Question 1

Arguably, the largest and most effective public employee interest group in Texas is made up of

Accepted Answer

A)   firefighters.
B)   police officers.
C)   teachers.
D)   justices of the peace.

Question 2

Some of Texas's biggest lobby spenders are groups that include the interests of consumers, the environment, or human services.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 3

Interest groups must make sure that they maintain their credibility with policymakers.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 4

The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC)  provides what kind of assistance to conservative state legislators across the country?

Accepted Answer

A)   ALEC provides experienced campaign managers to help run reelection campaigns.
B)   ALEC sponsors voter registration drives.
C)   ALEC writes pieces of legislation and helps get the legislation passed.
D)   ALEC screens judicial nominees to ensure quality people are selected to serve as judges.

Question 5

Gaining access to politicians through personal connections is a violation of Texas state laws.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

How long must a former member of a governing body or former executive head of a regulatory agency wait before he or she can lobby that agency?

Accepted Answer

A)   2 years
B)   5 years
C)   10 years
D)   Texas law prevents individuals from lobbying an agency where they were previously employed.

Question 7

Most lobbyists

Accepted Answer

A)   are women.
B)   are less educated but politically astute.
C)   have expertise in policy matters or personal relationships with legislators.
D)   are corrupt.

Question 8

Interest groups representing labor organizations dominate Texas politics.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

Is there anything Texas can do to limit the impact of large campaign donors without limiting free speech?

Accepted Answer

a. Opinion against limiting donations: T...

Question 10

One major way for interest groups to promote the political interests of elected officials who support their viewpoints and oppose the interests of those who do not is by engaging in

Accepted Answer

A)   campaign contributions.
B)   hiring staff personnel.
C)   buying media access.
D)   letter writing.

Question 11

Which of the following advantages do better-funded interest groups have?

Accepted Answer

A)   time
B)   money
C)   expertise
D)   All of these are correct.

Question 12

During the Texas Constitutional Convention of 1875, which interest group played an important role?

Accepted Answer

A)   8F Crowd
B)   Halliburton Company
C)   the Grange
D)   AAA

Question 13

What was the problem Speaker Sam Rayburn identified with the "steak men" at the beginning of the twentieth century?

Accepted Answer

A)   They were politicians who were in the pocket of the cattle industry.
B)   They were legislators who would "sell" their votes on a bill for free steak dinners.
C)   They were legislators who would attempt to cut all the meat out of the budgets.
D)   They were lobbyists who Rayburn said were full of "bull."

Question 14

Battleground Texas is a get-out-the-vote (GOTV)  effort undertaken by which group?

Accepted Answer

A)   The Texas Republican Party
B)   The Texas Democratic Party
C)   The Texas Medical Association
D)   The American Legislative Exchange Council

Question 15

What are interest groups and why are they important in our political system? How are they important to legislators?

Accepted Answer

a. Defined: Interest groups are collecti...

Question 16

An interest group that serves as an umbrella organization to coordinate the activities of member groups in specific targeted areas is known as a(n)

Accepted Answer

A)   coordination association.
B)   facilitation cooperation.
C)   peak association.
D)   interest group coalition.

Question 17

Texas has strong laws dealing with lobbying from former government officials.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

In order to gain access to politicians, interest groups will often

Accepted Answer

A)   provide the infrastructure, such as campaign signs and office staff, needed for the politician to get reelected.
B)   spend money on entertaining politicians.
C)   spend money to reward people for voting.
D)   threaten elected officials.

Question 19

The situation in which individuals receive the benefits of collective action without contributing is known as

Accepted Answer

A)   the "free rider problem."
B)   the "welfare state."
C)   "benefit stealing."
D)   "coattailing."

Question 20

Because of the incumbency advantage, it is far safer for interest groups to try to work with incumbents than challengers.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Exam 6: Interest Groups and Lobbying

The situation in which individuals receive the benefits of collective action without contributing is known as

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Arguably, the largest and most effective public employee interest group in Texas is made up of

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

One major way for interest groups to promote the political interests of elected officials who support their viewpoints and oppose the interests of those who do not is by engaging in

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) provides what kind of assistance to conservative state legislators across the country?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

In order to gain access to politicians, interest groups will often

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Battleground Texas is a get-out-the-vote (GOTV) effort undertaken by which group?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

How long must a former member of a governing body or former executive head of a regulatory agency wait before he or she can lobby that agency?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Some of Texas's biggest lobby spenders are groups that include the interests of consumers, the environment, or human services.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Because of the incumbency advantage, it is far safer for interest groups to try to work with incumbents than challengers.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Most lobbyists

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following advantages do better-funded interest groups have?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Interest groups must make sure that they maintain their credibility with policymakers.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Texas has strong laws dealing with lobbying from former government officials.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

An interest group that serves as an umbrella organization to coordinate the activities of member groups in specific targeted areas is known as a(n)

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Gaining access to politicians through personal connections is a violation of Texas state laws.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

During the Texas Constitutional Convention of 1875, which interest group played an important role?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Interest groups representing labor organizations dominate Texas politics.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Is there anything Texas can do to limit the impact of large campaign donors without limiting free speech?

Correct Answerverifieda. Opinion against limiting donations: T...View AnswerShow Answer

What are interest groups and why are they important in our political system? How are they important to legislators?

Correct Answerverifieda. Defined: Interest groups are collecti...View AnswerShow Answer

What was the problem Speaker Sam Rayburn identified with the "steak men" at the beginning of the twentieth century?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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a. Opinion against limiting donations: T...
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a. Defined: Interest groups are collecti...
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Correct Answer
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