Interest Groups: Game Two

#1

100

Which type of interest group fights for laws that promote their religious beliefs and fight against laws that conflict with their religious beliefs?

religious groups

200

Which type of interest group fights for laws that pertain to one particular issue that they are interested in?

single-issue groups

300

Of the seven types of interest groups, which is the most successful at influencing the government? Why?

business; because they have a lot of money

400

One reason that people join interest groups is for social reasons. Explain this reason.

people want to meet and be around others who have similar views

500

Name three reasons why having more money would increase an interest group’s chances of influencing the government.

must have three of these: the more money an interest group has, the more they can put ads out that help the candidate that they like win an election, the more they can give campaign contributions to politicians which help the candidate they like win, the more they can pay good lobbyists to try to persuade politicians, the more they can put ads out to try to convince people to be in favor of their cause, the more they can pay for the legal fees of cases that might benefit their goals

#2

100

Even though it is illegal to ___________________ politicians in the U.S., many Americans believe that interest groups come close to doing this when they donate a lot of money to a politician’s campaign.

bribe

200

Which type of interest group fights for the rights of those who have been discriminated against (racial minorities, women, the disabled, etc.)?

civil rights groups

300

Which type of interest group fights for the rights of people who cannot fight for themselves because they are very poor or are being victimized or are too vulnerable to fight for themselves?

public interest groups

400

Many Americans worry that instead of our elected representatives making decisions that are in the best interest of the people who elected them, instead they are looking out for the best interest of the wealthy/elite people or groups that donated money to them. In other words, many Americans worry that our type of government is turning into ________________, instead of what it is supposed to be, which is___________________.

an aristocracy; a republic

500

List two ways that political parties and interest groups are different from each other.

political parties run candidates for office but interest groups do not, they just try to influence the politicians who are in government or else help get politicians elected who are likely to made decisions that an interest group likes; political parties have a broad focus and take positions on many issues but interest groups have a more narrow focus and only care about a few issues

#3

100

Sometimes interest groups try to influence the government by sending out “report cards” to their members in which they give all of the candidates in an upcoming election a grade. The purpose of this is to try to persuade their members to vote for the candidate that is most likely to help the interest group achieve their goals. What are these “report cards” called?

ratings

200

Many Americans believe that when politicians and lobbyists meet privately and make agreements with each other, they are acting immorally in order to gain something for themselves. In other words, many Americans believe that politicians and lobbyists do ___________________ things when they meet with each other.

corrupt

300

The NRA, MADD, and the National Right to Life Committee are all examples of what type of interest group?

single-issue groups

400

ALTRIAPAC and KOCHPAC are both examples of what type of interest group? What does ALTRIAPAC fight for and what does KOCHIPAC fight for?

business groups; ALTRIAPAC fights for tobacco companies, KOCHIPAC fights for oil/petroleum companies

500

Why would an interest group having very intense or passionate members help them to achieve their goals?

intense or passionate members would be more likely to do extreme things, which could get the interest group publicity or get them on the news, which brings more attention to their cause/issue

#4

100

Which type of interest group fights for the rights of businesses and their owners.

business groups

200

Which type of interest group fights for laws that benefit people in certain occupations?

professional groups

300

What does the ACLU stand for? What do they fight for?

American Civil Liberties Union; for the rights of people who have been or are being discriminated against (racial minorities, disabled people, women, immigrants, homosexuals, accused criminals, prisoners, etc.)

400

One reason that people join interest groups is for ideological reasons. Explain this reason.

people really believe in the ideas and goals of an interest group and want to help them achieve those goals

500

What are two cons of interest groups?

many people believe that interest groups do corrupt things in order to influence the government and that politicians do corrupt things in response; many believe that politicians care more about pleasing interest groups than the people that they are supposed to represent. That makes some Americans feel like interest groups and businesses have more influence in the government than the people, which make them feel like the U.S. has more of an aristocracy than a republic

#5

100

Sometimes interest groups try to influence the government by donating money to a politician’s campaign in order to help him/her try to win an upcoming election. What are these donations called?

campaign contributions

200

Which type of interest group fights for the rights of workers in a particular workplace by helping to negotiate pay, health insurance benefits, etc. with employers?

labor unions

300

What does the NAACP stand for? What do they fight for?

National Association for the Advancement of Colored People; to end racial discrimination (fight for racial equality)

400

One reason that people join interest groups is for material reasons. Explain this reason.

people believe that membership in a particular interest group will provide them with things that they want or will benefit them in some way

500

Why would having a lot of members increase an interest group’s chances of influencing the government?

the more members an interest group has, the more likely that they can get their members to vote for the candidates that the interest group likes, thus impacting who gets elected to serve in the government