POSC 1010 FINAL EXAM
COMPLETELY SOLVED!!!
What is an interest group? - ANSWERAn organization of people who share common
political interests and aim to influence public policy by electioneering and lobbying
Electioneering - ANSWERTo actively take part in an election campaign
Lobbying - ANSWEREfforts to influence public policy through contact with public
officials on behalf of an interest group.
Largest Kinds of Interest Groups - ANSWERMass Associations -
•Have a large number of members who pay dues
•Usually citizens groups and labor organizations
•Ex: Sierra Club
•3 million members
•Members get a vote on officers/positions
•Ex: AARP
•38 million members
Members get no vote on anything but do pay dues
Peak Associations -
-Members are businesses or other organizations and not individuals
Ex: Business-Industry Political Action Committee (BIPAC)
Resources Available to Interest Groups - ANSWERPeople
Write in/call in campaigns
Demonstrations
Media attention
Money
Hire people to continually meet with officials
Campaign contributions
Advertisements
Expertise
Can conduct their own research
Can be asked to explain things to officials
Revolving Door Laws - ANSWER•Prevent lawmakers from lobbying government
immediately after leaving public office.
•Members of the House of Representatives cannot register to lobby for a year after they
leave office
•Senators must wait 2 years
•Former cabinet secretaries must wait 2 years
,•Of all former members of the 115th Congress now working, 50 percent are employed
by lobbying firms.
Interest Group Strategies - Inside - ANSWERDirect Lobbying
-Talking to elected officials and bureaucrats
Drafting Legislation
-Bringing fully developed written laws
Research
-Provide research reports to officials
Hearings
-Testify before congressional committees
Litigation
-Sue the government/filing amicus briefs
Working Together
-Multiple interest groups working together
Interest Group Strategies - Outside - ANSWERGrassroots Lobbying
-group participation in letter writing, call banking, or protesting
Astroturf Lobbying
-Initiated by an interest group but designed to look like it was spontaneous
Mobilizing Public Opinion
-Trying to change what the public thinks
-Websites, social media, ads
Electioneering
-Getting involved with elections
501(c)(3) organizations are... - ANSWERdonations are tax deductible
cannot advocate for specific candidates
lobbying must be <20% of their expenses
Hyperpluralist Theory - ANSWERGroups are so strong that government is weakened.
This is an extreme, exaggerated form of pluralism.
Pluralist Theory - ANSWER•Groups provide a key link between the people and the
government.
•Groups compete and no one group will become too dominant.
•Groups play by the "rules of the game."
•Groups weak in one resource may use another.
Lobbying is open to all so is not problematic
Elite Theory - ANSWER•Real power is held by the relatively few.
•The largest corporations hold the most power.
•Elite power is fortified by a system of interlocking directorates of these corporations and
other institutions.
•Other groups may win many minor policy battles, but elites prevail when it comes to big
policy decisions.
, •Lobbying is a problem because it benefits the few at the expense of the many.
Hyperpluralism and Interest Group Liberalism - ANSWERSubgovernments consist of a
network of groups that exercise a great deal of control over specific policy areas.
The Founder's Intentions for Congress - ANSWER•The strongest branch
•Separation of lawmaking power from executive
•Bicameralism balances large/small states
House
-More connected to people
-Shorter term
-Directly elected
Senate
-longer term allows for independent thinking
-directly elected after the 17th amendment
Comparing the House and Senate - ANSWERHouse
-435 members
-2 year term
-7 year citizen
-initiate impeachment
-revenue bills
-strict debate rules
Senate
-100 members
-6 year term
-9 year citizen
-tries impeachment
-approve presidential appointments
-approve treaties
-loose debate rules
Constitutional Powers - ANSWERArticle I, Section 8
To lay and collect taxes, duties, imports
To borrow money
To regulate commerce (states and foreign)
To establish rules for naturalization
To coin money
To create courts (except Supreme Court)
To declare war
To raise and support an army and navy
The Evolution of Powers - ANSWERThe Elastic clause has extended Congress powers
•Oversight of budget - can restrict the federal budget prepared by executive branch
•
COMPLETELY SOLVED!!!
