GOV CH 9 AND VOCAB INTEREST GROUPS

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Multiple Choice
Identify the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.

MAIN IDEAS

All of the following are examples of groups that promote causes EXCEPT the

a.	American Civil Liberties Union.
b.	American Legion.
c.	National Rifle Association.
d.	Sierra Club.

A labor union is an organization of workers who

a.	hold exactly the same political beliefs.
b.	represent the interests of the business community.
c.	work in the same job or industry.
d.	work on farms.

The term grass roots refers to

a.	trade associations.
b.	party politicians.
c.	average voters.
d.	interest groups.

An interest group tries to persuade people to

a.	find ways to cooperate privately.
b.	nominate certain members for public office.
c.	respond to its members' shared attitudes.
d.	join a political party.

Trade associations usually represent

a.	farm workers.
b.	labor unions.
c.	non-profit groups.
d.	the business community.

A positive aspect of interest groups is that they

a.	help stimulate interest in public affairs.
b.	eliminate the need for factions in government.
c.	use propaganda to influence public policy.
d.	have a strong influence on political parties.

All of the following are propaganda techniques EXCEPT

a.	presenting only one side of an issue.
b.	using glittering generalities.
c.	supporting a government policy change.
d.	the bandwagon approach.

One way interest groups become involved in the election process is by

a.	providing campaign funds.
b.	changing into a labor union.
c.	having members secretly join political parties.
d.	nominating candidates for office.

Interest groups are also called pressure groups mainly because

a.	they seek to put pressure on the government to affect policies.
b.	they put pressure on individuals to join in the group's interests.
c.	belonging to a group can create pressure, or stress, in one's life.
d.	they put pressure on group members to act in certain ways.

10.

Common Cause and the League of Women Voters are examples of

a.	private pressure groups.
b.	business groups.
c.	economic groups.
d.	public-interest groups.

11.

Most interest groups are formed on the basis of

a.	religious interests.
b.	economic interests.
c.	geographic interests.
d.	the interests of all citizens.

12.

Interest groups know that public opinion is important because

a.	laws cannot be passed in opposition of public opinion.
b.	no group can provide enough information to alter public opinion.
c.	no policy will stay in place very long without public support.
d.	a candidate cannot gain office without full public support.

13.

Single-interest groups try to affect elections based on

a.	which party is in power at the time.
b.	each candidate's stand, in regard to the groups' interests.
c.	the candidate's party affiliation.
d.	the broad views of all the candidates.

14.

Lobbyists today are people who generally

a.	work within the governmental process to affect policies.
b.	work illegally to get their group's needs met.
c.	use unfair propaganda to get a group's point across.
d.	are hired by the government to support certain policies.

15.

Propaganda is a technique

a.	used to express the truth about a matter of public policy.
b.	based on logical conclusions.
c.	used to influence people to adopt a particular belief.
d.	that depends upon people's preferences.

16.

Public affairs are those events and issues

a.	that concern only officeholders in government.
b.	that concern only the President and the executive branch.
c.	that concern all or most people.
d.	that are held or discussed in public places.

17.

A public-interest group is different from any other interest group because it

a.	hides its activities and beliefs from the public.
b.	works to benefit many or all people, regardless of their affiliations.
c.	focuses on the roles that make Americans different from one another.
d.	chooses to work for more specific goals rather than broader goals.

18.

Interest groups are MOST interested in

a.	nominating specific candidates for office.
b.	winning a broad range of elections.
c.	influencing specific public policies.
d.	affecting a broad range of public policy issues.

19.

Unlike the major political parties, interest groups

a.	do not nominate candidates for office.
b.	do not attempt to influence the policies of government.
c.	try to influence public opinion.
d.	are accountable to the public as a whole.

20.

All of the following are criticisms of interest groups EXCEPT

a.	It is hard to tell how many people they represent.
b.	They may have an influence far greater than their size.
c.	They keep a close watch on public officials.
d.	They do not necessarily represent the people for whom they claim to speak.

21.

The American Medical Association and the American Bar Association are examples of

a.	labor groups.
b.	professional groups.
c.	trade associations.
d.	business groups.

22.

All of the following organizations serve the interests of organized labor EXCEPT the

a.	AFL-CIO.
b.	National Grange.
c.	United Transportation Union.
d.	United Mine Workers.

23.

PACs that concentrate their efforts on one particular issue are also called

a.	single-interest groups.
b.	trade associations.
c.	labor unions.
d.	public-interest groups.

24.

Organized interest groups apply pressure to government through all of the following means EXCEPT

a.	the use of propaganda.
b.	forming minor political parties.
c.	lobbying.
d.	contributing to political campaigns through their PACs.

25.

