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Chapter #10 - Theories of Interest Groups - Test

Total questions: 20

Worksheet time: 10mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Which of the following is the term that describes an organization of people with a similar policy goal, who enter the political process at one or more points, in one or more policy arenas to try to achieve their goals?

a)

political party

b)

third party

c)

interest group

d)

grassroots movement

2.

Choose from Strongly Agree to Strongly Disagree for the following statements.

Interest groups are harmful to our present democracy.

a)

Strongly Agree

b)

Agree

c)

Disagree

d)

Strongly Disagree

3.

Which of the following theories states that interest groups provide a key link between the people and the government?

a)

Pluralism

b)

Elitism

c)

Majoritarian

d)

Hyperpluralism

4.

Which of the following interest group theories states that the power of a few is fortified by an extensive system of "interlocking directorates?"

a)

Pluralism

b)

Elitism

c)

Majoritarianism

d)

Hyperpluralism

5.

Which of the following theories of interest groups states that the government treats all pressure groups demands as legitimate and see that the job of government is to advance them all?

a)

Pluralism

b)

Elitism

c)

Majoritarian

d)

Hyperpluralism

6.

A(n) _______________________ consists of interest groups, government agenices, and congressional committees that are mutually dependent and have a mutually advantageous relationship to dominate certain policymaking areas.

a)

issue network

b)

league of friendship

c)

iron triangle

d)

policy network

7.

All of the following are true of the hyperpluralist theory EXCEPT:

a)

Interest group liberalism is aggravated by numerous iron triangles.

b)

Groups may win many minor policy battles, but corporate elites prevail when it comes to big decisions.

c)

Trying to please every group results in contradictory and confusing policy.

d)

Interest groups have become too powerful in the political process as government tries to appease every conceivable interest that leads to gridlock.

8.

Which of the following is a key characteristic of the pluralist theory of group politics?

a)

Big power is held by the largest copor

b)

Smaller groups may win many minor policy battles, but corporate elites prevail when it comes to big decisions.

c)

One result of government treating all pressure groups the same is that government programs mulitply.

d)

No one pressure group is likely to dominate because of the competition.

9.

How do interest groups raise money to donate to candidates that the actual interest groups will support?

a)

Individual Donations

b)

Political Action Committees

c)

Membership Dues

d)

Fundraising Events

10.

How do interest groups try to solve the "free-rider" problem?

a)

collective goods

b)

political benefits

c)

lobbying

d)

selective benefits

11.

Which amendment gives interest groups the right to assemble?

a)

1st

b)

10th

c)

14th

d)

24th Amendment

12.

All of the following are groups that make up the iron triangle EXCEPT

a)

Government Corporation

b)

Bureaucratic Agency

c)

Interest Groups

d)

Congressional Committee

13.

All of the following are strategies that are used by lobbyists to influence the government EXCEPT:

a)

Going Public

b)

Gerrymandering

c)

Election

d)

Litigation

14.

Hyperpluralism is where government treats all pressure groups demands as legitimate. The Government sees their job is to advance the interests of all groups. The following are results of hyperpluralism. Choose the best answer.

I. Government Agencies proliferate

II. Conflicting Regulations

III. Bigger groups begin to dominate

IV. Government's budget skyrockets

V. Groups play by the rules of the game

a)

I and IV only

b)

III, IV, and V

c)

I, II, and IV

d)

I, II, III, and V

15.

What is the difference between a potential group member and an actual group member?

a)

potential group members receive selective benefits because the group is trying to get them to join.

b)

Actual group members share in benefits that they secure.

c)

Potential group members see the "free-rider" problem as insignificant.f

d)

Members of potential groups share in the benefits that members of the actual group who worked to secure them.

16.

___________ are goods that a group can restrict to those who have actually joined the group.

a)

Selective Benefits

b)

Collective Goods

c)

"Free-Rider" Goods

d)

Actual Goods

17.

______________ is the communication, by someone other than a citizen acting on his or her own behalf, directed to a governmental decision maker with the hope of influencing government action.

a)

Election

b)

Lobbying

c)

Litigation

d)

Going Public

18.

________________ is the direct group involvement in the electoral process.

a)

Electioneering

b)

Lobbying

c)

Litigation

d)

Gerrymandering

19.

When a group fails with legislative objectives in Congress, where does an interest group take their idea?

a)

to the people

b)

to the state legislature

c)

to the courts

d)

to the president

20.

Which of the following philosophers studied Americans and their likeliness to participate in a civic association?

a)

James Madison

b)

Alexis de Tocqueville

c)

John Locke

d)

Robert Putnam