Question 1

A conflict of interest is problematic for the public because​ a
A)​public officer is not allowed to have a second job.
B)public officer may choose personal interest over the interests and welfare of the public.
C)​public officer may not be properly compensated for his or her work.
D)conflict of interest does not present a meaningful problem.

Accepted Answer

A conflict of interest occurs when a public officer's personal interest is in opposition to their duties and responsibilities to the public. This can lead to bias and decisions that prioritize personal gain over the greater good. This is problematic because public officers are entrusted with making decisions that impact the public, and their actions must be guided by ethical principles that foster trust and integrity.

Question 2

Business and agriculture interest groups are interested in all of the following except
A)encouraging government regulations.
B)securing benefits called subsidies.
C)keeping their taxes low.
D)receiving government contracts to increase profits.

Accepted Answer

Business and agriculture interest groups are often against encouraging government regulations as they believe it can restrict their profits and freedoms. However, they are interested in securing benefits called subsidies, keeping their taxes low, and receiving government contracts to increase profits.

Question 3

According to state law,which of the following statements about lobbying is incorrect?
A)Not all lobbyists are required by state law to register and report their activities.
B)Lobbyists not paid wages or reimbursed for their expenses are not required to register with the state.
C)Individuals and organizations that spend more than a specified amount of money attempting to shape public decisions are required to register.
D)All lobbyists must file financial reports with the secretary of state.

Accepted Answer

The incorrect statement is that all lobbyists must file financial reports with the secretary of state. This is not accurate because there are exceptions based on the type of lobbying, the amount of money spent, and whether the lobbyist is paid or reimbursed for their expenses.

Question 4

​As a lobbyist you would rather have the support of
A)​the majority of residents in the state.
B)​the chair of legislative committees relevant to your issue.
C)​the presiding officers of the legislator.
D)​key religious leaders in the state.

Accepted Answer

The answer of ​As a lobbyist you would rather have...

Question 5

Lobbyists influence the courts in Texas by​
A)actively campaigning for candidates who support their cause.
B)​direct lobbying.
C)encouraging the governor to fill court vacancies with friendly judicial appointees. 
D)actively campaigning for candidates who support their cause,and encouraging the governor to fill court vacancies with friendly judicial appointees.

Accepted Answer

Lobbyists in Texas influence the courts by both actively campaigning for candidates who support their cause and encouraging the governor to fill court vacancies with friendly judicial appointees. These tactics ensure that potential judges are sympathetic to the lobbyists' causes and will rule in their favor. Direct lobbying may also be utilized, but it is not the primary method of influencing the courts in Texas.

Question 6

Which of the following are least likely to subscribe to the Texas Register?
A)Corporations
B)Labor unions
C)Ordinary citizens
D)Interest groups

Accepted Answer

Ordinary citizens are least likely to subscribe to the Texas Register compared to corporations, labor unions, and interest groups, as the latter entities have a direct interest in monitoring regulatory changes and government notices that could affect their operations or causes. Ordinary citizens, on the other hand, may not have the same level of interest or need to stay as informed about such specific and detailed governmental updates.

Question 7

___________ is the promotion of a particular public policy position.
A)Lobbying
B)Advocacy
C)Hiring
D)Interest group

Accepted Answer

Advocacy is defined as the promotion of a particular public policy position, often by interest groups or individuals who seek to influence policymakers. Lobbying is a specific form of advocacy, which involves directly communicating with legislators or government officials to influence policy decisions. Hiring also does not fit the definition of advocacy or lobbying, and interest group is a broader term that encompasses both advocacy and lobbying activities.

Question 8

The ability to contact an official either in person or by phone is called
A)access.
B)contribution.
C)lobbying.
D)political influence.

Accepted Answer

The ability to contact an official either in person or by phone is often referred to as access, which allows individuals or organizations to communicate their concerns or opinions directly to those in power.

Question 9

​Lobbyists are able to have influence on the policy-making process after a law leaves the legislature because
A)​Texas governors have a history of giving lobbyists an informal veto power on all legislation.
B)​the Texas legislature gives the bureaucracy a great deal of administrative discretion through the rule-making process.
C)​the Texas office of customer satisfaction requires that the bureaucracy run all implementation plans by interested lobbyists and stakeholders.
D)​none of these choices is true.

Accepted Answer

Lobbyists can influence policy-making after a law leaves the legislature because the Texas legislature gives the bureaucracy a great deal of administrative discretion through the rule-making process. This allows agencies to interpret and implement laws in ways that can be influenced by lobbyists and other interested parties.

Question 10

When a special interest is seeking a change in policy that affects the balance of power in the political,social,or economic system,there will be
A)much greater participation and conflict.
B)less participation and conflict.
C)much greater participation and less conflict.
D)much less participation and greater conflict.

Accepted Answer

When a special interest is seeking a change in policy that affects the balance of power in the political, social, or economic system, there is likely to be much greater participation and conflict. This is because different groups will have competing interests, and they will mobilize to advocate for their positions. This can lead to protests, lobbying, and other forms of political activity designed to influence policymakers. As a result, there will be greater overall participation, but also greater conflict as groups with different goals clash over the direction that policy should take.

Question 11

Texas lobbyists outnumber legislators​
A)​2 to 1
B)​9 to 1
C)​100 to 1
D)​3 to 1

Accepted Answer

According to a report by the Center for Public Integrity, there are nine registered lobbyists for every Texas state legislator. This is the highest ratio of lobbyists to legislators in the United States.

