GOVT 2305 Exam 3

Chapters 10-13

A "communication by someone other than a citizen acting on his or her own behalf, directed to a governmental decision maker with the hope of influencing his or her decision" is a definition of

1. lobbying

2. campaigning

3. litigation

4. electioneering

lobbying

Interest groups in America

1. are policy generalists

2. run candidates for public office

3. specialize in a policy area

4. try to appeal to everyone

specialize in a policy area

In “going public,” interest groups

1. bring class action suits against their opponents

2. extend membership to a broader range of people

3. use advertising and public relations to enhance their image

4. issue stock

use advertising and public relations to enhance their image

One of the main differences between political parties and interest groups is that

1. interest groups have more members

2. interest groups are concerned with more issues

3. political parties run candidates for office

4. political parties are better organized

political parties run candidates for office

An organization of people with similar policy goals entering the political process to try to achieve those aims is

1. a political action committee

2. an interest group

3. a political party

4. a collective good

an interest group

Someone who lobbies on behalf of their employer as part of their job is _____.

an in-house lobbyist

How are collective goods different from private goods

Collective goods offer broadly distributed benefits, while private goods offer particularized benefits

Why might several competing corporations join together in an association?

1. because there is often strength in numbers

2. because they often have common issues that may affect an entire industry

3. because they can all benefit from governmental policies

4. all of the above

all of the above:

• because there is often strength in numbers

• because they often have common issues that may affect an entire industry

• because they can all benefit from governmental policies

What type of incentives appeal to someone’s concern about a cause?

purposive incentives

Which of the following is the best example of solidary benefit?

Joining a group to be with others like you

What changes have occurred in the lobbying environment over the past three or four decades?

1. There is more professional lobbying

2. Many interests lobby both the national government and the states

3. A fragmentation of interests has taken place

4. all of the above

all of the above:

• There is more professional lobbying

• Many interests lobby both the national government and the states

• A fragmentation of interests has taken place

Which of the following is an aspect of iron triangles?

A symbiotic relationship among Congressional committees, executive agencies, and interest groups

Which of the following is true of spending in politics?

The Supreme Court has opposed restrictions on spending on politics

What is a difference between a PAC and a super PAC?

PACs can contribute directly to candidates, but super PACs cannot

Revolving door laws are designed to do which of the following?

Prevent lawmakers from utilizing their legislative relationships by becoming lobbyists immediately after leaving office

In what ways are lobbyists regulated?

1. Certain activities are prohibited

2. Contributions must be disclosed

3. Lobbying is prohibited immediately after leaving office

4. all of the above

all of the above

• Certain activities are prohibited

• Contributions must be disclosed

• Lobbying is prohibited immediately after leaving office

House leaders are more powerful than Senate leaders because of ______.

1. the larger size of the House

2. the State of the Union address being delivered in the House chamber

3. the majoritarian nature of the House - a majority can run it like a cartel

4. the constitutional position of the House

the majoritarian nature of the House - a majority can run it like a cartel

The Great Compromise successfully resolved differences between _____.

1. slave and non-slave states

2. the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution

3. the House and the Senate

4. large and small states

large and small states

Saying a bill is being marked up is just another way to say it is being _____.

1. vetoed

2. tabled

3. neglected

4. amended

amended

The process of redistricting can present problems for congressional representation because _____.

1. states can gain but never districts

2. states have been known to create more districts than they have been apportioned

3. districts are often drawn to benefit partisan groups

4. districts must include urban and rural areas

districts are often drawn to benefit partisan groups

While each state has two senators, members of the House are appointed _____.

1. according to the state’s population

2. according to the state’s geographic size

3. based on the state’s economic size

4. based on each state’s need

according to the state’s population

Stopping a filibuster requires that _____.

1. the speaker steps away from the podium

2. the Speaker or majority leader intervenes

3. a majority of senators agree on the bill

4. the chamber votes for cloture

the chamber votes for cloture

A select committee is different from a standing committee because _____.

1. a select committee must stay in session, while a standing committee goes to recess

2. a select committee includes member of both chambers, while a standing committee includes only members of the House

3. a select committee is used for bill reconciliation, while a standing committee is used for prosecutions

4. a select committee is convened for a specific and temporary purpose, while a standing committee is permanent

a select committee is convened for a specific and temporary purpose, while a standing committee is permanent

A congressperson who pursued a strict delegate model of representation would seek to _____.

1. legislate in a way that carefully considered the circumstances and issue so as to reach a solution that is best for everyone

2. legislate in the way he or she believed constituents wanted, regardless of the anticipated outcome

3. legislate in the way that he or she thinks is best for the constituents

4. legislate in a way that is best for the nation regardless of the costs for the constituents

legislate in the way he or she believed constituents wanted, regardless of the anticipated outcome

The increasing value constituents have placed on descriptive representation in Congress has had the effect of _____.

1. increasing the number of minority members in Congress

2. increasing the sensitivity representatives have to their constituents demands

3. decreasing the rate at which incumbents are elected

4. decreasing the number of majority minority districts

increasing the number of minority members in Congress

The saying “All politics is local” roughly means ________.

1. the local constituents tend to care about things that affect them

2. the local candidate will always win

3. the local constituents want action on national issues

4. the act of campaigning always occurs at the local level where constituents are

the local constituents tend to care about things that affect them

Senate races tend to inspire _____.

1. broad discussion of policy issues

2. less media coverage than House races

3. less money than House races

4. narrow discussion of specific policy issues

broad discussion of policy issues

Which of the following is an implied power of Congress?

