Question 1

Given that there aremore than200,000 public school teachers and administrators in Texas,discuss the failure of groups representing teachers to have a greater impact on the major issues affecting education.Explain how teachers might gain greater influence on the political process in Texas in the future.

Accepted Answer

The failure of groups representing teach...

Question 2

In which of these instances may democracybe impaired?

Accepted Answer

A)  ​Changes are made in public policy in the name of private interests.
B)  ​Changes are made in public policy in ways that benefit the public.
C)  ​Changes are made in public policy by referendum.
D)  ​Changes are made in public policy by majority vote.
E)  ​All of thesemay impair democracy.F) B) and E)
G) All of the above

Question 3

Cross-Chapter Essay Question (Chapters 1 and 3): ​Your text argues that one of the state's major shortcomings is "private influence over public policy."Explain how this concept is demonstrated by interest groups in Texas.Incorporate references to at least one of the major interest groups discussed in the chapter.

Accepted Answer

In Texas, the concept of private influen...

Question 4

​Traditionally,organized labor has been allied with which group?

Accepted Answer

A)  ​Democratic Party
B)  Republican Party
C)  big business
D)  ​spiritual groups
E)  ​none of theseF) A) and B)
G) A) and C)

Question 5

​Which word is defined as the means used to attempt to influence policymakers?

Accepted Answer

A)  ​lobbying
B)  ​legislating
C)  ​adjudicating
D)  ​executing
E)  ​fundraisingF) A) and B)
G) A) and C)

Question 6

How might democracy be impaired if changes in public policy are made to benefit private interests?​

Accepted Answer

Democracy might be impaired if changes i...

Question 7

A supporter of limiting campaign contributions from corporations is likely to make which of these arguments?

Accepted Answer

A)  The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution should not be interpreted as protecting the power of money.
B)  Any growing inequality of wealth has been caused by economic trends that are independent of government policies.
C)  Any advantage as a result of corporate influence is canceled out by the high taxes levied on corporations and by overregulation of corporations.
D)  Political action committees are merely organizations that permit individuals with a shared interest to coordinate their political activity; shared economic interests are just as worthy of representation as religious, ideological, ethnic, or any other kind of interest.
E)  All of these are arguments that supporters would make.F) B) and C)
G) B) and E)

Question 8

A political interest group is _____.

Accepted Answer

A)  an organization that tries to influence politicians to make public policy in line with their preferences
B)  a group of individuals who influence policymaking by manipulating citizens' opinions
C)  an organization that runs primary elections and nominates candidates for office
D)  any group of individuals who share a common interest
E)  a group that is focused on recruiting candidates for officeF) D) and E)
G) B) and E)

Question 9

​The right of the people to assemble into groups can be found in whichamendment to theU.S.Constitution?

Accepted Answer

A)  First
B)  Second
C)  Third
D)  Fourth
E)  FifthF) C) and D)
G) B) and E)

Question 10

Which of these is not one of the categories used by the authors of the text to classify interest groups?

Accepted Answer

A)  economic groups
B)  spiritual groups
C)  artistic-recreational organizations
D)  public interest groups
E)  political groupsF) A) and B)
G) C) and D)

Question 11

Interest groups representing _____ have had little influence on public policy in Texas.

Accepted Answer

A)  oil and gas companies
B)  banking and financial organizations
C)  insurance companies
D)  organized labor
E)  trucking companiesF) C) and E)
G) All of the above D

Question 12

Define cooptation and discuss how it might occur in Texas politics.Illustrate the phenomenon by discussing an example.

Accepted Answer

Cooptation refers to the process by whic...

Question 13

While politics is concerned with _____ policy,many of its actions have _____ consequences.​

Accepted Answer

A)  ​public; private
B)  ​private; public
C)  ​private; inclusive
D)  ​exclusive; public
E)  ​exclusive; inclusiveF) A) and B)
G) A) and C)

Question 14

While the First Amendment of the U.S.Constitution prohibits the government from preventing citizens from organizing to influencing the political process,government still has the power to regulate speech,particularly as it pertains to money and lobbying.Write an essay about how lobbying has been regulated in Texas from the 1940s until the present day.In your answer,be sure to explain the degree to which lobbyists have reacted to these regulations.Specifically,have these regulations restricted group activity to the point of paralysis? Explain your answer.
​

Accepted Answer

Lobbying in Texas has been regulated to ...

