Question 1

Even though their goal is to provide a collective good,public interest groups often struggle because they ______.

Accepted Answer

A)   are often vulnerable to the free rider problem and to disputes over whether some collective goods (like abortion or gun rights)  are beneficial
B)   are liberal, and many conservatives oppose them strongly
C)   do not try to influence government, so their efforts never address real political issues
D)   are notorious for raising funds but not for using them to achieve collective goods
E)   look for economic benefits and are disappointed with the collective goods produced A

Question 2

______ are groups that organize to influence government to produce collective goods or services that benefit the public.

Accepted Answer

Public int...

Question 3

______ are the fundraising arm for interest groups.

Accepted Answer

A)   Political action committees
B)   Trade committees
C)   Lobbyists

Question 4

All of the following statements concerning direct lobbying are true EXCEPT this one:

Accepted Answer

A)   Interest groups lobby Congress, in part, by providing testimony and expertise.
B)   It is hard for interest groups to lobby the bureaucracy.
C)   The White House has a special office to foster good relations between the president and interest groups.
D)   Interest groups attempt to bolster their lobbying efforts by forming coalitions with other interest groups.
E)   Congress has attempted to regulate relationships between lobbyists and lawmakers many times.

Question 5

What is often the most important triggering mechanism that causes interest groups to form?

Accepted Answer

A)   an external threat that causes citizens to band together to protect their well-being
B)   people having a common interest
C)   an interest group entrepreneur paying most of the costs of organizing the group and reaping most of the benefits
D)   the provision of collective goods
E)   a period of economic prosperity

Question 6

Discuss the different selective incentives that interest groups provide to overcome the free rider problem and to attract potential members and retain current members.

Accepted Answer

Selective incentives include material benefits that are tangible rewards for joining (e.g.,magazines or discounts).Solidary benefits are the social benefits that a member receives by bonding with others in society.Expressive benefits come from the satisfaction of doing something that a citizen values.Together,these incentives help overcome the free rider problem.

Question 7

At the time the health care bill was being debated in Congress,the insurance industry was in a tough position because ______.

Accepted Answer

A)   if it stayed outside of the political process but was unable to stop health care reform, it risked being stuck with a policy it hated
B)   any lobbying at all on the issue had been banned
C)   too many of the industry's lobbyists were Democrats
D)   none of the companies would be affected by the new law
E)   none of the above

Question 8

Interest groups are formed with the common goal of ______.

Accepted Answer

A)   influencing public policy decisions
B)   reforming the electoral process
C)   opposing other interest groups
D)   electing their members to political office

Question 9

______ is a nonpartisan defender of individual rights against the encroachment of a powerful government.

Accepted Answer

A)   The American Civil Liberties Union
B)   Electronic Frontier Foundation
C)   Amnesty International
D)   Human Rights Campaign

Question 10

A unique feature of the Children's Defense Fund is that it is ______.

Accepted Answer

A)   the only interest group in the country that defends juvenile criminals
B)   focused on public protest rather than providing research results
C)   funded by foundations and private donations because its constituents are children and, therefore, not dues-paying members
D)   a government-sponsored think tank
E)   an umbrella organization for other children's lobbyists

Question 11

An interest group entrepreneur is an effective leader who is likely to have organized an interest group and can effectively promote its interests.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  True

Question 12

The argument that there is a "free rider problem" means that ______.

Accepted Answer

A)   people obtain the benefits provided by an interest group without being part of it because the benefit is available to everyone
B)   people are basically civic-minded
C)   people will only join interest groups for free
D)   politicians will ride the issue positions of interest groups into public office
E)   too many interest groups seek to imitate the tactics and rhetoric of the civil rights freedom riders

Question 13

Interest groups overcome the free rider problem by doing all of the following EXCEPT ______.

Accepted Answer

A)   providing collective goods only to people who join the group
B)   providing material benefits only to people who join the group
C)   providing solidary benefits only to people who join the group
D)   providing expressive benefits only to people who join the group
E)   providing selective incentives only to people who join the group

Question 14

Pluralists believe that interest groups ______.

Accepted Answer

A)   are making American democracy elitist
B)   give more power to citizens and enhance democratic life
C)   are good for democracy only if they are public but that economic and equal opportunity interest groups weaken democracy
D)   are too widespread in American society
E)   have taken away power from citizens and have weakened democracy

Question 15

Liberals who criticized President Obama's strategy for getting the health care bill passed say he ______ when he dealt with interest groups from the health insurance industry.

Accepted Answer

A)   was much too partisan and argumentative
B)   would not compromise
C)   did not stick to the health care agenda at all
D)   resembled a Tea Party candidate
E)   "gave away the store" by not insisting on inclusion of the public option

Question 16

The "revolving door" exists because ______.

Accepted Answer

A)   it is easier to hire local people as lobbyists
B)   some of the most effective lobbyists are former government officials
C)   the qualified pool of applicants for such jobs is so small
D)   lobbyists envy government officials and want to take their jobs, so they are willing to trade
E)   government officials envy lobbyists and want to take their jobs, so they are willing to trade

Question 17

Describe the resources that interest groups have.How do these resources influence the ability of interest groups to acquire what they want from the system? Respond to the argument that interest groups do a better job of achieving their goals than do political parties.

