1. Interest Groups An interest group is an organization of people whose members share policy views on specific issues and attempt to influence public policy to their benefit. They operate at every level of government in America’s federal system.

2. Linkage Institution -How do they link citizens to government? 1.They express their members’ preferences to government policymakers. 2.They convey government policy info to their members. 3.They raise and spend money to influence policymakers. 4.They are different from political parties. Political parties are public organizations that are accountable to the voters. Interest groups are private organizations that are accountable to their members.

3. Why Interest Groups form in the United States 1.The freedom to speak, assemble and petition (1 st Amendment) facilitates group formation 2. The federal structure of government 3. US (compared to other countries) is racially, ethnically, and religiously diverse. 4. Social changes, economic pressures, technological developments, and government action.

4. Getting people to join 1.Interest groups find it difficult to attract new members and keep current members. -Lack of political efficacy- unwilling to bear the costs, such as the dues or their time or effort. People assume that the group will succeed without them. -The Free-rider problem is when people do not join for these reasons but expect to share the benefits of the group reaches its goal.

5. Getting people to join 2. To overcome free-rider problem, groups offer a variety of benefits to attract members. -Psychological – “feel good” satisfaction -Social- host meetings, dinners, other activities to create feeling of solidarity among members. -Economic- discounts on insurance, travel, magazines 3. Some people join because they are coerced. Ie- bar associations in several states for lawyers & employees in certain trades are required to join the labor union.

6. Who joins in a nation of joiners? 1.Not everyone. Some people are more inclined to join than others. -Those with more education and income are more likely to join because they are more interested, can afford membership dues, and have more time to participate. -Men more likely to join than women. -Elderly and middle-aged participate at higher rates than young.

7. Formal membership in interest groups has decreased, but membership in issue advocacy groups is increasing. -checkbook members-writing an occasional check to support organization’s leaders and activities (but do not interact face to face, as members of the group). -Virtual members of groups

8. Types of Interest Groups Officials in the legislative and executive branches control the distribution of billions of federal dollars. Most industries, corporations, professions, and unions now have interest groups to represent them in Washington DC.

9. Types of Interest Groups Private interest groups seek economic benefits for their members or clients. -Includes business, labor, and agriculture groups. Public interest groups are those that work for a cause that extends beyond the members of the group. -Today there are at least 2500 public interest groups with 40 million members.

10. Business groups 1.Most large corporations employ lobbyists to monitor legislative activity that may affect their business. 2.The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) represents 12,000 small and large manufacturers in every sector and in all 50 states. It focuses on legislation affecting labor laws, minimum wages, corporate taxes, and trade regulations.

11. Labor groups 1.The American labor movement reached its peak in 1956 when 33 % of the nonagricultural work force belonged to a union. Today, 16 million Americans, or about 13% of the nonagricultural work force, belong to a union. 2.The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL- CIO) is America;s largest labor union both in size and political power.

12. Agricultural Groups 1.Although farmers comprise less than 2% of America’s population, their interest groups play an influential role in shaping agricultural policies. 2.The Farm Bureau and the National Farmer’s Union are broad-based organizations that speak for farmers. 3.Specializes interest groups represent different farm products. (National Milk Producers Federation= interests of American dairy farmers.

13. Public Interest Groups 1.Support causes such as consumer rights, alternative sources of clean energy, and electoral reform. 2.Some examples are Common Cause and the League of Women Voters.

14. Environmental Groups 1. Support wilderness protection, pollution control, and animal rights. Oppose strip mining, nuclear power plants, and offshore drilling. 2.Leading environmental interest groups include the Sierra Club, the Audubon Society, and the World Wildlife Fund.

15. Equality Interests 1.NAACP is one of America’s oldest and most influential civil rights organizations. It is dedicated to fighting racial discrimination. 2.NOW is the largest feminist organization in the US. Its mission is “to take action to bring women into full participation in society- sharing equal rights, responsibilities, and opportunities with men, while living free from discrimination.”

16. Single-Issue Groups 1.Single-Issue groups focus their efforts on one issue. Pro-life and pro-choice groups. 2.The National Rifle Association is one of the best known and most influential single- interest groups.

17. Interest Group Goals and Strategies

18. Strategies of Interest Groups 1. Initiating Action- Interest groups initiate governmental action that will help them. 2. Blocking Action-Interest groups work to block governmental action that will harm them, doing the reverse of what groups do to initiate action. 3.Influencing Appointments

19. Lobbying Congress

21. Lobbying the executive branch

22. Lobbying the courts

23. PACs and 527s- contributing money to campaigns Political Action Committees (PACs)- committee formed by business, labor, or other interest groups raise and donate money to election campaigns. 527 organizations- raise and spend money on political advertising.

24. PACs and 527s -Most large interest groups and corporations have a PAC, and an increasing number of groups have formed a 527 organization. -Both authorized by federal law regulating the flow of money to political candidates and use of money for political advertising. -The amount of money that PACs can contribute directly to an individual candidate is limited by law.