Chapter 9 Interest Groups

The Nature of Interest Groups Private organizations Try to persuade public officials to respond to their members Unlike political parties Do not nominate candidates, focus on winning elections Stimulate people to be involved in public affairs and to participate in politics Problem Influence disproportionate to size and occasionally use unethical tactics

Role of Interest Groups 1st Amendment “The right of the people to peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances” Allows for creation of interest groups Gun control? Prayer in public school? Increase in minimum wage? Abortion? Gay rights?

Political Parties and Interest Groups Both consist of people who unite for a purpose… Overlap Important differences Nominations Political parties pick Interest groups influence Primary Focus Political parties who, noun Interest groups what, issue Scope Range of public affairs

Interest Groups…Good or Bad James Madison Thought factions were bad Undo influence of the few over the many How stop? Eliminate factions, eliminate freedom Balance, many factions Necessary evil

Positive Attributes Stimulate interest in public affairs Why is this interest important? Represent based on shared ideas not geography Teachers Farmers Provide the gov’t with info Employment, price levels, Vehicles for political participation One mom vs MADD Checks and Balances Keep tabs on public agencies Compete Limit power of each other Clean air act? Auto industry -vs- environmental

Negative Attributes Influence Proportion to size? Dependent on how organized and financed not size… Representation Who and how many? The world will never know Views Not all ways represent views of all their members Normally driven by a small active few Tactics Bribery, threats, violence abortion

Shapes and Sizes Membership Thousands, millions, hand full Foundation Economic interest Business labor Ideas Gay rights Welfare Protections of certain groups Veterans, seniors, homeless Multiple Can belong to many groups

Groups Based on Economic Interests: How people make their money-Part One Business Examples NAM: National Association of Manufacturers Big business Chamber of Commerce Smaller businesses Business Roundtable 150 chief executive officers Trade Associations American trucking association, American Restaurant Association

Groups Based on Economic Interests: How people make their money-Part Two Labor Examples AFL: American Federation of Labor FOP: Fraternal Order of Police Chapters in each state Not always see eye to eye with National chapter

Groups Based on Economic Interests: How people make their money-Part Three Agriculture Examples National Grange Oldest, Most conservative Focus on welfare of families North east and Mid Atlantic States American Farm Bureau Largest, Most powerful Midwest opposing gov’t regulation “Let us do our job” National Farmers Union Strength from smaller less fortunate farmers Dirty Farmers Upper Mid West and West

Groups based on Economic Interests: How people make their money-Part Four Certain professions Require extensive training and specialization Medicine, law, teaching Examples AMA: American Medical Association Doctors ABA: American Bar Association Lawyers NEA: National Education Association Teachers True impact Why would these organizations have influence upon public policies disproportionate to their size?

Groups Based on Economic Interests: How people make their Money-Part Five Promote Causes Welfare of Certain Groups American Legion: vets (police action) Veterans of Foreign Wars: Vets NAACP: National Association for the Advancement of Colored People Religious organizations NCC: National Council of Churches protestants ADL: Anti-Defamation League Jews Public Interest Groups Unlike other groups focus on benefiting all Americans Public Good, health