What is an interest group? - ANSWERAn organization of people who share common
political interests and aim to influence public policy by electioneering and lobbying
Electioneering - ANSWERTo actively take part in an election campaign
Lobbying - ANSWEREfforts to influence public policy through contact with public
officials on behalf of an interest group.
Largest Kinds of Interest Groups - ANSWERMass Associations -
•Have a large number of members who pay dues
•Usually citizens groups and labor organizations
•Ex: Sierra Club
•3 million members
•Members get a vote on officers/positions
•Ex: AARP
•38 million members
Members get no vote on anything but do pay dues
Peak Associations -
-Members are businesses or other organizations and not individuals
Ex: Business-Industry Political Action Committee (BIPAC)
Resources Available to Interest Groups - ANSWERPeople
Write in/call in campaigns
Demonstrations
Media attention
Money
Hire people to continually meet with officials
Campaign contributions
Advertisements
Expertise
Can conduct their own research
Can be asked to explain things to officials
Revolving Door Laws - ANSWER•Prevent lawmakers from lobbying government
immediately after leaving public office.
•Members of the House of Representatives cannot register to lobby for a year after they
leave office
•Senators must wait 2 years
•Former cabinet secretaries must wait 2 years
,•Of all former members of the 115th Congress now working, 50 percent are employed
by lobbying firms.
Interest Group Strategies - Inside - ANSWERDirect Lobbying
-Talking to elected officials and bureaucrats
Drafting Legislation
-Bringing fully developed written laws
Research
-Provide research reports to officials
Hearings
-Testify before congressional committees
Litigation
-Sue the government/filing amicus briefs
Working Together
-Multiple interest groups working together
Interest Group Strategies - Outside - ANSWERGrassroots Lobbying
-group participation in letter writing, call banking, or protesting
Astroturf Lobbying
-Initiated by an interest group but designed to look like it was spontaneous
Mobilizing Public Opinion
-Trying to change what the public thinks
-Websites, social media, ads
Electioneering
-Getting involved with elections
501(c)(3) organizations are... - ANSWERdonations are tax deductible
cannot advocate for specific candidates
lobbying must be <20% of their expenses
Hyperpluralist Theory - ANSWERGroups are so strong that government is weakened.
This is an extreme, exaggerated form of pluralism.
Pluralist Theory - ANSWER•Groups provide a key link between the people and the
government.
•Groups compete and no one group will become too dominant.
•Groups play by the "rules of the game."
•Groups weak in one resource may use another.
Lobbying is open to all so is not problematic
Elite Theory - ANSWER•Real power is held by the relatively few.
•The largest corporations hold the most power.
•Elite power is fortified by a system of interlocking directorates of these corporations and
other institutions.
•Other groups may win many minor policy battles, but elites prevail when it comes to big
policy decisions.
, •Lobbying is a problem because it benefits the few at the expense of the many.
Hyperpluralism and Interest Group Liberalism - ANSWERSubgovernments consist of a
network of groups that exercise a great deal of control over specific policy areas.
The Founder's Intentions for Congress - ANSWER•The strongest branch
•Separation of lawmaking power from executive
•Bicameralism balances large/small states
House
-More connected to people
-Shorter term
-Directly elected
Senate
-longer term allows for independent thinking
-directly elected after the 17th amendment
Comparing the House and Senate - ANSWERHouse
-435 members
-2 year term
-7 year citizen
-initiate impeachment
-revenue bills
-strict debate rules
Senate
-100 members
-6 year term
-9 year citizen
-tries impeachment
-approve presidential appointments
-approve treaties
-loose debate rules
Constitutional Powers - ANSWERArticle I, Section 8
To lay and collect taxes, duties, imports
To borrow money
To regulate commerce (states and foreign)
To establish rules for naturalization
To coin money
To create courts (except Supreme Court)
To declare war
To raise and support an army and navy
The Evolution of Powers - ANSWERThe Elastic clause has extended Congress powers
•Oversight of budget - can restrict the federal budget prepared by executive branch
•
