5.5, 5.6 & 5.7 - 3rd Parties and Interest Groups

Which of the following describes the result in a winner-take-all, single-member-district plurality system?

• The candidate who receives the most votes in the election wins.

• The candidate must receive at least 51% of the votes to win.

• The top two vote-getters compete in a run-off election.

• A political party must receive 51% of the votes to win all of the seats in the district.

• The party that receives the most votes in the election wins the seat and selects the party member who will fill the seat.

Which of the following best accounts for the lack of success generally encountered by minor political parties in electing members to the House or Senate?

• Political action committee (PAC) contributions are restricted by law to the two major parties.

• General elections in the United States are based on the winner-take-all principle.

• House and Senate rules exclude members of minor parties from organizing coalitions with the major parties.

• The public has great faith in the two major political parties.

• Some states outlaw minor political parties.

Based on the data in the chart, which of the following strategies would best help third-party candidates like Jill Stein and Gary Johnson increase their chances of winning elected office?

• Allowing third-party candidates to create political action groups to raise money when campaigning in swing states

• Employing campaign managers to develop get-out-the-vote strategies for campaigns in swing states

• Developing strong party platforms that would attract independent and undecided voters in swing states

• Lobbying state legislatures to shift from a winner-take-all system to a proportional voting system

Which of the following techniques would a corporate lobbyist be likely to use to influence political outcomes in Congress?

I. Organizing a demonstration in Washington just because a key House vote

II. Ensuring that the corporation’s political action committee (PAC) makes donations to the campaigns of members of key committees

III. Meeting informally with Senate aides over lunch or cocktails

IV. Bringing influential constituents to Washington to discuss important policy matters with their representatives

• II only

• I and II only

• III and IV only

• I, III, and IV only

• II, III, and IV only

Which of the following is true of amicus curiae briefs?

• They are used by interest groups to lobby courts.

• They are used exclusively by liberal interest groups.

• They are used exclusively by conservative interest groups.

• They are now unconstitutional.

• They are the means by which a litigant seeks Supreme Court review of a lower court decision.

Which of the following is the main reason interest groups are often successful in getting legislation passed to benefit their members?

• It is easy to garner support from most members of Congress on any issue.

• All members of society desire the legislation that special interests pursue.

• It is very easy to get legislation passed in Congress.

• A narrow constituency derives the benefits from such legislation but the costs are spread broadly across the population.

• Interest group activity represents the democratic process at work because individual interest groups often represent more than half the population.

Which of the following form an "iron triangle"?

• President, Congress, Supreme Court

• President, House majority leader, Senate majority leader

• Interest group, Senate majority leader, House majority leader

• Executive department, House majority leader, President

• Executive department, Congressional committee, interest group

Which of the following makes a correct comparison between political parties and interest groups in the United States?

• Political Parties - Political parties recruit and run candidates in elections.

  
  

  Interest Groups - Interest groups seek to influence public policy.

• Political Parties - Political parties have small constituencies and thus try to win elections by energizing their base to vote for them.

  
  

  Interest Groups - Interest groups alert and educate voters regarding pending legislation.

• Political Parties - Political parties have organizations that donate money to candidates for public office.

  
  

  Interest Groups - Interest groups are barred by law from donating money to political campaigns.

• Political Parties - Political parties achieve the bulk of the changes they seek through the use of the courts.

  
  

  Interest Groups - Interest groups build relationships with congressional committees and the bureaucracy to form iron triangles.

In 1980, a small group of parents personally affected by drunk driving formed the group Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). Over the past four decades, they have grown in number and have lobbied on state and local levels promoting legislation such as stricter limits on blood alcohol levels for drivers. MADD is an example of which of the following?

• Political party with the goal of influencing public opinion

• Social movement with the goal of influencing the federal budget

• Single-issue group with the goal of impacting policy making

• Bureaucratic agency implementing policy

The animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) urges its members to take action in support of what they term "animal friendly" legislation through their website. In addition to providing information about important issues that legislators may vote on, the nonprofit organization also describes the best ways to contact a legislator and tips on how best to interact with lawmakers. Which of the following is being illustrated in the scenario?

• Interest groups sometimes form around a narrow set of issues with the goal of impacting policy making.

• Interest groups lacking funding can overcome the free-rider problem by proposing legislation on their website.

• Interest groups work to mobilize citizens and members of Congress to form an iron triangle.

• Interest groups post messages on social media to request donations from members.