Prof. J. S. Trachtenberg                                                                          Clayton State University
POLS 3380 – Interest Groups & Political Parties                                         Fall Semester 2005
Examination One Study Questions

 INSTRUCTIONS: 

Examination Date: Saturday, October 1st, A & S Bldg., Room G-229, 9:00 to 11:00 a.m.  

You will prepare for this examination outside of class and write this examination in class, using your laptop computer. You may use notes in writing your examination answers. Once completed, you will email the completed examination to me at: joetrachtenberg@mail.clayton.edu  You will have the two hour examination period in which to complete your exam; if you arrive late for the exam, you will have the time remaining in which to complete your exam.  

The examination answers are to be your work and yours alone. Your exam should be typed, double-space, using twelve-point type. At the left top corner of the first page, provide:  your full name, POLS 3360 – The Congress, and the examination date.  

While I will not specifically deduct points for grammar, syntax or spelling mistakes, remember, common sense dictates that a well written (i.e. correct grammar, punctuation, spelling, syntax, and clarity of meaning), logically organized, detailed, analytical exam, providing an in-depth treatment of a topic will earn more points than a short, poorly written, superficial treatment of the same subject.  

How long of an answer should you provide? If you have dealt clearly and effectively with all aspects of the question asked, the answer should be complete.   

Assume I know very little specifically about your chosen issue or problem. As the instructor, I will want to know how well you understand the topic. A strong essay may include information from the textbook, but it will also make extensive use of outside resources, accurate historical and current news, the opinions of recognized experts, objective analysis, and logical conclusions. Think about and explain the factual situation and concepts involved. Do not simply quote from and paraphrase the source materials you incorporate into your discussion.  

Examination Study Questions:

Before you begin your on-campus examination, I will announce from among which of these study questions you may choose ONE question to answer for 150 possible points.  

1. Select a public policy issue that is currently being discussed by the president and the Congress. Identify at least two interest groups that are politically active on this issue. Describe the mission of each of these organized interests. Compare and contrast the objectives and lobbying techniques/activities of these organizations.
   
   
2. Select one federal government program created since 1933. Identify and research at least three interest groups that have been organized by people impacted by this program. Provide detailed information on each organization’s mission, source of funding, lobbying techniques and policy agenda success. Do these organizations work together or are they on opposite sides of the issues in question? How closely are any of these organizations identified with one or the other of the two major political parties?

3. Select a think tank. Using the Internet or the directories listed in Chapter One (or both), determine if the think tank is conservative, moderate or liberal. What is its annual budget; how does it spend its funds? What are the primary sources of its funds? Are you able to determine if there is a link between the sources of its funds and the ideology of the think tank’s research?
   
   
4. Identify a major energy company such as Exxon Mobil, BP AMOCO, Chevron Texaco, Shell, etc. Research the corporate website, search the Internet, search the Federal Election Commission website (FEC) and determine if this company tends to provide contributions to members of Congress or presidential candidates of one political party more than the other. Do members of Congress on specific committees get more contributions? Finally, what issues and what position on these issues does the company take as shown at their website, through your Internet research, and through its political contributions?
   
   
5. When the President nominates a federal judge, the Senate Judiciary Committee may hold hearings, and the full Senate may vote to approve or disapprove the nomination. Powerful interests become involved in this process at the White House and in Congress. In the instance of Judge John Roberts, nominated for the office of Chief Justice of the United States , what issue/s surrounding this nominee received press attention? What interest groups came out in favor of or opposed the nomination? Why did each interest group you have identified become involved? In the end, did the Congress approve or disapprove the nomination?
   
   
6. In the State of Georgia , must the representative of an interest group register to lobby the Georgia General Assembly? Who must register? How often? What does it cost? Where do you go to register? Do lawyer’s need to register as lobbyists in Georgia ? Are there maximum contributions you may make as an individual to a candidate running for a state office? Do contributions to state officials have to be reported? To who are these contributions reported?
   
   
7. Why do some people vote and why do some other choose not to vote? Which groups of voters tend to vote for Democratic Party presidential candidates and which groups of voters tend to vote for Republican presidential candidates? Provide a detailed explanation of your answers.
   
   
8. Regarding Sub-Governments (Iron Triangles), select a policy issue and then identify the lobbying interests in support of this government policy and related programs, the federal department or agency that administers the polices and related programs, and the U.S. House and U.S. Senate committees/subcommittees that determine policy in  this area. Do members of these committees and subcommittees receive political contributions from the affected interests (Research the FEC website.)?
   
   
9. Discuss the role that organized interests (interest groups) play in our democratic system of government; provide a detailed explanation of the pros and cons of their involvement in the political process.