Interest Groups #4
1) James Madison believed that the latent causes of faction were rooted in
a) The nature of man.
b) Capitalist society.
c) Religious conflict.
d) An improperly designed constitution.
2) Which of the following is not a reason for the proliferation of interest groups in this country?
a) Social diversity
b) Governmental fragmentation
c) Limited government
d) The weakness of political parties
3) One reason interest groups are so common in the United States is that
a) Political parties are relatively weak.
b) Society is relatively homogeneous.
c) Important decisions are made in only a few places.
d) Political authority resides in a handful of officials.
4) One reason interest groups are so common in the United States is that
a) Political parties are relatively strong.
b) Important decisions are made in only a few places.
c) The country has a great many divergent interests.
d) Political authority resides in a handful of officials.
5) One reason interest groups are so common in the United States is that
a) Society is relatively homogeneous.
b) Political parties are relatively strong.
c) Political authority resides in a handful of officials.
d) Interest groups can easily gain access to government.
6) In the United States, unlike Great Britain, interest groups can easily gain access to government because
a) Political parties are relatively powerful.
b) Political authority is widely dispersed.
c) Important decisions are made in only a few places.
d) Our constitutional system is so limited.
7) In many European countries, including Austria, France, and Italy, interest groups are less common than in the United States because
a) Political authority is widely dispersed.
b) The relationship between party and interest group is not as close.
c) Political decision making is lodged in many officials.
d) Political parties wield greater power.
8) The two periods in U.S. history in which the number of interest groups expanded most rapidly were
a) 1790-1810 and 1970-1990.
b) 1860-1880 and 1950-1970.
c) 1900-1920 and 1960-1980.
d) 1920-1940 and 1950-1970.
9) It has been observed that interest groups are created more rapidly in some periods than in others. This suggests that these groups
a) Are the result of the diversity of U.S. society.
b) Arise when labor is strong.
c) Arise when social conditions demand action.
d) Do not arise inevitably out of natural social processes.
10) The emergence of large, mass-membership unions was an example of interest groups forming as a result of
a) Government policy.
b) The evolution of talented leadership.
c) The enlargement of governmental responsibilities.
d) Broad economic developments.
11) The launching of the Chamber of Commerce was an example of interest groups forming as a result of
a) Government policy.
b) The emergence of talented leadership.
c) The enlargement of governmental responsibilities.
d) Broad economic developments.
12) The formation of antislavery organizations in the 1830s and 1840s was an example of interest groups forming as a result of
a) Government policy.
b) The emergence of talented leadership.
c) The enlargement of governmental responsibilities.
d) Broad economic developments.
13) The growth of numerous public-interest lobbies in the 1960s was an example of interest groups forming as a result of
a) Government policy.
b) The emergence of talented leadership.
c) The enlargement of governmental responsibilities.
d) Broad economic developments.
14) An example of an interest group formed as a result of broadly felt economic phenomena is that of
a) Labor unions.
b) The Chamber of Commerce.
c) Antislavery organizations.
d) Public-interest lobbies.
15) An example of an interest group formed as a result of government policy itself is that of
a) Labor unions.
b) The Chamber of Commerce.
c) Antislavery organizations.
d) Public-interest lobbies.
16) An example of an interest group formed as a result of the emergence of talented leadership is
a) Labor unions.
b) The Chamber of Commerce.
c) Antislavery organizations.
d) Public-interest lobbies.
17) Each of the following is a factor that explains the rise of interest groups during certain periods of U.S. history except
a) The reduced role of government.
b) Changing economic conditions.
c) Government policy, including social welfare programs.
d) Available leadership.
18) One type of interest group whose representation in Washington has skyrocketed since 1970 is the
a) Professional organization.
b) Trade association.
c) Corporate lobby.
d) Public-interest lobby.
19) An organization that seeks to influence public policy is most accurately referred to as a(n)
a) Interest group.
b) Political agency.
c) Institutional interest.
d) Membership interest.
20) The U.S. wine industry is represented in Washington by a group that seeks to influence public policy regarding wine. This group is most accurately called a(n)
a) Membership interest.
b) Solidary group.
c) Institutional interest.
d) Public-interest lobby.
21) The U.S. tobacco industry is represented in Washington by a strong lobby that seeks to influence public policy regarding the use of tobacco. This lobby is most accurately referred to as a(n)
a) Membership interest.
b) Solidary group.
c) Institutional interest.
d) Public-interest lobby.
22) An example of a typical activity that an institutional interest might conduct on behalf of a client would be
a) Lobbying for laws to protect the client from foreign competition.
b) Forming small local chapters to raise campaign funds.
c) Offering life insurance at reduced rates for its members.
d) Offering a cash payment to legislators in exchange for a crucial vote.
23) The U.S. Chamber of Commerce represents thousands of different businesses locally and in Washington. Is it still called an institutional interest, even though it has no single client?
a) Yes, because membership is voluntary.
b) Yes, because it still acts on behalf of other organizations.
c) No, because membership is non-voluntary.
d) No, because institutional interests represent a single organization.
24) Americans are more likely to join ______than are citizens of other countries.
a) Labor unions
b) Business and trade associations
c) Professional and charitable organizations
d) Religious and political associations
25) 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 sense of political efficacy and civic duty.
c) Their European heritage.
d) The fact that they are less sensitive to the free-rider problem.
26) 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.
