Chapter 11: Interest Groups The Role of Interest Groups Theories of Interest Group Politics What Makes an Interest Group Successful How Groups Try to Shape Policy Types of Interest Groups Understanding Interest Groups Summary

The Role of Interest Groups LO 11.1: Describe the role of interest groups in American politics. Interest Group – An organization of people with shared ___________ ___________ entering the policy process at several points to try to achieve those goals. – Interest groups pursue their goals in many arenas. To Learning Objectives Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman

The Role of Interest Groups Interest groups are distinct from political parties. – Political parties fight election battles; interest groups do _______ field candidates for office but may choose sides. – Interest groups are policy ____________; political parties are policy _______________________. LO 11.1 To Learning Objectives

Theories of Interest Group Politics Pluralist Theory – ______________ among _________ trying to get their preferred policies. Elite Theory – _________-class elite holds most of the power and run government. Hyperpluralist Theory – Groups are so strong that government is ______________. LO 11.2 To Learning Objectives

Theories of Interest Group Politics Pluralism – Groups provide a __________ between the people and the government. – Groups compete and no one group will become too _____________. – Groups play by “rules the game.” – Groups weak in one resource may use another. – Lobbying is open to all groups. To Learning Objectives LO 11.2

Theories of Interest Group Politics Elitism – Groups are ___________ in power. – Awesome power is held by the largest corporations. – Power of a few is fortified by interlocking directorates. – Other groups win minor policy battles, but corporate elites win the _________ decisions. To Learning Objectives LO 11.2

Theories of Interest Group Politics Hyperpluralism – Groups have become ______ __________ as government tries to appease every conceivable interest. – Interest group liberalism is aggravated by numerous iron triangles. – Trying to please every group results in contradictory and confusing policy. To Learning Objectives LO 11.2

What Makes an Interest Group Successful Surprising Ineffectiveness of Large Groups – Potential group – People who ________ be group members because they share some common interest. – Actual group – Potential group members who __________ ___________ group. – Collective good – Something of _________ that cannot be withheld from a potential group member. To Learning Objectives LO 11.3

What Makes an Interest Group Successful Surprising Ineffectiveness of Large Groups (cont.) – Free-rider problem – Problem of people not joining because they can benefit from the group’s activities ____________ joining. – Selective benefits – Goods that a group can __________________ to those who actually join. To Learning Objectives LO 11.3

What Makes an Interest Group Successful Intensity – A large potential group may be mobilized through an issue that people feel intensely about. – Politicians are more likely to ____________ a group that shows it cares ________ about an issue. – Single-issue groups – ____________ interest, dislike compromise, and members are new to politics. To Learning Objectives LO 11.3

What Makes an Interest Group Successful Financial Resources – Not all groups have equal amounts of __________. – Monetary donations translate into access to the politicians, such as a phone call, meeting, or support for policy. – Wealthier groups have more resources and access, but they do __________ always win on policy. To Learning Objectives LO 11.3

How Groups Try to Shape Policy Lobbying – ___________ to a governmental decision maker with the hope of ____________ his or her decision. – Lobbyists are (1) a source of information; (2) helping to get legislation passed; (3) helping to formulate campaign strategy; and (4) a source of ideas and innovations. LO 11.4 To Learning Objectives

How Groups Try to Shape Policy Electioneering – Direct group involvement in the _____________ process by helping to _________ campaigns, getting members to work for candidates, and forming political action committees (_________). – PACs are political funding vehicles created by the 1974 campaign finance reforms. To Learning Objectives LO 11.4

How Groups Try to Shape Policy Litigation – Amicus curiae briefs – Written _________ submitted to the courts in support of one side of a case. – Class action lawsuits – Enable a group of people in a ___________ _____________ to combine their common grievances into a single suit. To Learning Objectives LO 11.4

How Groups Try to Shape Policy Going Public – Groups try to (1) __________ a good public image; (2) build a reservoir of goodwill with the public; (3) use marketing strategies to influence public opinion of the group and its issues; and (4) advertise to motivate and inform the public about an issue. To Learning Objectives LO 11.4

Types of Interest Groups Economic Interests – Labor – ___________ organizations press for policies to ensure better working conditions and higher wages. – Business – Interests generally unified when it comes to promoting greater __________ but are often fragmented when policy choices have to be made. LO 11.5 To Learning Objectives

Types of Interest Groups Environmental Interests – Environmental groups ___________ policies to control pollution and to combat global warming, wilderness protection, and species preservation. – They ___________ supersonic aircraft, nuclear power plants, drilling in Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, and strip mining. To Learning Objectives LO 11.5

Types of Interest Groups Equality Interests – Two sets of interest groups, representing __________ and _____________, have made equal rights their main policy goal. – Equality groups press for equality at the polls, in housing, on the job, in education, and in all other facets of American life. To Learning Objectives LO 11.5

Types of Interest Groups Consumer and Other Public Interest Lobbies – Public interest lobbies – Groups that seek a __________ __________, and the achievement of which will not selectively and materially benefit the membership or activists of the organization. To Learning Objectives LO 11.5

Types of Interest Groups Consumer and Other Public Interest Lobbies (cont.) – Consumer groups – In 1973, Congress responded to consumer ________________ by creating the Consumer Product Safety Commission, which it authorized to regulate all consumer products and to ban products that were dangerous. To Learning Objectives LO 11.5