Question 12

Which of the following concerning campaign contributions for state house and senate candidates is correct?
A)Total contributions for senate races were greater than the total for house races.
B)Total contributions for senate races were less than the total for house races.
C)Total contributions for senate and house races were about the same.
D)More money was raised in Texas for these races than any other state.

Accepted Answer

Senate races often involve larger geographic areas and more voters than house races, but the total contributions for house races can be greater due to the larger number of house seats up for election compared to senate seats, leading to an overall higher total contribution for house races.

Question 13

In the case of Caperton v.A.T.Massey,the U.S.Supreme Court
A)placed greater restrictions on campaign contributions in judicial races.
B)banned contributions in judicial races.
C)began to set parameters for the most egregious examples of conflicts of interest.
D)removed all restrictions on contributions in judicial races.

Accepted Answer

In Caperton v. A.T. Massey, the U.S. Supreme Court addressed the issue of judicial impartiality and conflicts of interest, setting parameters for when a judge's involvement in a case may be so compromised by a party's contributions that due process requires the judge's recusal.

Question 14

The Texas Register is used by a state agency to provide
A)notice of intent to make a rule.
B)guidelines issued by agencies to govern the actions of their employees.
C)all executive agreements.
D)a list of all state lobbyists.

Accepted Answer

The Texas Register is a weekly publication that is used by state agencies to provide notice of their intention to make a rule, as well as to provide notice of proposed and adopted rules. This helps to ensure transparency and provide the public with the opportunity to comment on new rules before they are enacted.

Question 15

Which is not an interest group activity?
A)Creating a political action committee (PAC)
B)Endorsing candidates
C)Recommending that its members vote for a particular candidate
D)Nominating candidates for office

Accepted Answer

Nominating candidates for office is not typically an interest group activity. Interest groups may endorse candidates, recommend that members vote for a particular candidate, or create a political action committee to support a candidate, but they generally do not nominate candidates themselves. Nominating candidates is the primary responsibility of political parties.

Question 16

The blurring of lines between the state and a special interest group is called
A)a structured conspiracy.
B)co-optation.
C)negative cooperation.
D)symmetry.

Accepted Answer

Co-optation refers to the process where the state collaborates with and incorporates the ideas and demands of special interest groups into its policies and decision-making processes to the extent that the groups actually end up controlling the state agencies. This results in the blurring of lines between the state and the interest group, which can affect the governance system's effectiveness and accountability. It is a form of influence exercised by organized interests on the government.

Question 17

Special interest groups use the court system because of all of the following except
A)the court system can give a more favorable interpretation of the law than that given by the enforcing agency.
B)lawsuits are less expensive than trying to influence the legislature.
C)the court system serves as a way to delay application of costly rules.
D)the court system is a way to political capital for supporters.

Accepted Answer

Special interest groups do not use the court system to gain political capital for supporters; they use it to influence legal interpretations and delay regulations.

Question 18

An organization created by interest groups to promote common goals is identified as what type of organization?
A)Shield
B)Umbrella
C)Life boat
D)Floater

Accepted Answer

An umbrella organization is created by interest groups to promote common goals. It typically represents a group of organizations or associations that have a similar interest or objective. The term "umbrella" refers to the notion of providing a collective entity that covers the various individual organizations, thereby allowing them to work together towards a common goal.

Question 19

Which industry groups in Texas had the largest number and maximum value of contracts signed with lobbyists?
A)Insurance
B)Real estate
C)Energy/natural resources
D)Computers and electronics

Accepted Answer

According to the given information, the industry group with the largest number and maximum value of contracts signed with lobbyists in Texas is not specified. However, based on the economic importance of the energy and natural resources sector in Texas, it is likely that this industry group has a significant presence and influence in the state's lobbying activities. Therefore, option C would be the best choice. The other options are potential industries for lobbying activities in Texas but do not necessarily have the most significant number or value of contracts signed.

Question 20

When interest groups employ lobbying officeholders to file suits in court,get their advocates appointed to state boards,testify before legislative committees,these are examples of
A)direct means of influencing government.
B)indirect means of influencing government.
C)mixed interest means of influencing government.
D)influencing government.

Accepted Answer

These activities are direct means of influencing government because they involve direct interaction with government officials, legal actions, and participation in government processes.

Quiz 6: Interest Groups

A conflict of interest is problematic for the public because a

Business and agriculture interest groups are interested in all of the following except

According to state law,which of the following statements about lobbying is incorrect?

As a lobbyist you would rather have the support of

Lobbyists influence the courts in Texas by

Which of the following are least likely to subscribe to the Texas Register?

___________ is the promotion of a particular public policy position.

The ability to contact an official either in person or by phone is called

Lobbyists are able to have influence on the policy-making process after a law leaves the legislature because

When a special interest is seeking a change in policy that affects the balance of power in the political,social,or economic system,there will be

Texas lobbyists outnumber legislators

Which of the following concerning campaign contributions for state house and senate candidates is correct?

In the case of Caperton v.A.T.Massey,the U.S.Supreme Court

The Texas Register is used by a state agency to provide

Which is not an interest group activity?

The blurring of lines between the state and a special interest group is called

Special interest groups use the court system because of all of the following except

An organization created by interest groups to promote common goals is identified as what type of organization?

Which industry groups in Texas had the largest number and maximum value of contracts signed with lobbyists?

When interest groups employ lobbying officeholders to file suits in court,get their advocates appointed to state boards,testify before legislative committees,these are examples of