27) The main reason why most people who are sympathetic to the goals of a mass-membership activity group do not join it is that they
a) Are deterred by the membership dues.
b) Are basically selfish or apathetic.
c) Realize they are unlikely to make a difference in its success.
d) Realize they will not benefit even if the group is successful in its activities.
28) People who join the parent teacher associations (PTAs) are most likely to do so as a result of ______incentives.
a) Solidary
b) Material
c) Purposive
d) Party
29) At some time in your life, you have probably joined a group largely for companionship and pleasure. Such a group was satisfying your _____ needs.
a) Material.
b) Purposive.
c) Party.
d) Solidary.
30) A major function of local chapters of national membership organizations is to
a) Pursue political objectives at the national level.
b) Represent individual clients to the national organization.
c) Lure members and raise money from them.
d) Lobby politicians to enact specific laws.
31) Solidary-type incentives are most likely to motivate people who join
a) A farm bureau.
b) Public Citizen.
c) The parent teacher associations (PTAs).
d) The Mafia.
32) Members of a farm bureau are most likely to have joined as a result of ______incentives.
a) Solidary
b) Material
c) Purposive
d) Party
33) Which of the following is NOT an example of a material incentive?
a) The opportunity for members to market their products through cooperatives
b) Low-cost life insurance
c) The appeal of the organization’s stated goals
d) Free assistance in preparing tax returns
34) The National Association of Science Teachers offers its members reduced rates on automobile rentals. Such benefits to members are called ______benefits.
a) Solidary
b) Material
c) Purposive
d) Party
35) Purposive incentives are most likely to motivate people who join
a) The Illinois Farm Bureau.
b) The National Organization for Women (NOW).
c) The parent teacher associations (PTAs).
d) The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP).
36) Members of Public Citizen are most likely to have joined as a result of ______incentives.
a) Solidary
b) Material
c) Purposive
d) Party
37) To be effective, purposive membership organizations count on
a) Keeping issues out of the spotlight.
b) Keeping issues in the spotlight.
c) Major foundation funding.
d) Favorable treatment by the courts.
38) Unlike other types of mass-membership organizations, public-interest lobbies principally benefit
a) Nonmembers.
b) Local chapters.
c) Individual clients.
d) Government employees.
39) A public-interest organization can be defined as one that, if its goals were achieved, would benefit primarily
a) Those who are not members of the organization.
b) The government.
c) The membership.
d) The political parties.
40) Ideological interest groups attract people by appealing to
a) The sociability instinct.
b) A desire to engage in contests for public office.
c) The common economic interest of the members.
d) A coherent, often controversial, set of principles.
41) 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.
42) The policies of public-interest organizations are predominantly shaped by
a) The elites who dominate them.
b) Concerned citizens who are not members.
c) Their membership.
d) Corporate sponsors.
43) A PIRG is an organization dedicated to
a) Working on and studying local consumer/political issues.
b) Opposing the nuclear arms race.
c) Representing conservatives on environmental issues.
d) Providing campaign funds to unpopular candidates.
44) Which consumer activist has spawned more than a dozen interest groups since the mid-1960s?
a) Michael Moore
b) Ralph Nader
c) Gloria Steinem
d) James Watt
45) Public-interest lobbies typically make better progress when the administration is
a) Republican.
b) Democratic.
c) Hostile.
d) Friendly.
46) One of the important activities of public-interest law firms is to
a) Bring suits on behalf of persons harmed by some public or private policy.
b) Provide members of Congress with timely information on controversial issues.
c) Document lawsuits against government agencies.
d) Give legal advice to public-interest organizations.
47) One of the important activities of public-interest law firms is to
a) File amicus curiae briefs.
b) Provide congressmen with timely information on controversial issues.
c) Document lawsuits against government agencies.
d) Give legal advice to public-interest organizations.
48) Which of the following is not a liberal public-interest law firm?
a) The Center for Individual Rights
b) American Civil Liberties Union
c) NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund
d) Women’s Legal Defense Fund
49) Which of the following is not a conservative public-interest law firm?
a) Atlantic Legal Foundation
b) Criminal Justice Legal Foundation
c) Landmark Legal Foundation
d) Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights
50) Which of the following statements about a social movement is true?
a) It is a widely shared demand for change.
b) It must have liberal goals.
c) It refers specifically to the political order.
d) It is a twentieth-century phenomenon.
51) Which of the followings 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.
52) Which of the following environmental groups has the smallest membership?
a) Environmental Defense Fund
b) Wilderness Society
c) National Wildlife Federation
d) Sierra Club
53) The League of Women Voters is an example of a feminist organization whose membership incentives are primarily
a) Material.
b) Purposive.
c) Solidary.
d) Ideological.
54) 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.
55) A feminist organization that takes strong political positions on sensitive issues will probably attract members with what type of incentives?
a) Material
b) Purposive
c) Solidary
d) Sociological
56) An example of a feminist organization whose membership incentives are primarily material is the
a) National Organization for Women (NOW).
b) National Abortion Rights Action League (NARAL).
c) League of Women Voters.
d) Women’s Equity Action League (WEAL).
57) The peak of the union movement in the United States occurred in the year
a) 1923.
b) 1932.
c) 1945.
d) 1956.
58) The proportion of the nonfarm work force that is unionized today is approximately
a) 14 percent.
b) 20 percent.
c) 35 percent.
d) 50 percent.
59) A major cause in the decline of union membership in the United States was a(n)
a) Shift in the nation’s economic life toward industrial production.
b) Decline in public support for unions.
c) Shift in the nation’s economic life away from service delivery.