Types How Interest Groups Work

Interest Groups give the unrepresented or underrepresented an opportunity to be heard Problem is they also give wealthy and powerful the opportunity to influence policy makers at all levels of government

Disturbance Theory: To form an interest group to counteract other interest groups Lobbyist is a representative hired by an interest group to push their particular agenda Many states and municipalities retain lobbyists to work on their behalf in Washington (but isn’t that what Congressman are supposed to do?)

The downside to interest groups is that as they grow they demand more and more attention thus increasing the cost of public policies and the size of the government

Table 16.1: What are the characteristics of selected interest groups?

Types of Interest Groups Interest groups may be divided broadly into three general types: (1) economic interests (2) consumer (3) public interests (4) equality & justice

Economic Interests Concerned primarily with profits, prices, and wages Government can significantly effect them through regulations, subsidies, contracts, trade policy and tax advantages

Economic Interests (1) Labor Unions (2) Agriculture groups (3) Business groups (4) Professional groups

Economic Interests: Labor Unions Focus on better working conditions & higher wages To ensure their solidarity, unions have established the union shop( requires new employees to join the union representing them)

Economic Interests: Labor Unions Employers, on the other hand, have supported right-to-work laws Argue that union membership should be optional

Labor Unions In 1970 about 25% of the work force belonged to a union shop, but membership has been declining over the past 30 years

Agriculture Groups Equally as important are the specialized agriculture groups Different crops have different groups: National Potato Council National Peanut Farmer

Economic Interests: Business Groups Large corporations, such as General Motors and GE, exercise considerable political influence, as do hundreds of smaller corporations

Economic Interests: Professional Groups Some of the most powerful interest groups Represent various occupations Some are well-known ones are the AMA, American Bar Association, NEA

Economic Interests: Professional Groups These groups are interested in the many government policies that affect their professions For example—lawyers are licensed by states, which set up certain standards of admission into the bar

Consumer & Public Interest Groups Differ from many other interest groups in that they: Seek a collective good Benefits for everyone--not just the members of the interest groups themselves

Public Interest Groups Ralph Nader first gained national attention with his book, Unsafe at Any Speed Attacked General Motors’ Corvair as a dangerous & mechanically deficient automobile

Public Interest Groups Public Interest Groups (PIRGs) actively promote: Environmental issues Safe energy Consumer protection Good government

Environmental Interests A special type of public interest group focuses on environmental interests

Environmental Interests A few, like the Sierra Club and Audubon Society, were founded in the late 19th century Most were created after 1970

Environmental Interests Environmental groups promote: Pollution control Wilderness protection Population control

Environmental Interests They have opposed: Strip-mining Oil pipelines Offshore oil drilling Nuclear power plants

Environmental Interests Energy producers argue that environmentalists oppose energy projects necessary to keep modern society operating

Equality & Justice Interests Interest groups have championed equal rights & justice, particularly for women & minorities

Equality & Justice Interests Oldest & largest is the NAACP NAACP—lobbied & pressed court cases to defend equal rights in voting, employment, and housing

Equality & Justice Interests Most prominent women’s rights organization is the NOW Pushed for ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) in the 1970s

Equality & Justice Interests Although the amendment did not pass, NOW still lobbies for an end to sexual discrimination Other organizations that support equal rights are the National Urban League, Women’s Political Caucus