Types of Interest groups GOVT 2305, Module 8 Types of Interest groups

Business Groups Business groups are numerous and influential although not as influential as they once were. They are especially concerned with tax laws, interest rates, environmental regulations, trade policy, labor laws, government contracts, and other matters that affect the way they conduct business. Business groups seem to be losing influence in the age of the Tea Party.

Consider the rise of Donald Trump Business groups are perplexed at the rise of Donald Trump because Trump isn’t a big proponent of tax cuts and spending reductions. He’s also critical of CEO pay.

Key Business Groups Walmart, Exxon-Mobil, Citigroup, Chevron, and other large firms are major players in national politics. The Chamber of Commerce is a business federation representing the interests of more than three million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions. Trade associations are organizations representing the interests of firms and professionals in the same general field.

Drill, baby, Drill! Also, taxes. What does the oil industry want from government? Drill, baby, Drill! Also, taxes.

Labor Unions Organized labor is an important political force in America although it is not as powerful as it once was. More than a fourth of the civilian labor force belonged to a union in 1970 compared with less than 12 percent today.

AFL-CIO The largest union group in the nation is the American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO). Some of the better known unions affiliated with the AFL-CIO are the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), American Postal Workers Union, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, United Mine Workers of America (UMWA), and the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME).

What do unions want? Government policies making it easier to organize Programs and policies designed to improve the quality of life for working people and their families Aggressive enforcement of workplace health and safety regulations Protection of the right to form unions and bargain collectively

Union strength Unions are powerful in the large, industrialized states of the Northeast and Midwest. In most of the Frostbelt, labor is well organized and skilled at flexing its political muscle. In contrast, labor is not as well organized or as politically influential in the Sunbelt, the nation's fastest growing area. Many Sunbelt states have laws that prohibit the union shop, making union organizing difficult.

Professional Associations Doctors, lawyers, realtors, and other professionals form associations to advance their interests. The American Medical Association (AMA) is an interest group representing the concerns of physicians. The American Bar Association (ABA) is a lawyers' group.

What professional associations want Professional associations are concerned with public policies that affect their members. Doctors and lawyers battle one another over medical damage award caps in malpractice lawsuits. Real estate professionals are primarily concerned with public policies affecting real estate transactions, such as home equity lending and professional licensure. Teacher organizations focus on teacher pay and pensions as well as the whole range of education issues.

Agricultural Groups Agricultural groups, such as the Farm Bureau, are influential on farm issues at the national level and in state legislatures in farming states. They are concerned with government programs designed to protect farmers from droughts, floods, and low prices. Ethanol subsidies are a big issue in Iowa and other corn producing states.

Racial/Ethnic Minority Rights Groups The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) is an interest group organized to represent the concerns of African Americans. The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is a Latino rights group. Black Lives Matter is a recently organized rights group that campaigns against police violence against African Americans.

Group Goals Racial and ethnic minority groups share the goals of equality before the law, representation in elective and appointive office, freedom from discrimination, and economic advancement.

Political Influence Organizations that represent the interests of racial and ethnic minorities are an important political force in most big cities and in states where minority populations are large enough to translate into political power. In addition, minorities, especially African Americans and Latinos, play an important role in national politics.

Nonetheless Minority citizens, particularly Latinos, are underrepresented at the ballot box because of low voter turnout. Furthermore, the problems facing minority groups in America today--subtle discrimination, inadequate housing, substandard healthcare, malnutrition, poverty, and poor quality schools in minority neighborhoods--are particularly difficult to solve.

Religious Organizations Churches and other religious institutions provide the foundation for a number of political organizations. Focus on the Family, Family Research Council, and other conservative religious organizations are concerned with such causes as abortion, same-sex marriage, and prayer in school.

Citizen Groups Citizen groups are organizations created to support government policies that they believe will benefit the public at large. Common Cause, which calls itself "the citizen lobby," is a group organized to work for campaign finance reform and other good government causes.

Sierra Club The Sierra Club is an environmental organization. It advocates government policies aimed at clean air and water, and the conservation of resources. It favors efforts to address the issue of climate change.

ACLU The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is a group organized to protect the rights of individuals as outlined in the U.S. Constitution. It helps individuals who believe that the government is abridging their freedom of religion, freedom of speech, etc.

Advocacy Groups Advocacy groups are organizations created to seek benefits on behalf of groups of persons who are in some way incapacitated or otherwise unable to represent their own interests. The Children's Defense Fund, for example, promotes the welfare of children.

Cause Groups Cause groups are organizations whose members care intensely about a single issue or a group of related issues. The National Right to Life Committee, for example, opposes abortion whereas NARAL Pro-Choice America favors abortion rights.

More cause groups The National Organization for Women (NOW) is a cause group organized to promote women's rights. The National Rifle Association (NRA) is a cause group organized to defend the rights of gun owners and defeat efforts at gun control.

Americans for Tax Reform (ATR) Americans for Tax Reform (ATR) is a cause group that favors a low-tax and limited government agenda. It opposes any and all tax increases. Most Republicans in Congress and in state legislatures have singed the ATR Taxpayer Protection Pledge.

Club for Growth Club for Growth is another conservative small government group that wants lower taxes, smaller government, and fewer regulations.

Americans for Prosperity Americans for Prosperity is a cause group founded (and heavily funded) by David and Charles Koch to fight for limited government, lower taxes, and less regulation. It opposes healthcare reform and argues that global warming is a hoax. (The Koch brothers are billionaires who are involved in the petrochemical and coal industries.) This is a group with activist support, but it is heavily funded by very wealthy businessmen. The same is true of the ATR.

Grassroots Groups More Important Conservative and liberal activists have been around for a long time. What’s new is that wealthy individuals, especially wealthy conservatives, are willing to fund them. What’s also new is that Facebook, Twitter, etc. enable better communication than every before. Conservative activist groups associated with the Tea Party and funded by the Koch brothers and others have become a dominant force in the Republican Party.

Influence Citizen, advocacy, and cause groups have achieved some victories in American politics. AARP, an interest groups representing the concerns of older Americans, is influential on policy issues affecting older Americans such as Social Security and Medicare. The NRA dominates the gun policy debate. The ATR has become a dominant force on tax policy.

What You Have Learned What types of interest groups are active in American politics? What are some of the more prominent groups active in American politics? What are the goals of the various types of groups? Which groups are more influential?