2. Interest Groups: Introduction
Although voter turnout has declined substantially in the U.S. since the 1960s, the number of interest groups active in lobbying the government has increased dramatically. You will examine this growth and exactly what these interest groups do, why individuals join groups, and what groups get for their efforts.
On March 5, 2009 the EPA held a hearing in Washington, DC to consider granting California a waiver to implement clean car standards that would reduce greenhouse gas emissions from passenger cars and trucks. The Sierra Club presented photo petitions from more than 1,000 individuals from across the country in opposition of the waiver.
Special interest groups like the Sierra Club are working to inform and influence politicians to support their causes.

3. 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.
Interest groups operate at every level of government in America’s federal system.

4. Interest Groups Link Citizens to Government
Interest groups express their members’ preferences to government policymakers
Interest groups convey government policy information to their members
Interest groups raise and spend money to influence policymakers

5. Interest Group v Political Party
Political parties nominate candidates, contest elections, and seek to gain control over government. In contrast, interest groups seek to support public officials and influence public policies.
Political parties have positions on a wide range of public issues, interest groups focus only on specific issues that directly affect their members.
Political parties are public organizations that are accountable to the voters. In contrast, interest groups are private organizations that are only accountable to its membership.

7. Interest Groups and American Democracy
The Power Elite Theory
The Pluralist Theory
The Hyperpluaralist Theory
Writing Assignment:
Compare and Contrast elitist, pluralist, and hyperpluarlist theories of how the American political system works. Discuss how all three theories attempt to explain who has power and influence in the United States

8. Types of Interest Groups
Explosion of Interest Groups
Most industries, corporations, professions, and unions now have interest groups to represent them in Washington, D.C.
The number of interest groups has increased from 6,000 in 1959 to over 22,000 in 2010.

9. Who are Interest Groups?
The number of interest groups in the United States has been increasing rapidly over the past several decades. Who are some of these groups and what are the interests they try to protect?

10. Interest Groups
Political scientist categorize interest groups into four general policy areas; economic, environmental, equal rights, and consumer. These groups lobby or exert pressure on lawmakers to consider specific issues and formulate policy change. The outcomes of the actions of each group are ultimately interrelated. Pictured here is the 2005 March on Washington, sponsored by United for Peace and Justice. The organization demonstrates in hopes of bringing about policy change.

11. Economic
A staggering seventy percent of all interest group organizations in Washington D.C. represent business. These business lobbyist generally fight regulations which threaten to reduce business profits. The main areas of interest for business lobbyist are taxes, subsidies, contracts, and labor law, which all control significant consequences for business profit margins. The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, AFL-CIO, represents over 56 labor unions who have organized to protect workers. Shown here, a California chapter of the AFL-CIO protests what they believe to be unfair labor practices.

12. Environmental
Environmental groups focus on preservation legislation, pollution control, wilderness protection, and other issues related to environmental protection. Groups such as the Sierra Club focus on conservation and sustainable living practices as well as protecting indigenous peoples. These organizations keep the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, whose logo is shown here, in line with public opinion and needs. These groups often find themselves at odds with corporate lobbyists who desire land rights, lenient pollution laws, and other legislation that is not in harmony with conservation efforts.

13. Equal Rights
Equal rights groups seek to guarantee equal access for their community by providing a political voice. These groups are comprised of variously aged, ethnic, cultural, and sexually oriented groups. The National Organization of Women, NOW, continues to push for equal access to job opportunities, equal pay, and an end to sexual discrimination. Shown here, NOW organizers hold a protest at a Wal-Mart store in Alaska. Another powerful equal rights lobby is the ARRP, the Association for the Advancement of Retired Persons. The organization lobbies for citizen members over the age of 50. The group focuses on many topics including Medicare, social security benefits, and long term care.

14. Consumer
Consumer advocate groups lobby for public safety, product safety, and corporate accountability. The consumer movement was pushed forward by activist Ralph Nader, shown here speaking about public safety. One of Nader’s many contributions to consumer advocacy was his work Unsafe at Any Speed. Nader lobbied for safe vehicles and consumer rights. His work resulted in the passage of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act establishing the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Many consumer lobbyist and watch groups keep tabs on toy companies, drug manufacturers, and a wide variety of products and businesses in order to protect the public.

