Interest Groups

Paid representatives of interest groups who make direct contact with senators and representatives

• Lobbyists
• Con artist
• Salesmen
• Shady characters

Which of the following best describes an earmark?

• An entire piece of legislation that is written to provide benefits to a small group of people
• A provision in a law that provides a direct benefit to a client without being reviewed on the merits by all members of Congress
• A provision in a law that is wasteful and expensive 
• A piece of legislation containing several unrelated provisions that benefit a few states

Which of the following ways to interest groups NOT impact through public policy?

• providing campaign assistance

• direct contact with policy makers

• filing lawsuits in court

• providing public pressure

Private meetings, providing political information, and supplying nominations suggestions are examples of what process?

• political parties

• lobbying

• cohesiveness

• pluralism

What is an organized group of people who share a common goal and actively attempt to influence lawmakers?

• ideology group

• interest group

• political party

• political action committee

Of all the activities that are employed by interest groups, the most significant one is: 

• Running candidates for office
• Providing information
• Offering campaign contributions
• Grassroots mobilization 

Interest groups use political action committees (PACs) to

• Provide expertise to members of Congress when they are writing legislation

• Lobby the executive bureaucracy when they are considering new rules and regulations

• Raise and spend money on election campaigns

• Generate research that can be used to influence public opinion

Which is a political party?

• Republican National Committee

• Committee to Restore American's Greatness

• National Riffle Association

Which is an interest group?

• Democratic National Committee

• Committee to Restore American's Greatness

• National Riffle Association

What is the purpose of lobbying?

• to increase interest group membership

• to influence the policy making process

• to select the best candidates for office

• to raise money for political campaigns