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

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

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

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

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

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

C.   Awesome power is held by the largest corporations.

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

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

B.   Only wealthy interests have influence over government decisions.

C.   Government decisions reflect the preferences of elites.

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

A.   protecting their self-interests

B.   abolishing free-riders

C.   fostering democratic deliberation

D.   creating more opportunities for collective action.

A.   termination of government programs

B.   growth in the number of political parties.

C.   contradictory and confusing policies

D.   reduced agency budgets

A.   the policies that interest groups help to bring about

B.   benefits given only to group members

C.   campaign contributions to elected officials

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

A.   an elected official relying on information from lobbyists

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A.   an organization that conducts voter registration drives

B.   an organizations that focuses on grassroots lobbying

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

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

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

B.   by providing specialized expertise

C.   by filing amicus curiaebriefs

D.   by organizing protests and demonstrations on Capitol Hill

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

B.   through letter-writing campaigns addressed to particular judges

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

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

A.   answering e-mails from elected officials' constituents

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

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

D.   providing legal counsel to interest groups in court cases

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

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

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

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

A.   coordinating committees

B.   527 organizations.

C.   Political Action Committees (PACs)

D.   iron triangles

A.   incumbents

B.   members of the minority party in Congress.

C.   challengers

D.   presidential candidates

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.   union shop

B.   labor union

C.   trade association.

D.   public interest group

A.   to provide jobs for the unemployed

B.   to protect consumers from unsafe products

C.   to promote better working conditions and higher wages

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

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

B.   by expanding their sphere of participation

C.   by banning the formation of interest groups

D.   by adopting a system of direct democracy.