Copyright © 2016, 2014, 2011 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Copyright © 2016, 2014, 2011 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved 10 Interest Groups
Copyright © 2016, 2014, 2011 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Learning Objectives Describe the role of interest groups in American politics. Compare and contrast the theories of pluralism, elitism, and hyperpluralism
Copyright © 2016, 2014, 2011 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Learning Objectives Analyze the factors that make some interest groups more successful than others in the political arena. Assess the four basic strategies that interest groups use to try to shape policy
Copyright © 2016, 2014, 2011 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Learning Objectives Identify the various types of interest groups and their policy concerns. Evaluate how well Madison's ideas for controlling the influence of interest groups have worked in practice
Copyright © 2016, 2014, 2011 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Role of Interest Groups Interest groups pursue policy goals Different from political parties Do not run candidates Policy specialists, not generalists 25,000 interest groups Technology aids lobbying 10.1
Copyright © 2016, 2014, 2011 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved a.5,000 b.25,000 c.100,000 d.50, How many interest groups are there in the United States?
Copyright © 2016, 2014, 2011 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved a.5,000 b.25,000 c.100,000 d.50, How many interest groups are there in the United States?
Copyright © 2016, 2014, 2011 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Theories of Interest Group Politics Pluralism Elitism Hyperpluralism 10.2
Copyright © 2016, 2014, 2011 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Pluralism Group theory of politics Groups provide a key link between people and government. Groups compete. No one group is likely to become too dominant. Groups usually play by the rules of the game. Groups weak in one resource can use another. Concessions Some groups stronger than others All interests do not get equal hearing 10.2
Copyright © 2016, 2014, 2011 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Elitism Real power held by a few 75% of Americans share this view Interlocking directorates Multinational corporations Lobbying benefits the few at the expense of the many 10.2
Copyright © 2016, 2014, 2011 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Hyperpluralism Interest group liberalism Groups out of control Government tries to appease all of them Budgets, programs, regulations expand Iron triangles Contradictory and confusing policy results 10.2
Copyright © 2016, 2014, 2011 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved a.Elitism b.Hyperpluralism c.Pluralism d.None of the above Which theory of interest group politics views interest groups positively?
Copyright © 2016, 2014, 2011 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved a.Elitism b.Hyperpluralism c.Pluralism d.None of the above Which theory of interest group politics views interest groups positively?
Copyright © 2016, 2014, 2011 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved What Makes an Interest Group Successful? The Surprising Ineffectiveness of Large Groups Intensity Financial Resources 10.3
Copyright © 2016, 2014, 2011 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Smaller groups have advantage Potential group Actual group Collective good Free-rider problem Selective benefits The Surprising Ineffectiveness of Large Groups 10.3
Copyright © 2016, 2014, 2011 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Intensity Psychological advantage Single-issue groups On the rise Dislike compromise Abortion 10.3
Copyright © 2016, 2014, 2011 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Financial Resources System is biased toward wealthy 2008 federal elections cost $5 billion Donations lead to access But $$$ does not always lead to lobbying success Other side contributes, too 10.3
Copyright © 2016, 2014, 2011 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved a.Other side can also make contributions b.Campaign contributions are too restricted to make a significant difference c.Most groups cannot afford to buy politicians d.Most politicians refuse to accept interest group contributions Why does money not always lead to lobbying success?
Copyright © 2016, 2014, 2011 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved a.Other side can also make contributions b.Campaign contributions are too restricted to make a significant difference c.Most groups cannot afford to buy politicians d.Most politicians refuse to accept interest group contributions Why does money not always lead to lobbying success?