1. the power to increase taxes on the wealthiest one percent

2. the power to regulate the sale of tobacco in the states

3. the power to put the president on trial for high crimes

4. the power to override a presidential veto

the power to regulate the sale of tobacco in the states

The key means of advancing modern language is now _____.

1. committees

2. the budget process

3. the actions of the leadership

4. the filibuster

the budget process

Many at the Continental Congress were skeptical of allowing presidents to be directly elected by the legislature because _____.

1. they feared the opportunities created for corruption

2. they worried about subject the commander-in-cheif to public scrutiny

3. they were worried about giving the legislature too much power

4. they knew the weaknesses of an electoral college

they feared the opportunities created for corruption

The passage of the Tenure of Office Act of 1867 was just one instance in a long line of _____.

1. unconstitutional presidential power grabbing

2. arguments over presidential policy

3. impeachment trials

4. struggles for power between the president and the Congress

struggles for power between the president and the Congress

Which of the following is an unintended consequence of the rise of the primary and caucus system?

1. Campaigns have become shorter and more expensive

2. Often incumbent presidents will fail to be renominated by the party

3. Sometimes candidates unpopular with the party leadership reach the top

4. The conventions have become more powerful than the voters

Sometimes candidates unpopular with the party leadership reach the top

President Theodore Roosevelt’s concept of the bully pulpit was the office’s _____.

1. constitutional power to veto legislation

2. ability to use technology to enhance the voice of the president

3. authority to use force, especially military force

4. premier position to pressure through public appeal

premier position to pressure through public appeal

How did the election of 1824 change the way presidents were selected?

1. The selection of the candidate with fewer electoral votes triggered the rise of party control over nominations

2. The election convinced many that the parties must adopt the king caucus as the primary method for selecting presidents

3. Jackson’s supporters decided to create a device for challenging the Electoral College

4. Following this election, presidents were directly elected

The selection of candidate with fewer electoral votes triggered the rise of party control over nominations

A very challenging job for new presidents is to _____.

1. move into the White House

2. prepare and deliver their first State of the Union address

3. nominate and gain confirmation for their cabinet and hundreds of other officials

4. prepare their first executive budget

nominate and gain confirmation for their cabinet and hundreds of other officials

The people who make up the modern president’s cabinet are the heads of the major federal departments and _____.

1. serve two-year terms

2. are selected base on the rules of patronage

3. must be confirmed by the Senate

4. once in office are subject to dismissal by the Senate

must be confirmed by the Senate

Which of the following is a way George Washington expanded the power of the presidency?

1. He submitted his neutrality proclamation to the Senate for approval

2. He worked with the Senate to draft treaties with foreign countries

3. He appointed the heads of various federal departments as his own advisors

4. He refused to run again after serving two terms

He appointed the heads of various federal departments as his own advisors

In standing by precedent, a judge relies on the principle of _____.

1. amicus curiae

2. stare decisis

3. judicial activism

4. laissez-faire

stare decisis

Of all the court cases in the United States, the majority are handled _____.

1. by the circuit courts

2. by the US district courts

3. by the US Supreme Court

4. at the state level

at the state level

The Supreme Court consists of _____.

1. nine associate justices

2. one chief justice and five associate justices

3. one chief justice and eight associate justices

4. thirteen judges

one chief justice and eight associate justices

The Supreme Court most typically functions as _____.

1. a court of original jurisdiction

2. a trial court

3. an appeals court

4. a district court

an appeals court

5. Which of the following is a check that the legislative branch has over the courts?

   1. Congress may withhold funding needed to implement court decisions

   2. Senate approval is needed for the appointment of justices and federal judges

   3. Congress may rewrite a law the courts have declared unconstitutional

   4. all of the above

all of the above:

1. Congress may withhold funding needed to implement court decisions

2. all of the above

3. Senate approval is needed for the appointment of justices and federal judges

4. Congress may rewrite a law the courts have declared unconstitutional

Both state and federal courts hear matters that involve _____.

1. civil law only

2. neither civil nor criminal law

3. criminal law only

4. both civil and criminal law

both civil and criminal law

The Supreme Court’s power of judicial review _____.

1. is given to it in the original constitution

2. enables it to declare acts of the other branches unconstitutional

3. establishes the three-tired court system

4. allows it to hear cases

enables it to declare acts of the other branches unconstitutional

Besides the Supreme Court, there are lower courts in the national system called _____.

1. state and federal courts

2. state and local courts

3. civil and common courts

4. district and circuit courts

district and circuit courts

One of the main ways interest groups participate in Supreme Court cases is by _____.

1. filing amicus curiae briefs

2. giving monetary contributions to the justices

3. lobbying the justices

4. protesting in front of the Supreme Court building

filing amicus curiae briefs

A state case is more likely to be heard by the federal courts when _____.

1. a governor requests a federal court hearing

2. the state courts are unable to come up with a decision

3. it involves a federal question

4. it involves a criminal matter

it involves a federal question

The justices of the Supreme Court are _____.

1. nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate

2. confirmed by the president

3. chosen by the Congress

4. elected by citizens

nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate

A case will be placed on the Court’s docket when _____ justices agree to do so

1. four

2. six

3. five

4. all

four

In Federalist No. 78, Alexander Hamilton characterized the judiciary as the _____ branch of government.

1. strongest

2. most unnecessary

3. least dangerous

4. most political

least dangerous