passed 3. utilized the courts

Question 38

what is involved in the indirect influence of an interest group?

Answer 38

1. lobby parties, public opinion & the media TO GET ON YOUR SIDE

Question 39

what does direct influence target?

Answer 39

targets the govt directly

Question 40

what was the 1995 lobbying disclosure act?

Answer 40

defined as who can and cannot lobby, and requires lobbyist and interest groups to register with the federal govt

Question 41

what did the 1995 lobby disclosure act require?

Answer 41

required lobbyists and interest groups to register with the federal govt

Question 42

what did the honest leadership and open govt act of 2007 do?

Answer 42

increased restrictions on lobbying

Question 43

what can interest groups not do?

Answer 43

they cannot provide gifts to lawmakers or compensate lobbyist with commission

Question 44

what does the govt require in interest groups?

Answer 44

requires disclosure about the amount of money spent on lobbying efforts

Question 45

what are considered forms of free speech when in comes to interest groups?

Answer 45

campaign spending (expenditures) are a form of free speech the Supreme court has twice supported this

Question 46

It is NOT AGREED that interest groups have a right under the constitution to promote a point of view (T/F)

Answer 46

FALSE it is agreed that interest groups can do this

Question 47

the extent of free speech of interest groups is highly agreed upon. (T/F)

Answer 47

FALSE most do not allow interest groups to start riots as a form of free speech