Interest Groups
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AP Government and Politics › Interest Groups
Which of these groups is most likely to be supported by a Political Action Committee (PAC)?
Incumbents seeking reelection
Conservative Federal Judges
Liberal Federal Judges
Candidates challenging an incumbent
A religious figure
Explanation
Political Action Committees are most likely to support an incumbent seeking reelection. Political Actions Committees are groups set up to ensure the election of one candidate over another.
Which of these groups is most likely to be supported by a Political Action Committee (PAC)?
Incumbents seeking reelection
Conservative Federal Judges
Liberal Federal Judges
Candidates challenging an incumbent
A religious figure
Explanation
Political Action Committees are most likely to support an incumbent seeking reelection. Political Actions Committees are groups set up to ensure the election of one candidate over another.
Which of the following kind of interest groups is a key voting bloc for the modern Democratic Party?
Labor unions.
Pro-life organizations.
Gun rights advocates.
Business fraternities.
Anti-tax advocates.
Explanation
The bases of support for the Republican and Democratic Parties have shifted significantly in the past seventy five years. While more conservative political interest groups have flocked to the Republican Party, groups like Labor Unions and Community Organizations have found a home in a Democratic Party that has increasingly focused on governmental solutions, civil rights, and liberal social issues. Labor Unions are one of the older, pre-New Deal Era coalition members that has remained firmly Democratic in the modern era.
Which of the following kind of interest groups is a key voting bloc for the modern Democratic Party?
Labor unions.
Pro-life organizations.
Gun rights advocates.
Business fraternities.
Anti-tax advocates.
Explanation
The bases of support for the Republican and Democratic Parties have shifted significantly in the past seventy five years. While more conservative political interest groups have flocked to the Republican Party, groups like Labor Unions and Community Organizations have found a home in a Democratic Party that has increasingly focused on governmental solutions, civil rights, and liberal social issues. Labor Unions are one of the older, pre-New Deal Era coalition members that has remained firmly Democratic in the modern era.
Coined by Jonathan Rauch, the theory that contemporary American government is paralyzed by the power of interest groups is called .
demosclerosis
hyperpluralism
elite and class theory
frozen government
agnosticism
Explanation
Jonathan Rauch is a political and economic writer who coined the term “demosclerosis” to refer to the loss of government power in the years since World War II, more specifically to the stagnation of the ability of government to affect policy change because of the increased power of special interest groups who effectively hold the government hostage.
Coined by Jonathan Rauch, the theory that contemporary American government is paralyzed by the power of interest groups is called .
demosclerosis
hyperpluralism
elite and class theory
frozen government
agnosticism
Explanation
Jonathan Rauch is a political and economic writer who coined the term “demosclerosis” to refer to the loss of government power in the years since World War II, more specifically to the stagnation of the ability of government to affect policy change because of the increased power of special interest groups who effectively hold the government hostage.
Which of the following is the main type of organization that lobbies on behalf of workers?
Labor union
Trade association
Corporation
Public interest group
Private business
Explanation
Labor unions organize and lobby corporations and government to help workers get better wages, safety conditions, benefits, etc... They are often the primary group working to protect worker rights.
Which of the following is the main type of organization that lobbies on behalf of workers?
Labor union
Trade association
Corporation
Public interest group
Private business
Explanation
Labor unions organize and lobby corporations and government to help workers get better wages, safety conditions, benefits, etc... They are often the primary group working to protect worker rights.
Which of the following statements about the elitist theory of politics is false?
Lobbying is one of the few remaining ways in which the average citizen is able to stand up and challenge the power of the reigning elites.
Power naturally tends to be concentrated in the hands of the few, with each dominant interest group therefore constantly moving to reinforce and consolidate its own control.
The government is truly controlled by a select handful of interest groups whose behind-the-scenes operations only ever benefit their own self-interest.
Large corporations, with their massive staffing and funding resources, serve to further guard the political elite against any loss of influence.
Explanation
Elitist theorists believe that the government is, in fact, controlled by a small circle of select elite individuals whose monetary resources allow them to reign all-powerfully behind the scenes in Washington, D.C. Due to this belief, elitist theorists therefore take a derisive view of lobbying, dismissing the practice as ineffective, corrupt, and useless. The average citizen, no matter how passionately he or she may lobby the government, is helpless to even match, let alone truly combat, the massive bases of power and influence which the elite inner circle enjoys. Large corporations and extremely wealthy individuals are able to hire entire units of highly skilled lobbyists to continually assail the government on their employers’ behalf, so that ordinary people, who have no great collection of money, perks, or influence to offer, are hopelessly drowned out. By and large, elitist theorists thus denounce lobbying as a futile practice, which only ends up benefitting those already in the best position to profit– aka the elite.
Which of the following statements about the elitist theory of politics is false?
Lobbying is one of the few remaining ways in which the average citizen is able to stand up and challenge the power of the reigning elites.
Power naturally tends to be concentrated in the hands of the few, with each dominant interest group therefore constantly moving to reinforce and consolidate its own control.
The government is truly controlled by a select handful of interest groups whose behind-the-scenes operations only ever benefit their own self-interest.
Large corporations, with their massive staffing and funding resources, serve to further guard the political elite against any loss of influence.
Explanation
Elitist theorists believe that the government is, in fact, controlled by a small circle of select elite individuals whose monetary resources allow them to reign all-powerfully behind the scenes in Washington, D.C. Due to this belief, elitist theorists therefore take a derisive view of lobbying, dismissing the practice as ineffective, corrupt, and useless. The average citizen, no matter how passionately he or she may lobby the government, is helpless to even match, let alone truly combat, the massive bases of power and influence which the elite inner circle enjoys. Large corporations and extremely wealthy individuals are able to hire entire units of highly skilled lobbyists to continually assail the government on their employers’ behalf, so that ordinary people, who have no great collection of money, perks, or influence to offer, are hopelessly drowned out. By and large, elitist theorists thus denounce lobbying as a futile practice, which only ends up benefitting those already in the best position to profit– aka the elite.