Chapter 10 Section 1
1)
Why was James Madison
against special interest groups?
a.
He thought they went
against the rights of other citizens and the country as a whole.
2)
What is the
difference between special interest groups and political parties?
a.
Interest groups try
to influence public officials and policy, they do not have candidates
b.
Political parties try
and nominate/elect certain people for public office
3)
List three reasons why
citizens join special interest groups?
a.
They want their own
economic interests promoted
b.
An individual may
wish to have their beliefs/values promoted and heard on a larger scale
c.
Interest groups can
also be for social reasons and/or opportunities
4)
Describe the ways
that leaders of an interest group unite the membership of the group.
a.
Keep members in the
know with regards to their activities
b.
Try and improve the image of the organization
in the media
c.
Act as the group’s
public speakers
d.
Raise money for
organizations
e.
Oversee all financial
decisions of the group
5)
Why are interest
groups more effective in influencing government officials than are individual
citizens?
a.
By grouping together,
citizens have a stronger bargaining position because they have the weight of a
lot of people
b.
They also have more
financial reason resources to make their collective opinion heard
6)
Why would a
professional association such as the American Bar Association, organized to
influence licensing and training of lawyers, become a political interest group?
a.
To try and influence
licensing and training they could go through the government to pass laws ect.
that would change the issues they care about
7)
List four special
interest groups and describe what their interests are.
a.
Sierra Club – focused
on promoting conservation and natural resources
b.
AARP (Association of
Retired Persons) – want higher social security benefits
c.
NAM (National
Association of Manufacturers – work to lower personal & corporate taxes,
limit government regulation of business, and raise tariffs (taxes on imported
goods)
d.
NFU (National
Farmers’ Union) – supports higher prices for crops and livestock and protection
of migrant workers
8)
If you were to join a
special interest group what would it be and why?
a.
ACV (Alaska
Conservation Voters) – I would join the ACV because I believe that conservation
is important and many Alaskans don’t realize the impact large oil and gas
corporations have on our state.
Government Chapter 10 Section 2
1)
What is a
lobbyist? What do they do?
a.
A lobbyist is a person
who represents special interest groups by directly contacting representatives
and senators with the group’s issues/wants/needs. They also try and influence
other members of the executive branch with their client’s issues.
2)
What are some
potential dilemmas involved with lobbyists?
a.
3)
Identify the kinds of
people who become lobbyists.
a.
Former government
officials
b.
Lawyers
c.
Public relations
experts
4)
Describe three
methods lobbyist use to influence lawmakers.
a.
They try and provide
information that supports their group’s interests, but are still factually
accurate
b.
Provide information
by testifying before congressional committees
c.
Pass out pamphlets
and research on their supported subject
d.
May write/draft bills
for Congress to review, they often help legislators write the bills that are
introduced
e.
Provide money for
politicians to use in their campaigns
f.
Take court action
against or for a law/situation to try and force lawmakers to their position, if
they win in court
g.
Writing letters to
their chosen politician
5)
Explain why Congress
asks lobbyists to testify at hearings and to hear draft legislation.
a.
They provide
information to Congress in regards to the proposed law. They are also forbidden
from lying, but their facts can just represent the good side of their proposal,
not the bad.
6)
How do interest
groups win public support?
a.
Media campaigns
(newspaper, internet, TV) – to inform and create support with the public
b.
Letter writing –
members write letters to gov. officials to demonstrate a wide range of
support/opposition to the purposed bill
7)
Why is the Federal
Regulation of Lobbying Act ineffective in controlling lobbying at the national
level?
a.
There are many
loopholes for Lobbyists within the bill
i. They only have to report money used for direct contact with
the legislator
ii. Only groups that state their primary purpose is to influence
legislation need to register with the Clerk of the House and Secretary of the Senate
8)
Do you believe
interest groups have too much influence on the national government? Why?
a.
Interest groups don’t
have too much say in our government because they help get a large percentage of
voters heard more clearly (their members). There are some limitations, such as
spending and accepting of money from one donor that should be limited, but
aside from that it also helps morale. If Americans feel like they are helping themselves
get a say in things by joining a kin-of political group, let them.
Chapter 10 Section 3
1)
Define political action committees, incumbent,
and grandfather clause.
a.
PACs – organizations specifically designed to
collect money and provide financial support for a political candidate
b.
Incumbent – government official already in
office
c.
Grandfather clause – a provision in the law for
a certain group based on previous conditions
2)
Explain the basic purpose of a political action
committee.
a.
Their aim is to collect finances then support a candidate
with said money
3)
List the laws that govern the operations of the
PACs.
a.
Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 & Revenue
Act of 1971
i. PACs
must:
1.
register w/ the government 6 months before an
election
2.
raise money from at least 50 contributors
3.
give to at least 5 candidates in a federal election
4)
Describe three requirements that the laws place
on PACs.
a.
PACs can give $5000 directly to each candidate
per election
b.
See #3
5)
Why do PACs sometimes give money to candidates
who do not always support their views?
a.
Because their interests across the board are
protected
i. Even
if one politician fails/becomes unpopular, they are still in the back pocket of
another more popular candidate or incumbent
6)
In what way is campaign financing by independent
and affiliated PACs more democratic than funding by wealthy individuals,
corporations, and labor unions?
a.
They receive contributions and ideas from more
people equally as opposed to corporations whose head probably gets the final
say on their policy
7)
What was the unexpected result of laws passed in
the 1970s to reform campaign finance?
a.
It encouraged the growth of PACs, this is
unexpected because the law was restricting PACs further (went from 600 PACs to
4000 PACs)
8)
Why do you think Congress has been reluctant to
limit the financial contributions of PACs in federal elections?
a.
They receive money and finances from these
groups, so it would be like limiting their own campaign budget and chance at re-election
