U5: Interest groups + Elections - Topics 5.6 - 5.9

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 of 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 likely 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 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.

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

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

Which of the following took place after presidential candidates Truman in 1948, Nixon in 1968, and Clinton in 1992 won only pluralities of the popular vote?

• The election was formally decided in the House of Representatives.

• The election was formally decided in the Senate.

• The winning candidate took office after receiving less than 50% of the popular votes cast.

• The electoral college votes cast by independents were critical in determining the winner.

• The results of the popular vote necessitated a runoff.

Which of the following is a significant trend in the presidential nominating process over the past three decades?

• Replacement of national party conventions by national primaries for each party

• Increasing importance of presidential primaries rather than state conventions

• A sharply declining role for political action committees (PAC's)

• Decreasing cost of campaigns

• Increasing control by political party leaders over outcomes

Which of the following has the most influence on the outcome of a congressional election?

• Local performance of a candidate's party in the presidential race

• A candidate's incumbency status

• The amount of a candidate's campaign spending relative to that of his or her opponent

• The level of support from local party leaders

• The level of voter turnout

Which of the following best describes the difference between an open and closed primary?

• Voters must pay a poll tax to vote in a closed primary, but not in an open primary.

• Voters are allowed to split their ticket in a closed primary but not in an open primary.

• Only voters who register as members of a political party may vote in that party’s closed primary, while independents and others may be eligible to vote in open primaries.

• Open primaries require a run-off system, while closed primaries do not.

• Candidates must seek the approval of the party organization to run in a closed primary, but anyone may be a candidate in an open primary.

The franking privilege refers to the

• Federal Reserve Board’s control over interest rates

• practice of permitting senators to preview lists of judicial nominees

• practice whereby legislators with the most seniority select the committees on which they want to serve

• right of the chair to control the schedule of his or her congressional committee

• right of members of Congress to send mail to their constituents at the government’s expense