Interest Groups and Campaign Finance

In the Federalist #10, James Madison discusses the role of factions in American politics. Which of the following best describes his viewpoint on them?

• Political parties are essential to the American political system
• Factions hurt government and have no place in the American political system
• Factions hurt government, but at the same time can not be limited because of personal liberties
• Factions, specifically interest groups, are essential to the American political system

Linkage institutions

• Help link the three branches of government together to achieve coherent policies
• Are used to implement public policies
• Link political parties to the government
• Link the president to members of his/her party in Congress, so they can coordinate their policies in government

Which of the following causes would most likely be taken up by a single-issue group?

• Corporate taxation
• International Trade
• Abortion
• Social Justice

The National Rifle Association (NRA) is an example of what kind of interest group?

• Business group
• Welfare specific group
• Public Interest Group
• Specific cause (single issue)

The National Education Association (NEA) and its subgroups such as the Michigan Education Association (MEA), are examples of what kind of interest groups?

• Economic interest group, more specifically a professional group
• Economic interest group, more specifically a labor group
• Welfare specific group
• A public interest group

The problem of someone deriving a benefit from the actions of others is known as the

• collective good distribution
• free rider problem
• umbrella problem
• limited interest effect

Which of the following is NOT a tactic that interest groups use?

• Forming political action committees to influence elections
• Litigating to influence policy through the courts
• Appealing to the public to promote a positive group image
• Fielding candidates for office in general elections

What are the two different types of lobbying?

• Electioneering and grassroots
• Direct and grassroots
• Litigation and direct
• Elite and going public

Litigation is when interest groups

• Go directly to politicians to attempt to influence policy
• Challenge policy in the courts
• Play off of their mutual interests with Legislative Branch and Executive agencies (the bureaucracy)
• Play off of their mutual interests with Legislative Branch and Executive agencies (the bureaucracy)

Separate entities formed by interest groups whose specific goal is to raise and spend money to influence election outcomes are known as

• booster clubs
• electoral committees
• political action committeees
• caucuses