CHAPTER 5
Multiple Choice
1. All of the these are true about interest groups except:
a. Interest groups run candidates for an election.
b. Interest groups persuade office holders to see things their way.
c. Interest groups mobilize their members to work on behalf of particular candidates who are friendly
toward their groups.
d. Interest groups may contribute to and raise money for particular candidates who are friendly toward
their groups.
2. Which statement is not correct?
a. Interest groups magnify voices.
b. Interest groups limit choices.
c. The proliferation of special interest groups contributes to the fracturing of American culture.
d. All interest groups are not equally organized, informed, and influential of policymakers.
3. Centralized interest groups
a. lack organizational structure.
b. have inactive local organizations.
c. concentrate decision making near the bottom.
d. concentrate decision making near the top.
4. According to the textbook, which of these interest groups is an example of decentralized interest groups?
a. Texas Community College Teachers Association
b. Texas Chamber of Commerce
c. Dallas Homeless People
d. Dallas World Cup Soccer
5. Interest groups whose members have only a tenuous connection to the group and only occasionally act as a
group are called
a. anonymous.
b. open groups.
c. amorphous.
d. factitious group.
6. The Texas Taxpayers and Research Association (TTARA)
a. is an example of powerful business interest group.
b. promotes university research.
c. is an association of labor unions.
d. is a powerful association of auditors.
7. All of these are true about labor interest groups except:
a. they often lobby for better working conditions.
b. many members are oil and chemical workers.
c. they often oppose policies supported by business interest groups.
d. they are the most powerful in Texas.
8. All of these are examples of ethnic interest groups except:
a. NAACP
b. MADD
c. LULAC
d. MALDEF
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9. The League of Women Voters and Common Cause are examples of interest groups called
a. ethic interest groups.
b. public interest groups.
c. professional interest groups.
d. moral interest groups.
10. Which of the following interest groups is not an example of promoting morality and lifestyle?
a. Parent Teacher Association
b. The Christian Life Commission
c. Project Rescue
d. Sierra Club
11. Many of interest groups’ methods focus on the
a. Texas Legislature.
b. Texas Executive.
c. Texas Supreme Court.
d. Texas Criminal Court of Appeals.
12. Lobbyists are employed by
a. the bureaucrats.
b. the legislature.
c. political parties.
d. interest groups.
13. Another term for a lobbyist is a
a. borrowed gun.
b. hired gun.
c. pressure point.
d. agency head.
14. According to the textbook, lobbyists come from the following backgrounds except:
a. legislature.
b. personal staff of politicians.
c. law.
d. city council.
15. Successful lobbyists do all except:
a. testify before committees in the legislature.
b. make many legislative contacts.
c. provide distorted information to the members of legislature.
d. outline interest group’s position on a pending issue.
16. Inviting legislators to luncheons, parties, professional sports, and other outings is
a. prohibited by law.
b. legal but unethical.
c. called “formal contact.”
d. called “informal contact.”
17. All of these are examples of methods of membership mobilization by interest groups except
a. marches
b. demonstrations
c. communication with members of the legislature
d. sponsoring court cases
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18. The process of monitoring agency actions when the legislature is out of session is
a. membership mobilization.
b. interim oversight.
c. cloture rule.
d. filibustering.
19. One of Common Cause’s first legislative successes in Texas was
a. the enactment of the Lobbyist Registration Act.
b. the enactment of Early Voting Law.
c. the enactment off “Motor-Voter” Law.
d. the enactment of “One Person, One Vote” Law.
20. According to Texas law, a lobbyist must register with the
a. Texas Legislature.
b. Speaker of the House of Representatives.
c. Ethics Commission.
d. governor’s office.
21. Texas law prohibits lobbyists from all of these activities except:
a. providing loans to candidates.
b. providing transportation and lodging to candidates.
c. expenditures for entertainment.
d. gifts that exceed $50.
22. Most interest groups raise money for internal operations by
a. soliciting contributions from other interest groups.
b. selling information.
c. public funding.
d. membership dues.
23. Most interest groups raise money for external operations by
a. political action committees.
b. membership dues.
c. public funding.
d. selling information.
24. Which statement is not correct about political action committees?
a. Political action committees are voluntary associations of individuals who band together to raise and
distribute money for political campaigns.
b. Political action committees are accused of robbing elections from the voters.
c. Political action committees have driven up the costs of running for office.
d. Political action committees have driven down the costs of running for office.
25. The closed net relationship among government agencies, interest groups, and the legislature is called the
a. “Unholy trinity.”
b. “Holy trinity.”
c. “Iron-triangle.”
d. “Iron-square.”
True/False
1. Both political parties and interest groups are united around a core of ideas.
2. Interest groups attempt to capture elected office by running candidates.
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3. Business interest groups can gain the ears of policymakers because of their numerical and financial strength.
4. The Texas Taxpayers and Research Association is interested in helping the state’s overall monetary policy.
5. The National Rifle Association is an example of a single-issue group.
6. The League of Women Voters routinely publishes information on interest groups prior to the convening of
the Texas Legislature.
7. Successful interest groups spend a great amount of time on information dissemination.
8. The retired House or Senate member will make a good lobbyist because he or she has an insider’s
knowledge of how the legislature functions.
9. Lobbyists must register with the Texas Secretary of State.
10. Interest groups raise money to fund their operations as well as to contribute to election campaigns.
Essay Questions
1. Discuss the definition, role, and types of interest groups that operate in Texas
2. Identify the advantages and disadvantages of interest groups in a democracy.
3. Discuss the methods interest groups use to affect public policy in Texas.
4. Are interest groups’ activities regulated by law in Texas?
5. Why is money referred to as the “mother’s milk of politics?”
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