3-5: Introduction to Interest Groups

Big Idea: Competing Policy-Making Interests   Enduring Understanding: Interest groups provide opportunities for participation and influence how people relate to government and policymakers. Learning Objective: Explain the benefits and potential problems of interest-group influence on elections and policymaking.

Overview Interest Group Organization whose members share policy views on specific issues Operate at every level of government Attempt to influence public policy to their benefit -Typically through money Many Americans are skeptical of interest groups because the main way they influence policy is with money in the form of political donations. In fact, interest groups could be determined to be what Madison was referring to when he wrote about the dangers of factions in politics.

Overview As a Linkage Institution Express members’ preferences to government Convey policy information to members Raise and spend money to influence policymakers

Difference from Political Parties Politicians Parties -seek to gain power Interest Groups -seek to influence policies -support sympathetic candidates

Difference from Political Parties Issues Parties -generalists -appeal to wide range of voters Interest Groups -specific issues that affect their members -better able to articulate clear policy positions

Difference from Political Parties Accountability Parties -elections make them accountable to the public Interest Groups -private organizations only accountable to their members

Growth of Interest Groups Prevalence Began as business and labor organizations Now include environmental, consumer, and political groups Multi-trillion dollar U.S. budget means most organizations want representation and influence over how money is spent and laws are enacted Initial forms of interest groups included the Sons of Liberty and 19th century abolitionist groups. In the late 19th century, business and labor organizations began to appear.