1. Interest Groups
Chapter 11

2. How Much do you know about Interest Groups?
NRA
NOW
National Rifle Association
National Organization of Women
Lobbies for 2nd amendment rights
Argue for the rights of women in all instances
Most powerful interest group in the United States
People for the American Way
ACLU
Formed to challenge the Moral Majority
American Civil Liberties Union
Against what they consider right-wing extremists
Mainly a justice institution, handle more than 6,000 cases per year
Christian Coalition
Founded to give Christians a voice in gov’t
NAACP
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
NARAL
National Abortion and Reproductive rights Action League
Famous for defending Brown in Brown v. Board (1954)
Pro-Choice organization
PETA
Chamber of Commerce
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals
Business interest group
Argue for animal rights
Lobbies the most – spends the most money
Green Peace
AARP
Largest environmental organization
American Association of Retired Persons
Largest interest group in terms of members

3. Terms to Know Interest group Organizations w/ policy goals that
enter policy several points
Distinct from political parties
Do not field candidates
but many choose sides
Policy specialists

4. How Groups Try to Shape Policy
Lobbying
Communication by someone other than citizen acting on own behalf, to influence decision making process
Two types of lobbyists:
Regular, paid employee of a group
Temporary hires
Lobbyists:
Source of info
Help plan for legislation
Help plan for reelection
Source of ideas and innovations

5. How Groups Try to Shape Policy
Electioneering
Direct group involvement in election process
Funding campaigns, provide testimony, get members to work for candidates
PAC
Political funding vehicles created by 1974 campaign finance reforms
Used by interest groups to donate money
PACs help pay bills for campaign costs
Most PAC money goes to incumbents

6. How Groups Try to Shape Policy
Litigation
Interest groups file amicus curiae briefs
Brief submitted by “friend of the court” to raise add’l POVs and present info not contained in briefs of formal parties
Class action lawsuits permit a small # of ppl to sue on behalf of all other ppl in similar situations

7. How Groups Try to Shape Policy
Going Public
Groups try to:
Cultivate good public image to build a reservoir of goodwill w/ public
Use marketing strategies to influence public opinion
Advertise to motivate and inform the public

8. Types of Interest Groups
Economic Interests
Labor
Agriculture
Business
Environmental Interest
Equality Interests
Consumer and Public Interest Lobbies

9. Theory Strikes Back Pluralist Theory
Politics is competition btw groups
All are equal b/c play by “rules”
Lobbying not a problem
No dominant group – so group weak in one resource can use another

10. But Wait There’s More! Elite Theory
Society divided along class lines; elite holds real power
Largest corporations hold the most
Fortified by interlocking directorates of corporations
Other groups may win minor battles but elites prevail in big policy decisions
Lobbying is significant

11. The Last of the Theory Hyperpluralist Theory
Groups are so strong gov’t is weak and contradictory
Subgovernments (Iron Triangle)
Network of groups that exercise a control over specific policy areas
Made up of interest groups, gov’t agency, and congressional committees that handle particular policy

12. What makes an Interest Group Successful?
Ineffectiveness of large groups
Potential group
All ppl who might be members b/c share common interest
Actual group
Part of potential group consisting of members
Collective good
Something of value that cannot be withheld from a group member

13. What makes an Interest Group Successful?
Free-Rider Problem
Ppl who don’t join but benefit
Bigger the group, larger the problem
Olson’s Law of Large Groups:
Bigger groups fall farther from providing optimal amount of collective good
Overcome law with selective benefits – goods a group can restrict to those who pay dues

14. What makes an Interest Group Successful?
Small groups better organized and focused on group’s goals
Multinational corporations works b/c there are few of them
Consumer groups have hard time b/c benefits spread over population
Public interest lobbies seek “collective good” that does not selectively benefit members
Elements:
Share knowledge, status, or goals with members
Advocate on political issues
Rely on leaders to organize fundraising

15. What makes an Interest Group Successful?

16. What makes an Interest Group Successful?
Intensity
Single-Issue groups
Narrow interest, dislike compromise, often draw membership from ppl new to politics
Emotional issues, provide psychological advantage
Encourage non-conventional means of participation

17. What makes an Interest Group Successful?
Financial Resources
Not all groups have equal amounts of money
Monetary donations usually translate into access to politicians
Phone, in person, or support for policy
Wealthier groups have more resources but do not always win

18. The Interest Group Explosion

19. Understanding Interest Groups
Interest Groups and Democracy
Madison’s solution was create open system where groups compete
Pluralists - public interest would prevail from competition
Elitists – use business PACs as evidence of corruption
Hyperpluralists - maintain group influence leads to gridlock

20. Understanding Interest Groups
Interest Groups and Scope of Gov’t
Interest groups seek to maintain policies and programs that benefit them
Interest groups continue to pressure government to do more things
As the government does more, does this cause the formation of more groups?

21. Summary Group theories: pluralism, elitism, and hyperpluralism
A number of factors influence a group’s success, i.e., being small
Interest groups affect policy process through lobbying, electioneering, litigation, and going public.