A.   a joining together of interest groups or individuals to achieve common goals

B.   a nonprofit, tax-free policy planning organization that concentrates on policy development

C.   an organization that solicits and receives campaign contributions from corporations, unions, trade associations, and other groups.

D.   a form of sub government composed of leaders of interest groups, government agencies, and congressional committees

A.   When one group throws its weight around too much, its opponents are likely to intensify their organization and thus restore balance to the system.

B.   All legitimate interests in the political system can get a hearing from government once they are organized.

C.   Awesome power is held by the largest corporations.

D.   There are too many special interest groups getting too much of what they want.

A.   Government decisions reflect the preferences of elites.

B.   Only wealthy interests have influence over government decisions.

C.   Policymakers care more about public opinion than interest groups' preferences.

D.   A rough approximation of the public interest emerges from competition between groups.

A.   fostering democratic deliberation

B.   protecting their self-interests

C.   creating more opportunities for collective action.

D.   abolishing free-riders

A.   reduced agency budgets

B.   growth in the number of political parties.

C.   termination of government programs

D.   contradictory and confusing policies

A.   the policies that interest groups help to bring about

B.   campaign contributions to elected officials

C.   benefits given only to group members

D.   gifts given to members of Congress in return for their support on legislation.

A.   an environmental group disagreeing on what policy goals to pursue

B.   an elected official relying on information from lobbyists

C.   a political action committee contributing to candidates from both major political parties.

D.   an environmentalist deciding not to join an environmental group but appreciating the group's environmental stewardship

A.   a petition submitted to Congress in support of or opposition to a judicial nominee

B.   an internal memo circulated among interest group leaders, briefing them on the details of a court case

C.   a written argument submitted to a court in support of one side of a case

D.   a petition submitted to an executive branch agency, requesting a review of the agency's decision.

A.   an organization within a political party that coordinates campaign events.

B.   an organization that solicits campaign contributions from like-minded individuals and distributes them to political candidates

C.   an organizations that focuses on grassroots lobbying

D.   an organization that conducts voter registration drives

A.   by filing amicus curiaebriefs

B.   by providing specialized expertise

C.   by organizing protests and demonstrations on Capitol Hill

D.   by offering them money to vote a particular way.

A.   by meeting with judges to express their views on cases.

B.   by publishing editorials in major newspapers stating their views on cases

C.   by bringing lawsuits to the courts on behalf of classes of citizens

D.   through letter-writing campaigns addressed to particular judges

A.   providing elected officials with innovative ideas for addressing a policy problem

B.   speaking on behalf of elected officials at press conferences.

C.   providing legal counsel to interest groups in court cases

D.   answering e-mails from elected officials' constituents

A.   It required all lobbyists to join the Labor Union of American Lobbyists and Government Relations Experts.

B.   It set limits on how many lobbyists could be employed by a PAC.

C.   It limited the number of hours each lobbyist could work during a single session of Congress.

D.   It required lobbyists to file a report detailing the sources of their lobbying income.

A.   coordinating committees

B.   Political Action Committees (PACs)

C.   iron triangles

D.   527 organizations.

A.   members of the minority party in Congress.

B.   challengers

C.   presidential candidates

D.   incumbents

A.   conducting surveys to gauge public opinion on a policy issue

B.   fundraising for political candidates and educating the public about the activities of government

C.   convincing potential members to join an interest group by offering them material benefits.

D.   communication as a representative of a group with government officials to persuade them to support a particular policy

A.   labor union

B.   trade association.

C.   public interest group

D.   union shop

A.   to provide jobs for the unemployed

B.   to protect the interests of businesses within an industry.

C.   to promote better working conditions and higher wages

D.   to protect consumers from unsafe products

A.   by banning the formation of interest groups

B.   by adopting a system of direct democracy.

C.   by expanding their sphere of participation

D.   by discouraging citizens from expressing their political views in public