Name: __________________
1
Class:
Date: _____________
In general, what is the goal of an interest group?
a. to influence government officials to do what is best for the public
b. to work with other interest groups in order to compromise or find common ground
c. to influence government officials and their policies on behalf of group members
d. to place members of the interest group in public office
2
According to the decision made by the U.S. Supreme Court in NAACP v. Alabama (1958), which
part of the U.S. Constitution supports the formation of interest groups?
a. the right of the states to make decisions about anything not included in the Constitution
(Tenth Amendment)
b. right to petition (First Amendment)
c. right of assembly (First Amendment)
d. freedom of the press (First Amendment)
3
A ________ government increases the opportunities for interest groups to form and influence
government.
a. partisan
b. nonpartisan
c. decentralized
d. centralized
4
Which of the following factors has precipitated the influence of interest groups?
a. a centralized government structure
b. the strength of the party system
c. funding from the federal government
d. the lack of honest politicians
5
Interest groups are composed chiefly of persons from
a. professional and managerial occupations.
b. governmental occupations.
c. blue-collar occupations.
d. public service.
PAGE 1
Name: __________________
6
Class:
Date: _____________
Any organized group, regardless of size, is usually composed of
a. an active minority and a passive majority membership.
b. an active minority and an active majority membership.
c. a passive majority and a passive minority membership.
d. an active majority and a passive minority membership.
7
One example of an economic interest umbrella organization is the
a. National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.
b. Texas Association of Business.
c. the Sierra Club.
d. Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund.
8
Which type of interest group typically advocates lower taxes, a lessening or elimination of price
and quality controls by government, and minimal concessions to labor unions?
a. professional interest groups
b. environmental groups
c. business organizations
d. government employee groups
9
The Texas Medical Association was successful in lobbying the Texas legislature to
a. change the law that allowed doctors to operate without prior experience.
b. impose a cap for noneconomic damages in medical malpractice cases.
c. limit the number of new medical schools in Texas.
d. decrease the state's cap on student loans for young physicians.
10 The oldest Latino interest group is
a. the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.
b. the League of United Latin American Citizens.
c. Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund.
d. La Raza Unida Party.
PAGE 2
Name: __________________
Class:
Date: _____________
11 Ed is working with an interest group that monitors members of the Texas legislature for their
support of environmentally friendly "green bills." Ed is most likely working with
a. the Texas League of Conservation Voters.
b. the Texas Civil Justice League.
c. the League of Women Voters.
d. Common Cause of Texas.
12 Which of the following is an example of a public interest group?
a. Texas Library Association
b. Texas State Employees Union
c. Common Cause Texas
d. Texas Oil and Chemical Workers Union
13 Power groups enhance their influence by
a. maintaining their headquarters in Dallas.
b. maintaining their headquarters in Austin.
c. operating "under the radar."
d. "cutting deals" with other power groups.
14 What interest group technique is the Texas Motorcycle Rights Association utilizing when its
members go to the Capitol and talk with lawmakers about preserving bikers' rights?
a. electioneering
b. bribery
c. grassroots activities
d. lobbying
15 In recent years, Texas has ranked second in the country, after California, in interest group
money spent on
a. grassroots activities.
b. electioneering.
c. lobbying state government.
d. bribing legislators.
PAGE 3
Name: __________________
Class:
Date: _____________
16 Joni is a member of the Texas League of Conservation Voters, and the group has put her in
charge of monitoring and updating the group's Facebook and Twitter accounts. In what type of
interest group activity is Joni participating?
a. grassroots activities
b. public protesting
c. electioneering
d. legislative bribery
17 Providing favored candidates with interest group membership information and mailing lists that
help candidates solicit money and votes is an example of
a. grassroots activities.
b. electioneering.
c. campaign financing.
d. bribery.
18 What is a political action committee (PAC)?
a. an interest group that promotes the democratic political system in countries across the
world
b. a group of persons that has a principal purpose of accepting political contributions or
making political contributions
c. a group of persons designated by an interest group to campaign for a particular
candidate
d. a group of persons that monitors the behavior of legislators in order to prevent
unethical practices
19 How did the state legislature respond to the Sharpstown bank scandal of the 1970s?
a. They brought the issue to the attention of the FBI.
b. They looked the other way.
c. They fined all politicians involved.
d. They passed a law to prevent it from happening again.
PAGE 4
Name: __________________
Class:
Date: _____________
20 In November 1991, Texas voters passed a constitutional amendment that implemented new
legal standards for lobbyists and public officials. Which of the following regulations was part of
this amendment?
a. a ban on lobby-paid pleasure trips
b. that public officials must disclose any gifts valued greater than $1,000 and include a
description
c. a $5,000 annual cap on lobbyist-provided food and drink for a lawmaker
d. an allowance of honoraria
21 Why do interest groups make last-minute contributions to political campaigns?
a. because contributions and expenditures in the last two days of a political campaign
need not be disclosed until the next semiannual report is due
b. because the federal government prohibits them from making contributions until the last
two days, when their contributions will be monitored better
c. because they need as much time as possible to determine which candidate will act in
their best interest
d. because this is when most politicians need the contributions the most
22 Ethics complaints against state officials, candidates for office, and state employees would
generally be brought to the
a. Public Action Committee.
b. Attorney General of Texas.
c. Texas Ethics Commission.
d. FBI.
23 Research indicates that a strong relationship exists between the ________ in a state and the
power of interest groups.
a. amount of ethnic diversity
b. larger socioeconomic conditions
c. history of corruption
d. majority party
PAGE 5
Name: __________________
Class:
Date: _____________
24 According to the text, which of the following factors is necessary for an interest group to exert
the maximum amount of political power?
a. a variety of perspectives within the group
b. at least one member who is also a politician
c. knowledgeable and dedicated leadership
d. a small, tight-knit membership base
25 Texas is among the states with ________ interest groups and relatively ________ political
parties.
a. few; trustworthy
b. few; few
c. weak; strong
d. strong; weak
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ANSWER KEY
Copy of
1. c
10. b
19. d
2. c
11. a
20. a
3. c
12. c
21. a
ANSWER KEY - Page 1
4. b
13. b
22. c
5. a
14. d
23. b
6. a
15. c
24. c
7. b
16. a
25. d
8. c
17. b
9. b
18. b