Question 15

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People was successful in contesting the constitutionality of racial segregation in which case?

Accepted Answer

A)  Brown v. Board of Education
B)  Nixon v. Herndon
C)  Nixon v. Condon
D)  Smith v. Allwright
E)  all of theseF) D) and E)
G) A) and D)

Question 16

Cross-Chapter Essay Question (Chapters 3 and 4): Differentiate between political parties and interest groups.How are their functions different?How are their goals different?Are there any similarities between the two?Use examples of a specific interest group and of a specific political party to demonstrate your answers.

Accepted Answer

Political parties and interest groups are both important players in the political landscape, but they serve different functions and have different goals.

Political parties are organizations that seek to gain control of the government by winning elections and holding public office. They typically have a broad set of policy goals and seek to appeal to a wide range of voters. Political parties also nominate candidates for public office and work to mobilize voters to support their candidates. For example, the Democratic Party and the Republican Party in the United States are both political parties with the goal of winning elections and implementing their policy agenda.

Interest groups, on the other hand, are organizations that seek to influence public policy by advocating for specific issues or causes. They often focus on a narrow set of policy goals and work to influence lawmakers and government officials to support their positions. Interest groups can take many forms, including professional associations, labor unions, and advocacy organizations. For example, the National Rifle Association (NRA) is an interest group that advocates for gun rights and works to influence legislation related to firearms.

The functions of political parties and interest groups are different in that political parties focus on winning elections and holding public office, while interest groups focus on influencing public policy. Additionally, their goals are different in that political parties seek to implement a broad policy agenda and win elections, while interest groups seek to advance specific policy goals and causes.

However, there are also similarities between political parties and interest groups. Both seek to influence the political process and shape public policy. They both engage in activities such as lobbying, fundraising, and grassroots organizing to achieve their goals. Additionally, political parties and interest groups often work together to advance shared policy objectives. For example, the Sierra Club, an environmental interest group, may work with the Democratic Party to advocate for environmental protection policies.

In conclusion, political parties and interest groups play distinct roles in the political process, with different functions and goals. While they have differences, they also share some similarities in their efforts to influence public policy and the political process.

Question 17

In which year was the Texas Ethics Commission initially created?

Accepted Answer

A)  ​1991
B)  ​1947
C)  ​1973
D)  ​1981
E)  ​2003F) A) and B)
G) B) and C) A

Question 18

Which of these is not a way that interest groups can enhance democratic governance?

Accepted Answer

A)  ​pursue a public policy outcome that benefits private interests
B)  ​supply information to citizens
C)  ​contribute to debates about issues
D)  ​encourage people to get more involved in politics
E)  ​change the established order by influencing institutionsF) C) and D)
G) B) and E)

Question 19

From the perspective of democratic theory,which is true ofefforts of wealthy special interests to create public support through campaigns to "educate" the public?

Accepted Answer

A)  These campaigns have both reassuring and troubling aspects.
B)  Such efforts help to expand the amount of information available to citizens.
C)  These educational campaigns reflect private, one-sided viewpoints.
D)  Such efforts tend to ignore the general public interest.
E)  All of these are true of such efforts.F) A) and E)
G) None of the above

Question 20

How are 527s and 501c4s different from political action committees?​

Accepted Answer

527s, 501(c)(4)s, and political action c...

Exam 3: Interest Groups

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The failure of groups representing teach...
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In which of these instances may democracybe impaired?

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Answered by ExamLex AI
In Texas, the concept of private influen...
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Traditionally,organized labor has been allied with which group?

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Which word is defined as the means used to attempt to influence policymakers?

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How might democracy be impaired if changes in public policy are made to benefit private interests?