Copyright © 2016, 2014, 2011 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved How Groups Try to Shape Policy Lobbying Electioneering Litigation Going Public 10.4
Copyright © 2016, 2014, 2011 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Lobbying Two types of lobbyists Full-time employee Temporary employee Often former legislators Why do Congressmen listen to lobbyists? Lobbyists provide specialized expertise Lobbyists help with political & campaign strategy Lobbyists provide ideas 10.4
Copyright © 2016, 2014, 2011 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved FIGURE 10.1 Industries' big spenders on lobbying,
Copyright © 2016, 2014, 2011 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved NRA 10.4 Karen Bleier/AFP/Getty Images
Copyright © 2016, 2014, 2011 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Electioneering Aiding candidates financially Getting out the vote PACs $5,000 limit in primary and general election Mainly support incumbents Should PACs be eliminated? 10.4
Copyright © 2016, 2014, 2011 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Litigation Suing for enforcement Environmental regulations Civil rights groups–1950s Amicus curiae briefs Class action lawsuits 10.4
Copyright © 2016, 2014, 2011 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Going Public Public opinion influences policy makers Mobilize public opinion Public relations 10.4
Copyright © 2016, 2014, 2011 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Interest group ad 10.4 Jeffrey Markowitz/Sygma/Corbis
Copyright © 2016, 2014, 2011 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved a.Lobbying b.Litigation c.Electioneering d.Going public On what tactic do interest groups rely to influence policy when Congress is unsympathetic?
Copyright © 2016, 2014, 2011 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved a.Lobbying b.Litigation c.Electioneering d.Going public On what tactic do interest groups rely to influence policy when Congress is unsympathetic?
Copyright © 2016, 2014, 2011 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Types of Interest Groups Economic interests Environmental interests Equality interests Consumer and other public interest lobbies 10.5
Copyright © 2016, 2014, 2011 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Economic Interests Labor Unions Closed shop versus "right-to-work" 10.5
Copyright © 2016, 2014, 2011 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Wisconsin collective bargaining fight 10.5 Justin Sullivan/Getty Images News/Getty Images
Copyright © 2016, 2014, 2011 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Economic Interests Business Dominate lobbying and PACs Business interests not monolithic Policy differences among industries 10.5
Copyright © 2016, 2014, 2011 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved FIGURE 10.2 How corporate PACs have shifted toward the majority party 10.5
Copyright © 2016, 2014, 2011 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Environmental Interests Sprang up since 1970 More than 10,000 groups with $2.9 billion revenue Profound policy impact Influential due to numbers, not money 10.5
Copyright © 2016, 2014, 2011 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Save the polar bear 10.5 Paul J. Richards/Staff/AFP/Getty Images
Copyright © 2016, 2014, 2011 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Equality Interests Fourteenth Amendment guarantees Minorities NAACP/Brown v. Board of Education (1954) Social welfare policies Women National Organization for Women (NOW) Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) 10.5
Copyright © 2016, 2014, 2011 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Consumer and Other Public Interest Lobbies Policies in the public interest Collective goods What is the public interest? 10.5
Copyright © 2016, 2014, 2011 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved a.Economic groups b.Environmental groups c.Consumer groups d.Women's rights groups Which interest groups are the best funded?
Copyright © 2016, 2014, 2011 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved a.Economic groups b.Environmental groups c.Consumer groups d.Women's rights groups Which interest groups are the best funded?
Copyright © 2016, 2014, 2011 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Understanding Interest Groups Interest Groups and Democracy Interest Groups and the Scope of Government 10.6
Copyright © 2016, 2014, 2011 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Interest Groups and Democracy Does pluralism prevail? Growth in number of interest groups Less clout for any one group Interest group corruption? Business PACs Wealthy groups dominate Gridlock? 10.6
Copyright © 2016, 2014, 2011 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Interest Groups and the Scope of Government Individualistic and associational Difficult to reduce spending Vicious circle Groups lead to policy Policy prompts new groups to form 10.6
Copyright © 2016, 2014, 2011 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved a.They do not see a problem with large numbers of groups b.They think too many groups competing will lead to policy gridlock c.They believe that a few groups will triumph over all the others d.None of the above What do hyperpluralists see as a problem with the proliferation of interest groups?
Copyright © 2016, 2014, 2011 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved a.They do not see a problem with large numbers of groups b.They think too many groups competing will lead to policy gridlock c.They believe that a few groups will triumph over all the others d.None of the above What do hyperpluralists see as a problem with the proliferation of interest groups?
Copyright © 2016, 2014, 2011 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Discussion Questions What are the three main theories of interest group politics? Which theory do you think provides the most accurate explanation for how interest groups interact with government in the U.S. today? 10