The existence of interest groups
A) shows that public interest groups and civil rights make up a large percentage of interest groups lobbying Congress.
B) shows that leaders are from the lower social-economic groups.
C) demonstrates the validity of the elite theory model of U.S. political system.
D) can be problematic for democracy because members of the middle or upper classes often dominate interest groups.
E) is required by the Constitution.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The existence of interest groups, particularly those dominated by the middle or upper classes, can be problematic for democracy as they may have disproportionate influence on policy-making compared to groups representing the general public. This aligns with the pluralist theory of interest groups in the U.S. political system. Option A is incorrect as public interest groups and civil rights groups may not necessarily make up a large percentage of interest groups lobbying Congress. Option B is incorrect as there is no evidence to suggest that leaders of interest groups are exclusively from lower social-economic groups. Option C is incorrect as the existence of interest groups does not necessarily confirm the elite theory model of the U.S. political system. Option E is also incorrect as the Constitution does not require the existence of interest groups.

The Existence of Interest Groups