Accepted Answer

Money allows interest groups to hire sta...

Question 18

The only way an interest group can directly lobby the judiciary is to ______.

Accepted Answer

A)   sue other interest groups to undercut the opposition
B)   lobby the president and the Senate to nominate and confirm judges who were former lobbyists
C)   challenge the legality of laws or administrative regulations by filing suit or filing amicus briefs in courts
D)   pressure and lobby juries in federal cases to decide in ways favorable to the interest group
E)   try to influence the elections of federal court judges and Supreme Court justices through campaign spending

Question 19

Information is a key source of power for interest groups because ______.

Accepted Answer

A)   these groups are often the only sources of information on the potential or actual impact of a law or regulation
B)   members of Congress often provide detailed information to friendly interest groups
C)   information always overpowers other resources such as money, size, and intensity
D)   these groups often gather information on political officials to use against them
E)   presidents often provide detailed information to friendly interest groups

Question 20

When government officials leave office and take positions as lobbyists,they are said to be passing through the ______.

Accepted Answer

The answer of When government officials leave office and take...

Exam 13: Interest Groups

Even though their goal is to provide a collective good,public interest groups often struggle because they ______.

Correct Answer
verified
A

______ are groups that organize to influence government to produce collective goods or services that benefit the public.

Correct Answer
verified
Public int...
View Answer

______ are the fundraising arm for interest groups.

Correct Answer
verified

All of the following statements concerning direct lobbying are true EXCEPT this one:

Correct Answer
verified

What is often the most important triggering mechanism that causes interest groups to form?

Correct Answer
verified

Discuss the different selective incentives that interest groups provide to overcome the free rider problem and to attract potential members and retain current members.

At the time the health care bill was being debated in Congress,the insurance industry was in a tough position because ______.

Correct Answer
verified

Interest groups are formed with the common goal of ______.

Correct Answer
verified

______ is a nonpartisan defender of individual rights against the encroachment of a powerful government.

Correct Answer
verified

A unique feature of the Children's Defense Fund is that it is ______.

Correct Answer
verified

An interest group entrepreneur is an effective leader who is likely to have organized an interest group and can effectively promote its interests.

Correct Answer
verified
True

The argument that there is a "free rider problem" means that ______.

Correct Answer
verified

Interest groups overcome the free rider problem by doing all of the following EXCEPT ______.

Correct Answer
verified

Pluralists believe that interest groups ______.

Correct Answer
verified

Liberals who criticized President Obama's strategy for getting the health care bill passed say he ______ when he dealt with interest groups from the health insurance industry.

Correct Answer
verified

The "revolving door" exists because ______.

Correct Answer
verified

Describe the resources that interest groups have.How do these resources influence the ability of interest groups to acquire what they want from the system? Respond to the argument that interest groups do a better job of achieving their goals than do political parties.

Correct Answer
verified
Money allows interest groups to hire sta...
View Answer

The only way an interest group can directly lobby the judiciary is to ______.

Correct Answer
verified

Information is a key source of power for interest groups because ______.

Correct Answer
verified

When government officials leave office and take positions as lobbyists,they are said to be passing through the ______.

Correct Answer
verified

Exam 13: Interest Groups

Even though their goal is to provide a collective good,public interest groups often struggle because they ______.

Correct AnswerverifiedA

______ are groups that organize to influence government to produce collective goods or services that benefit the public.

Correct AnswerverifiedPublic int...View AnswerShow Answer

______ are the fundraising arm for interest groups.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

All of the following statements concerning direct lobbying are true EXCEPT this one:

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

What is often the most important triggering mechanism that causes interest groups to form?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Discuss the different selective incentives that interest groups provide to overcome the free rider problem and to attract potential members and retain current members.

At the time the health care bill was being debated in Congress,the insurance industry was in a tough position because ______.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Interest groups are formed with the common goal of ______.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

______ is a nonpartisan defender of individual rights against the encroachment of a powerful government.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

A unique feature of the Children's Defense Fund is that it is ______.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

An interest group entrepreneur is an effective leader who is likely to have organized an interest group and can effectively promote its interests.

Correct AnswerverifiedTrue

The argument that there is a "free rider problem" means that ______.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Interest groups overcome the free rider problem by doing all of the following EXCEPT ______.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Pluralists believe that interest groups ______.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Liberals who criticized President Obama's strategy for getting the health care bill passed say he ______ when he dealt with interest groups from the health insurance industry.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The "revolving door" exists because ______.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Describe the resources that interest groups have.How do these resources influence the ability of interest groups to acquire what they want from the system? Respond to the argument that interest groups do a better job of achieving their goals than do political parties.

Correct AnswerverifiedMoney allows interest groups to hire sta...View AnswerShow Answer

The only way an interest group can directly lobby the judiciary is to ______.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Information is a key source of power for interest groups because ______.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

When government officials leave office and take positions as lobbyists,they are said to be passing through the ______.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Correct Answer
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A

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Public int...
View Answer

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Correct Answer
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True

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Money allows interest groups to hire sta...
View Answer

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