The primary goal of interest groups is to

a. educate the public about issues

b. sponsor candidates for elections

c. fight corruption in government

d. influence public policy

e. provide campaign donations

d. influence public policy

Alexis De Tocqueville believed that the American tendency to join associations

a. would decline as the country grew

b. was a threat to democracy

c. reflected a strong democratic culture

d. could lead to factionalism

e. would cause increased protests

c. reflected a strong democratic culture

With Democrats controlling both houses of Congress and the presidency after the 2008 election, firms wanting to hire new lobbyists were most interested in the following:

a. Democrats with many years of experience in Washington

b. Republicans with many years of experience in Washington

c. Independent lobbyists with no ties to the Democrats or Republicans

d. Tea Party lobbyists

e. none of the above

a. Democrats with many years of experience in Washington

James Madison, writing in the Federalist papers, suggested that relief from the self-interested advocacy of factions would be provided by:

a. regulating factions' activities by passing strict laws limiting them

b. making factionalism a criminal offense

c. replacing factions with political parties

d. a democratic republic in which government would mediate among opposing factions

e. increased power and control for factional alliances

d. a democratic republic in which government would mediate among opposing factions

Individual lobbies spend vast sums as they try to influence legislation and recent filings with the Congress listed_____ in annual spending through lobbying.

a. $1 billion

b. $500 million

c. $750 million

d. $100 million

e. more than $3 billion

e. more than $3 billion

It has been suggested that interest groups provide better representation for their constituents than do members of Congress because

a. most interest groups represent a wider range of opinions and needs than do members of Congress

b. members of Congress are pressured by many different groups and opinions; interest groups are more focused

c. interest group representatives are more honest and conscientious than members of Congress

d. citizens are more informed about interest group activity than about congressional action

e. interest group communication abilities are more sophisticated than those of Congress