How does a well-compensated, professional legislative staff reduce the influence of interest groups?Multiple choice question.Well-compensated staff have less incentive to move into lobbying, which reduces the advocacy pool.The staff can accept the incentives of lobbyists, therefore keeping them away from legislators.The staff can protect legislators from lobbyists.The staff provides most of the research for legislators, who rely less on interest group research.

According to the tutorial, lawmakers primarily rely on interest groups for:a.)campaign contributions.b.)amicus briefs.c.)mobilizing people to vote.d.)information and voting cues.

Citizens' interest groups are distinguished from economic interest groups by the fact thatGroup of answer choicestheir leaders are elected by secret ballot among the group's members.there is no material incentive for members in their pursuit of the group's goals.they do not lobby government officials directly, but rely instead on public service announcements to get their views across to society.they always pursue goals in which there is a high level of agreement among society members.All these answers are correct.

Economist Mancur Olson suggested that interest groups tend to have a harder time getting around the free-rider problem as they grow larger because:Select one:a. leadership loses its tight control as membership increasesb. their efforts have diminishing returns as the group becomes entrenched in the political mainstreamc. people outside of the group come to see them as a corrupting influenced. individuals do not have much incentive to become active members and supporters of a group that is already more or less working on their behalf

Read this passage:An interest group representing auto manufacturers runs ads opposing a high-speed train project, even though the train would reduce commute times for many citizens.What possible disadvantage of interest groups does this scenario illustrate?A.They sometimes resort to unethical tactics.B.They focus primarily on the interests of their members, not on the public good.C.They inspire people to participate in politics.D.They lack power unless they are well funded.

On high-profile issues like climate change, lobbyingGroup of answer choiceshas little effect on the views of members of Congress.has an effect with some members and no effect on other members of Congress, regardless of party.has great potential to change the views of members of Congress.has little effect on members of Congress who are Democrats, but great effect on members of Congress who are Republicans.