1. INTEREST GROUPS Chapter 8

2. Interest Groups and Politics  What Are Interest Groups?  Group of citizens who share a common interest  Try to influence public policy to benefit members  Proactive and reactive groups Copyright © 2016 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. 2

3. Interest Groups and Politics  The Right to Assemble and to Petition  Right of association in First Amendment  right of association: Right to freely associate with others and form groups, as protected by the First Amendment.  Framers fearful of factions  faction: Defined by Madison as any group that places its own interests above the aggregate interests of society.  right of petition: Right to ask the government for assistance with a problem or to express opposition to a government policy, as protected by the First Amendment.  lobbying: Act of trying to persuade elected officials to adopt a specific policy change or maintain the status quo. Copyright © 2016 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. 3

4. Interest Groups and Politics  The History of Interest Groups  Citizens opposed to slavery  Women’s suffrage  Trade associations during Industrialization  Labor unions  Prohibition  Today, grassroots movements  unions: Interest groups of individuals who share a common type of employment and seek better wages and working conditions through collective bargaining with employers.  Grassroots movement: Group that forms in response to an economic or political event but does not focus on only one issue. Copyright © 2016 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. 4

5. Types of Interest Groups  Economic Interest Groups-- Group formed to advance the economic status of its members.  Trade and Professional Associations  Individuals who share similar jobs  Corporations  Unions  Protect workers through better wages/working conditions  Strength in the strike  Declining membership Copyright © 2016 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. 5

6. Types of Interest Groups  ideological interest groups: Groups that form among citizens with the same beliefs about a specific issue.  citizens’ groups: Groups that form to draw attention to purely public issues that affect all citizens equally.  single-issue groups: Groups that form to present one view on a highly salient issue that is intensely important to members, such as gun control or abortion. 6

7. Types of Interest Groups  Foreign Policy and International Groups  Groups That Influence Foreign Policy  AIPAC (pro Israel group)  Groups That Advocate International Aid and Support for Human Rights  Nongovernmental organizations (NGOs): Organizations independent of governments that monitor and improve political, economic, and social conditions throughout the world. Copyright © 2016 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. 7

8. What Interest Groups Do  Inform  Interpret how policy will affect their mission  Lobby  The Lobbyists  Lobbying Strategies  Inside strategy-- A strategy employed by interest groups to pursue a narrow policy change and influence legislators directly rather than using a wider grassroots approach.  Outside strategy  Grassroots strategy Copyright © 2016 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. 8

9. Top Spenders on Lobbying, 2013 9

10. What Interest Groups Do  Campaign Activities  501(c)(3) organizations: Tax-exempt groups that are prohibited from lobbying or campaigning for a party or candidate.  political action committees (PACs):Groups formed to raise and contribute funds to support electoral candidates and that are subject to campaign finance laws.  Buckley v. Valeo decision increased growth of PACs  Critics say disproportionate influence over legislators  Running issue ads Copyright © 2016 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. 10

11. Top 20 PAC Contributors to Candidates 2013-2014 11

12. The Impact of Interest Groups on Democratic Processes  Natural Balance or Disproportionate Power  Olson argued difficult to keep effective  Dahl’s pluralist view  pluralist: View of democratic society in which interest groups compete over policy goals, and elected officials are mediators of group conflict.  Mills power elite  Narrow focus elicits sense of illegitimacy  Special interests has negative connotation  special interests: Set of groups seeking a particular benefit for themselves in the policy process. Copyright © 2016 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. 12

13. The Impact of Interest Groups on Democratic Processes  Self-Service or Public Service  Auto manufacturers blocked government-mandated fuel standards  Interest groups tend to talk over each other  Open or Closed Routes of Influence  iron triangle: Insular and closed relationship among interest groups, members of Congress, and federal agencies.  issue network: View of the relationship among interest groups, members of Congress, and federal agencies as more fluid, open, and transparent than that described by the term iron triangle.  revolving door: Movement of members of Congress, lobbyists, and executive branch employees into paid positions in each other’s organizations. 13

14. Iron Triangle 14

15. The Impact of Interest Groups on Democratic Processes Copyright © 2016 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. 15 In a prime example of the revolving door, Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC) who was a conservative leader in the Senate, left office during his term to lead the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, reportedly for a much higher salary.

16. Characteristics of Successful Interest Groups  Leadership Accountability  iron law of oligarchy: Theory that leaders in any organization eventually behave in their own self-interest, even at the expense of rank-and-file members; the larger the organization, the greater the likelihood that the leader will behave this way.  Membership Stability  selective benefits: Benefits offered exclusively to members of an interest group.  public goods: Goods or benefits provided by government from which everyone benefits and from which no one can be excluded.  free rider problem: Problem faced by interest groups when a collective benefit they provide is so widespread and diffuse that members and nonmembers alike receive it, reducing the incentive for joining the group. 16

17. Characteristics of Successful Interest Groups  Financial Stability  Internet makes fundraising easier  Membership dues  Creation of not-for-profit business (AARP)  Influence in the Public Sphere  Quoted in the press  Testifying before Congress Copyright © 2016 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. 17

18. Interest Groups and Democracy  Collective Voice  Methods to influence policy  Direct lobbying  Media campaigns  Legal challenges  Grassroots organizing  Express wide-ranging views Copyright © 2016 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. 18