What accounts for differences in interest groups' influence? Does it matter that not all groups ...

Ans. to #1

Answer: An ideal response will:
1. Identify and explain major factors in interest group influence including size of membership, cohesiveness, geographic distribution of membership, financial resources, reputation, and leadership and staff.
2. State and defend a position regarding variation in the power of interest groups.

Ans. to #2

Answer: An ideal response will:
1. Define lobbying.
2. Briefly contrast public perceptions of lobbying with scholarly ideas of lobbying.
3. Briefly identify and explain different forms of lobbying, linking the forms to the overall objective of influencing public policy.
4. Identify lawyers and former legislators as highly represented among the ranks of lobbyists.
5. Present and defend an argument about the importance of who is involved in lobbying.

Ans. to #3

Answer: An ideal response will:
1. Explain that de Tocqueville viewed Americans as being more committed to collective action than Europeans and viewed collective action as central to democracy.
2. Explain that Madison was concerned about the potential influence of factions, particularly majority factions, and believed that safeguards against group influence were necessary.
3. Explain some ambivalence evident in the American public. Interest groups are typically perceived negatively and people are concerned about the influence of groups on government. But individuals are supportive of protections for freedom of speech and association such as those offered by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and by the Texas Constitution.

Ans. to #4

Answer: An ideal response will:
1. Identify at least four of the following types of groups: business, professional, labor, education, public interest, minorities, agricultural, religious, local governments.
2. Compare and contrast the issues of interest to different groups.
3. Compare and contrast the influence of chosen groups.

Ans. to #5

Answer: An ideal response will:
1. Define and explain hyperpluralism.
2. Explain that hyperpluralism is concerned with the development of policy subsystems and iron triangles that control government policy.
3. Explain that hyperpluralism is concerned with the potential for deadlock, particularly with the influence of single-interest groups and lobbying efforts.

Ans. to #6

Answer: An ideal response will:
1. Explain pluralism, including identifying and explaining a minimum of four of the five general characteristics of a pluralistic society.
2. Explain elitism, including identifying and explaining a minimum of five of the six generalizations derived from elitism.
3. Explain that there is insufficient hard evidence to draw a firm conclusion about pluralism and elitism in Texas.
4. State and defend a position regarding pluralism and elitism in Texas.

Ans. to #7

Answer: An ideal response will:
1. Identify and explain personal and material benefits, social benefits, and personal satisfaction as motivations for joining interest groups.
2. Explain that a majority of American adults belong to at least one organization and many belong to multiple.
3. Explain that there are sociodemographic patterns in group membership, with higher membership among those with higher income, more education, and higher status occupations, as well as among whites and older individuals.
4. Explain that membership patterns can be reflected in influence on governmental policy.

All correct!

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