Lobbying is the process by which group pressures are applied to

a.	legislative bodies.
b.	executive agencies.
c.	judicial courts.
d.	all aspects of the public policy-making process.

26.

All of the following are goals of interest groups EXCEPT

a.	supplying the public with information they believe the people should have.
b.	building a positive image for their group.
c.	promoting a particular public policy.
d.	being chiefly interested in winning elections and controlling government.

27.

Pressure groups operate

a.	only at the national level of government.
b.	at the State and local levels.
c.	only within the legislative branch.
d.	at all levels of government.

28.

Propaganda techniques aim to be

a.	persuasive.
b.	objective.
c.	unethical.
d.	immoral.

INTERPRETING POLITICAL CARTOONS
Use the cartoon to answer the following questions.

29.

Why would an interest group send a telegram to the speaker?

a.	to express an opinion on an issue
b.	to vote the speaker into office
c.	to respond to a poll
d.	to criticize the speaker

30.

What does the speaker mean by "a telegram that's just poured in"?

a.	one with a message supported by many people
b.	one that arrived suddenly and without warning
c.	one that is very forceful and demanding
d.	one that came from a very long distance

31.

What is the speaker probably going to talk about?

a.	one person's problem
b.	a new law
c.	an interest group's issue
d.	his election

32.

The speaker is probably a(n)

a.	officeholder.
b.	lobbyist.
c.	ordinary citizen.
d.	business executive.

33.

Why would the speaker use the words "poured in" to describe a telegram?

a.	to demonstrate that he disagrees with the telegram
b.	to dismiss the telegram
c.	to indicate that he has received many telegrams on the issue
d.	to suggest that the telegram writer is "all wet"

34.

The main topic of the cartoon is

a.	how Congress works.
b.	lobbying.
c.	abuses by the media.
d.	communication.

35.

Although interest groups do not try to attract large numbers of voters, they DO try to attract

a.	favorable attention from lawmakers.
b.	nominations to public office.
c.	stricter limits on campaign spending.
d.	the support of political parties.

36.

James Madison viewed the existence of “factions,” or interest groups, as one reason for

a.	the break between Great Britain and the colonies.
b.	adopting the Constitution.
c.	a republican form of government.
d.	the Connecticut Compromise.

37.

Interest groups perform positive functions for which of the following groups?

a.	their members
b.	government officials
c.	the public at-large
d.	all of the above

38.

Which of the following sayings BEST describes a characteristic of interest groups?

a.	“Don’t count your chickens before they’re hatched.”
b.	“There’s strength in numbers.”
c.	“If wishes were horses, beggars would ride.”
d.	“A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.”

39.

Which of the following would address one of the criticisms of interest groups?

a.	a requirement that members must contribute financially to the group
b.	limiting their sphere of influence to the State level
c.	a law requiring them to obtain the signatures of their members before a policy decision is made
d.	a law preventing them from providing information to government officials

40.

Which of the following is true of both interest groups and minor parties?

a.	some are based on economic interests
b.	some are based on the promotion of certain causes
c.	some are based on religion
d.	both a and b

41.

Interest groups

a.	take care not to express views that are critical of other interest groups.
b.	frequently conflict with one another.
c.	are most often based on religion.
d.	must have at least one thousand members.

42.

While the number of farmers in this country has declined sharply, the influence of farmers on the government’s agricultural policies has

a.	also declined.
b.	remained significant.
c.	risen.
d.	been replaced by other business groups.

43.

Interest groups are accountable to

a.	other interest groups.
b.	their members.
c.	the voters.
d.	both b and c

44.

If labor groups can be said to focus on _____, then public-interest groups can be said to focus on _____.

a.	the trees/the forest
b.	the big picture/the smaller picture
c.	influencing government/influencing the public
d.	nominating candidates/electing candidates

45.

While the media try to influence _____, interest groups try to influence _____.

a.	what people think about/what people think
b.	politicians/voters
c.	what people think/what people think about
d.	voters/politicians

46.

Political parties try not to alienate large numbers of voters. Interest groups try not to alienate

a.	PACs.
b.	those who make public policy.
c.	other interest groups.
d.	voters.

47.

It is reasonable to assume that, as the cost of campaigning for public office has risen,

a.	the influence of interest groups on elected officials has declined.
b.	so too has the number of public offices.
c.	so too has the influence of interest groups on elected officials.
d.	the length of the average campaign has declined.

48.

An interest group’s work is over when

a.	the legislation they favor or oppose is passed or defeated.
b.	the election is over.
c.	both a and b
d.	none of the above

49.

The tools of the lobbyist include all of the following EXCEPT

a.	the voters.
b.	reports and articles.
c.	the mass media.
d.	legislators.

Essay

CRITICAL THINKING

50.

Expressing Problems Clearly How could an interest group's policies not be in the best interests of other Americans?