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Democracy might be impaired if changes i...
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A supporter of limiting campaign contributions from corporations is likely to make which of these arguments?

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A political interest group is _____.

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The right of the people to assemble into groups can be found in whichamendment to theU.S.Constitution?

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Which of these is not one of the categories used by the authors of the text to classify interest groups?

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Interest groups representing _____ have had little influence on public policy in Texas.

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D

Define cooptation and discuss how it might occur in Texas politics.Illustrate the phenomenon by discussing an example.

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Cooptation refers to the process by whic...
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While politics is concerned with _ policy,many of its actions have _ consequences.

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Answered by ExamLex AI
Lobbying in Texas has been regulated to ...
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The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People was successful in contesting the constitutionality of racial segregation in which case?

Correct Answer
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In which year was the Texas Ethics Commission initially created?

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verified
A

Which of these is not a way that interest groups can enhance democratic governance?

Correct Answer
verified

From the perspective of democratic theory,which is true ofefforts of wealthy special interests to create public support through campaigns to "educate" the public?

Correct Answer
verified

How are 527s and 501c4s different from political action committees?

Correct Answer
Answered by ExamLex AI
527s, 501(c)(4)s, and political action c...
View Answer

Exam 3: Interest Groups

Correct AnswerAnswered by ExamLex AIThe failure of groups representing teach...View AnswerShow Answer

In which of these instances may democracybe impaired?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Correct AnswerAnswered by ExamLex AIIn Texas, the concept of private influen...View AnswerShow Answer

​Traditionally,organized labor has been allied with which group?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

​Which word is defined as the means used to attempt to influence policymakers?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

How might democracy be impaired if changes in public policy are made to benefit private interests?​

Correct AnswerAnswered by ExamLex AIDemocracy might be impaired if changes i...View AnswerShow Answer

A supporter of limiting campaign contributions from corporations is likely to make which of these arguments?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

A political interest group is _____.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

​The right of the people to assemble into groups can be found in whichamendment to theU.S.Constitution?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of these is not one of the categories used by the authors of the text to classify interest groups?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Interest groups representing _____ have had little influence on public policy in Texas.

Correct AnswerverifiedD

Define cooptation and discuss how it might occur in Texas politics.Illustrate the phenomenon by discussing an example.

Correct AnswerAnswered by ExamLex AICooptation refers to the process by whic...View AnswerShow Answer

While politics is concerned with _____ policy,many of its actions have _____ consequences.​

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Correct AnswerAnswered by ExamLex AILobbying in Texas has been regulated to ...View AnswerShow Answer

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People was successful in contesting the constitutionality of racial segregation in which case?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

In which year was the Texas Ethics Commission initially created?

Correct AnswerverifiedA

Which of these is not a way that interest groups can enhance democratic governance?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

From the perspective of democratic theory,which is true ofefforts of wealthy special interests to create public support through campaigns to "educate" the public?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

How are 527s and 501c4s different from political action committees?​

Correct AnswerAnswered by ExamLex AI527s, 501(c)(4)s, and political action c...View AnswerShow Answer

Correct Answer
Answered by ExamLex AI
The failure of groups representing teach...
View Answer

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
Answered by ExamLex AI
In Texas, the concept of private influen...
View Answer

Traditionally,organized labor has been allied with which group?

Correct Answer
verified

Which word is defined as the means used to attempt to influence policymakers?

Correct Answer
verified

How might democracy be impaired if changes in public policy are made to benefit private interests?

Correct Answer
Answered by ExamLex AI
Democracy might be impaired if changes i...
View Answer

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

The right of the people to assemble into groups can be found in whichamendment to theU.S.Constitution?

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified
D

Correct Answer
Answered by ExamLex AI
Cooptation refers to the process by whic...
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While politics is concerned with _ policy,many of its actions have _ consequences.

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
Answered by ExamLex AI
Lobbying in Texas has been regulated to ...
View Answer

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified
A

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

How are 527s and 501c4s different from political action committees?

Correct Answer
Answered by ExamLex AI
527s, 501(c)(4)s, and political action c...
View Answer