10 Interest Groups

Video: The Big Picture 10 IA_1/polisci/presidency/Edwards_Ch10_Interest_Groups_S eg1_v2.html

Video: The Basics IA_1/polisci/presidency/Seg2_InterestGroups_v2.html 10

Role of Interest Groups  Interest groups pursue policy goals  Different from political parties Do not run candidates Policy specialists, not generalists  25,000 interest groups  Technology aids lobbying 10.1

a.5,000 b.25,000 c.100,000 d.50, How many interest groups are there in the United States?

a.5,000 b.25,000 c.100,000 d.50, How many interest groups are there in the United States?

Video: In Context IA_1/polisci/presidency/Seg3_InterestGroups_v2.html

Theories of Interest Group Politics  Pluralism  Elitism  Hyperpluralism 10.2

Pluralism  Group theory of politics Groups link people and government Groups compete No one group likely to become dominant Groups play by the rules of the game Groups weak in one resource can use another  Concessions Some groups stronger than others All interests do not get equal hearing 10.2

Elitism  Real power held by a few  78% of Americans share this view  Interlocking directorates -certain people hold more than 1 institutional leadership position  Multinational corporations views prevail over consumer interest  Lobbying benefits the few at the expense of the many 10.2

Video: In the Real World IA_1/polisci/presidency/Seg5_InterestGroups_v2.html 10.2

Hyperpluralism  Interest group liberalism Groups out of control Government tries to appease all of them  Budgets, programs, regulations expand  Contradictory and confusing policy results  Iron triangle-will explain when we get to the bureaucracy chapter. 10.2

a.Elitism b.Hyperpluralism c.Pluralism d.None of the above Which theory of interest group politics views interest groups positively?

a.Elitism b.Hyperpluralism c.Pluralism d.None of the above Which theory of interest group politics views interest groups positively?

What Makes an Interest Group Successful?  Surprising Ineffectiveness of Large Groups  Intensity  Financial Resources 10.3

 Smaller groups have advantage Potential group-people who are interested Actual group-people who join Collective good-benefits that cannot be held from non- members Free-rider problem-letting others do the work while you get the benefits.  Selective benefits -reward for joining an interest group that is not available to non- members Surprising Ineffectiveness of Large Groups 10.3

Intensity  Psychological advantage  Single-issue groups On the rise Dislike compromise Abortion 10.3

Financial Resources  System is biased toward wealthy 2008 federal elections cost $5 billion Donations lead to access  But $$$ does not always lead to lobbying success Other side contributes, too 10.3

a.Other side can also make contributions b.Campaign contributions are too restricted to make a significant difference c.Most groups cannot afford to buy politicians d.Most politicians refuse to accept interest group contributions Why does money not always lead to lobbying success?

a.Other side can also make contributions b.Campaign contributions are too restricted to make a significant difference c.Most groups cannot afford to buy politicians d.Most politicians refuse to accept interest group contributions Why does money not always lead to lobbying success?

How Groups Try to Shape Policy  Lobbying  Litigation  Electioneering  Going Public 10.4

Lobbying  Two types of lobbyists Full-time employee Temporary employee Often former legislators  Why do Congressmen listen to lobbyists? Lobbyists provide specialized expertise Lobbyists help with political & campaign strategy Lobbyists provide ideas 10.4

FIGURE 10.1: Industries’ big spenders on lobbying,

NRA 10.4

Litigation  Suing for enforcement Environmental regulations Civil rights groups – 1950s  Amicus curiae briefs  Class action lawsuits 10.4

Electioneering  Aiding candidates financially  Getting out the vote  PACs $5,000 limit in primary and general election Mainly support incumbents  Should PACs be eliminated? 10.4

Explore Interest Groups: Can Interest Groups Buy Public Policy? a_16/pex/pex10.html 10.4

Going Public  Public opinion influences policy makers  Mobilize public opinion  Public relations 10.4

Interest group ad 10.4

a.Lobbying b.Litigation c.Electioneering d.Going public On what tactic do interest groups rely to influence policy when Congress is unsympathetic?

a.Lobbying b.Litigation c.Electioneering d.Going public On what tactic do interest groups rely to influence policy when Congress is unsympathetic?

Types of Interest Groups  Economic interests  Environmental interests  Equality interests  Consumer and other public interest lobbies 10.5

Economic Interests  Labor Unions Closed shop versus “right-to-work” 10.5

Wisconsin collective bargaining fight 10.5

Economic Interests  Business Dominate lobbying and PACs  Business interests not monolithic Policy differences among industries 10.5

FIGURE 10.2: How corporate PACs have shifted toward the majority party 10.5

Environmental Interests  Sprang up since 1970 More than 10,000 groups with $2.9 billion revenue  Profound policy impact Influential due to numbers, not money 10.5

Save the polar bear 10.5

Equality Interests  Fourteenth Amendment guarantees  Minorities NAACP/Brown v. Board of Education (1954) Social welfare policies  Women National Organization for Women (NOW) Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) 10.5

Consumer and Other Public Interest Lobbies  Policies in the public interest Collective goods  What is the public interest? 10.5

Video: Thinking Like a Political Scientist IA_1/polisci/presidency/Seg4_InterestGroups_v2.html 10.5

a.Economic groups b.Environmental groups c.Consumer groups d.Women’s rights groups Which interest groups are the best funded?

a.Economic groups b.Environmental groups c.Consumer groups d.Women’s rights groups Which interest groups are the best funded?

Understanding Interest Groups  Interest Groups and Democracy  Interest Groups and the Scope of Government 10.6

Interest Groups and Democracy  Does pluralism prevail? Growth in number of interest groups Less clout for any one group  Interest group corruption? Business PACs Wealthy groups dominate  Gridlock? 10.6

Interest Groups and the Scope of Government  Individualistic and associational  Difficult to reduce spending  Vicious circle Groups lead to policy Policy prompts new groups to form 10.6

a.They do not see a problem with large numbers of groups b.They think too many groups competing will lead to policy gridlock c.They believe that a few groups will triumph over all the others d.None of the above What do hyperpluralists see as a problem with the proliferation of interest groups?

a.They do not see a problem with large numbers of groups b.They think too many groups competing will lead to policy gridlock c.They believe that a few groups will triumph over all the others d.None of the above What do hyperpluralists see as a problem with the proliferation of interest groups?

Discussion Question What are the three main theories of interest group politics? Which theory do you think provides the most accurate explanation for how interest groups interact with government in the U.S. today? 10

Video: So What? IA_1/polisci/presidency/Edwards_Ch10_Interest_Groups_S eg6_v2.html 10

Further Review: On MyPoliSciLab  Listen to the Chapter  Study and Review the Flashcards  Study and Review the Practice Tests 10