15. Other Voices
Other special interest groups work to protect the vulnerable that have difficulty speaking for, or can not speak for, themselves. Advocates represent and speak on the behalf of children, the autistic, the homeless, the mentally ill, the incarcerated, as well as many other under-represented groups. The Child Welfare League of America or CWLA is currently struggling to protect child services during economic crisis. The American Civil Liberties Union, or ACLU, works to guarantee a voice for everyone. Pictured here, Howard Simon, of the ACLU, speaks at a human rights rally in Florida.

16. Your Assignment
Your assignment is to research and identify at least 3-5 interest groups in each of the following areas. Find some facts about each of the groups you identify as well. Business Groups Labor Groups Agricultural Groups Professional Associations Environmental Groups Public Interest Groups Equality Groups Single-Issue Groups

18. Lobbyists
Lobbying is a way to try and influence members of Congress. Federal law establishes criteria for determining whether an organization is a lobbyist and requiring them to register with the Secretary of the U.S. Senate. Lobbyists must file periodic reports regarding each of their clients and how much they are paid by them. What do Lobbyists do? Take a few notes on the video clip!

19. How Interest Groups Try to Shape Policy
Different interest groups will choose different techniques to achieve their objectives based on their resources, characteristics, and goals. When you receive the handout complete both sides of the Matching Game!

20. Interest Group Goals and Strategies
A. Fundamental Goals B. Lobbying C. Contribute Money to Candidates

21. A. Fundamental Goals Gain access to policymakers
Influence public policy
Support sympathetic policymakers (Contribute Money to Candidates)

22. B. Lobbying
Definition: the process by which an interest group attempts to influence the decisions of policymakers Lobbyists are people who attempt to persuade policymakers to support the goals of an interest group

23. Lobbying Congress
Approximately 30,000 lobbyists currently work in Washington, D.C. They spend over $2 billion a year lobbying Congress
Lobbyists often testify before congressional committees
Lobbyists often provide members of Congress with information on technical issues
Lobbyists often meet informally with congressional aides
Lobbyists often bring influential constituents to Washington to discuss important policy matters with their representatives

24. Lobbying the Executive Branch
Most executive lobbying focuses on presenting a point of view to the White House aides and other government officials
Most presidents have created a staff position to provide interest groups with access to their administration
Interest groups direct particular attention to establishing access to regulatory agencies

25. Lobbying the Courts
While lobbyists can often meet informally with members of Congress and the executive branch, it would be inappropriate for lobbyists to have an informal meeting with a federal judge who is hearing a case important to the interest group the lobbyists is representing
If interest groups fail to achieve their goal in Congress, they can often take their case to the courts (see Brown v Board of Education)
Interest groups are not limited to directly sponsoring a case. They can also file “friend of the court” briefs (Amicus briefs)
Interest groups lobby to influence who is nominated by the President to serve on the Supreme Court

26. Contributing Money to Candidates
A PAC is a committee formed by business, labor or other interest groups to raise money and make contributions to the campaign of political candidates they support
There are currently over 4,600 PACs. Over half of all PACs are sponsored by corporations and business groups.
PACs play a particularly significant role in supporting incumbent members of the House of Representatives. PACs typically contribute to the campaigns of House members who serve on committees or subcommittees that consider legislation affecting the interest group
How did Citizen’s United change the game?

27. Writing Assignment: Interest Groups and Democracy
Choose one special interest group for this assignment. Research the interest group and answer the following questions:
What is the mission of the group?
What methods does it use to achieve this mission?
Why are those methods particularly suited to this organization?
How much money did it raise in the past year?

29. THE BEST GOVERNMENT MONEY CAN BUY
This is the first comprehensive non-partisan account of the behind the scenes system of lobbying at the national level. Lobbying is a more and more important aspect of our government, influencing key decisions that affect all of our lives. THE BEST GOVERNMENT MONEY CAN BUY explores the issue through interviews with real Washington beltway insiders, key participants in the process who speak with surprising candor.

30. People and Politics Unit Exam
Congratulations on completing this unit!
In this unit you learned about:
Public Opinion
Mass Media
Political Parties Campaigns, Elections, and Voting
Special Interest Groups