Political Action Committees and Interest Groups

To whom do political action committees tend to give money? Consider This: Having the support of legislators is more beneficial towards public policy.

• presidential candidates

• challengers

• members of Congress who serve on committees or subcommittees that routinely consider legislation important to that group

• members of Congress with policy preferences that would not normally coincide with those of the group

Which of the following is a likely result of the free rider problem?

• an elected official accepting bribes from an interest group

• a candidate announcing an endorsement from an interest group—Consider This: The free rider problem will likely result in low participation rates in a group.

• an environmental group struggling to raise funds for a “clean air” campaign

• a public university giving football tickets to lawmakers

What type of group is a trade association?

• a governmental unit

• a public interest group—Consider This: Public interest groups are based on the premise of seeking collective good for society as a whole.

• an economic interest group

• a labor union

Which of the following is an example of a public interest group?

• a consumer rights group

• a professional association—Consider This: A professional association may be active in lobbying, but it is not considered a public interest group.

• a labor union

• a group representing a state government

What is an amicus curiae brief?

• a written argument submitted to a court in support of one side of a case

• an internal memo circulated among interest group leaders, briefing them on the details of a court case

• an interest group petition submitted to Congress in support of or opposition to a judicial nominee

• an interest group petition submitted to an executive branch agency, requesting a review of an agency's decision

You are a policy analyst in the Department of Energy. You were just offered a job with a renewable energy company. How long must you wait before you can lobby the Department of Energy on behalf of your new employer?

• There is no waiting period; you can lobby your former employer immediately.

• two years

• ten years

• You are barred from lobbying your former employer for the rest of your life.

Which of the following did James Madison assert the Constitution would control the effects of in Federalist No. 10?

• monarchies

• factions

• political parties

• trade associations

Which of the following raises money from individuals and then distributes it in the form of contributions to political candidates?

• 527 organizations

• coordinating committees

• c. 501(c)3 organizations

• political action committees

• party committees

Which of the following is an example of an economic interest group?

• the National Rifle Association

• the American Association of Retired People (AARP)

• the Chamber of Commerce

• the National Organization for Women

• the National Education Association

Which of the following is an activity that lobbyists regularly engage in?

• answering e-mails from elected officials’ constituents

• speaking on behalf of elected officials at press conferences

• providing elected officials with information about an interest group’s position on a bill or issue

• providing legal counsel to interest groups in court cases

• introducing bills in Congress