POL Chapter 10- Interest Groups
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An organization of individuals with similar views that tries to influence government to respond favorably to its views is called a(n)
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interest group.
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Interest groups try to influence public policy by
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lobbying government officials regardless of party affiliation.
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The principal purpose of political party activity is to
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gain control of government by winning elections and thus achieve party goals.
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Which of the following would not be a goal of an interest group?
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Getting its members elected to public office
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In the case of the NAACP v. Alabama (1958), the U. S. Supreme Court
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recognized the right of association as part of the First Amendment.
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Which constitutional right is the foundation of the right to form and participate in interest groups?
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Freedom of association
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Which of the following is not a reason for the growth and diversity of interest groups in the United States?
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A legal system that requires citizen membership in interest groups
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The United States achieves a decentralized governing structure through
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federalism and separation of powers.
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The decentralized structure of Texas politics and governance __________ the ability of interest groups to influence public policy.
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increases
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Which of the following is true of interest groups and parties in Texas?
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Texas has weak political parties and influential interest groups
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The Texas Tea Party is
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a powerful faction within the Texas Republican Party.
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Which of the following is true of interest group organizational patterns in the United States?
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Some are highly centralized, and others have a decentralized organizational structure.
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Which occupational group is least likely to have a large representation in an interest group?
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Receptionists
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Which of the following is not a common reason that citizens join interest groups?
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They are not accepted as members of official political parties.
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Most political interest groups represent
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professional and managerial occupations
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Which of the following generalizations regarding interest group leadership is correct?
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Interest group decisions are usually made by an active minority of the membership.
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Interest groups organized to promote policies that maximize profits and wages for their members are known as
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economic interest groups.
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The Texas Association of Businesses and Chambers of Commerce is an example of
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an umbrella organization.
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Which of the following goals would a business organization be least likely to pursue?
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Increased safety and environmental standards
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An example of a labor organization that is active in Texas is the
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Communication Workers of America.
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Which of the following is true regarding labor organizations in Texas?
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Labor groups are not as numerous or as powerful as business-related groups in Texas.
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Which kind of group exists to promote policies that would increase wages, adequate health and unemployment insurance, and promote safe working conditions?
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Labor groups
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Which of the following interest groups would be an example of a professional group in Texas?
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Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants
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Which of the following would a government employee interest group be least likely to pursue?
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Decreased levels of government spending
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Texas doctors successfully used their professional organizations in lobbying the 76th Legislature to make Texas the first state that allows
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doctors to collectively bargain with health maintenance organizations.
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Which of the following is the largest state government employees group in Texas?
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Texas Public Employees Association
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Which organization would most likely mount a vigorous campaign to oppose a reduction in the staffing levels of the Texas Rehabilitation Commission?
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Texas Public Employees Association
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Which of the following is not one of the main goals of racial and ethnic groups in Texas?
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Reduce government interference in the economy
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A social interest group would be least likely to get involved in which of the following issues?
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Highway funding
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Which of the following is among the oldest and most effective racial and ethnic interest groups in Texas?
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National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund (MALDEF)
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Which of the following is true of women in Texas politics?
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There are a variety of women's interest groups in Texas promoting equal rights, greater political participation, and other issues important to women.
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The Christian Coalition would be most likely to promote which of the following?
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Banning same-sex marriage
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Which of the following would not be a cause supported by the Texas Freedom Network?
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Defending the traditional family
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Common Cause of Texas is an example of
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a public interest group.
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Which of the following would not be among the interest groups that Texas legislators identify as most powerful?
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Public interest groups advocating campaign finance reform
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Which of the following techniques do interest groups use to influence policy decisions?
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Lobbying Campaign financing Providing favors and gifts
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Which of the following is not a function that interest groups perform in Texas?
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Writing party platforms
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A lobbyist is an individual who
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attempts to influence the decision making of lawmakers.
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About how many registered lobbyists are there in Texas?
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1700
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Which of the following is the most commonly employed strategy of influencing legislation?
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Providing the legislator with relevant information
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Political officeholders often rely on interest groups to
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provide information and expertise.
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The political term grassroots refers to activity that
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begins locally and spreads to broader areas.
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In their grassroots and electioneering efforts, interest groups are increasingly
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using the Internet and social media.
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Actively campaigning in support of candidates for office by an interest group is called
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electioneering.
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Which of the following is an example of an electioneering technique?
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Coordinating a \"Get Out the Vote\" (GOTV) campaign
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Typically, in order to get people to the polls, which of the following is generally employed?
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Mail-outs, telephone calls, door-to-door solicitation, and transportation to the polls
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The device by which a corporation may contribute money to a political candidate is
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through a political action committee.
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Which of the following statements best explains campaign finance laws for candidates running for a seat in the Texas legislature?
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There is no limit on how much a PAC may contribute directly to a campaign
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An interest group technique that is unethical would be
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utilizing bribery.
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Following the Sharpstown Bank scandal, the Texas legislature
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prohibited candidates for Speaker from giving anything of value to supporters in the House.
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Which Texas House Speaker was not the subject of an inquiry about potentially improper practices with regard to interest groups?
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Pete Laney
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The details of political contributions and expenditures of candidates must be filed with the Texas Ethics Commission
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between two and seven times each year.
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Which of the following was not prohibited by an amendment to the Texas Constitution in November of 1991?
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Campaign contributions from political action committees
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Ethics laws prohibit a candidate or official from receiving a contribution inside
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the Texas state capitol building.
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In response to big spending by lobbyists, Texas voters in 1991 approved a constitutional amendment to create the eight-member
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Texas Ethics Commission
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Members of the Texas Ethics Commission are selected by the
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Texas governor.
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Which of the following is common in the last days of an election campaign?
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Interest groups make last minute contributions to campaigns.
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Which of the following is not a responsibility of the Texas Ethics Commission?
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Setting legal limits on campaign contributions
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An interest group with substantial financial resources, sizable membership, unity, and a competent leadership
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should have success in getting its policy preferences honored.
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The political influence of interest groups is enhanced when
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they are well represented within the structure of government.
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The system of politics in Texas can be described as one with
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weak parties and strong interest groups.
