1. Interest Groups

2. Interest Groups
Definition: group with common interest that seeks to influence government. Interest groups pursue their goals in many different areas
Madison’s dilemma: wanting both liberty and order
Factions were inevitable—need to control their effects
Pluralism: How might interest groups fit into a pluralist theory of democracy?
growth of interest groups prevents the concentration of excessive power in the hands of few, and thus enhances democracy

3. Reasons for growth of interest groups
Americans have a propensity to join groups
Changes in lobbying
Reaction from conservatives to liberal activism
Economic developments
Gov’t policy and growth of bureaucracy
Interest groups beget interest groups
Diversity of population
Technology
Diffusion of power in gov’t
Weakness of political parties

4. Types of Interest Groups

5. Types of Interest Groups
Your textbook categorizes by issue (ie—environmental, business, labor, equality)
We will sort as
Traditional
Nontraditional
Single-issue
Public interest
Ideological
Governmental
PAC’s

6. Traditional interest groups
Goal: promote economic interests of its members
Types:
Agricultural—Grange, American Farm Bureau Federation
Labor—AFL-CIO, UAW, Teamsters
Business—Chamber of Commerce, National Assn. of Manufacturers
Professional—AMA, ABA

7. Nontraditional/protest interest groups
Goal: to protest the status of its members and to convince gov’t to take remedial action
Examples:
NAACP
MALDEF
NOW

8. Single issue interest groups
Goal: to get gov’t action on one overriding issue
Examples:
Right to Life League
National Abortion Rights Action League
NRA
MADD
PETA
AIPAC

9. Public interest interest groups
Goal: to bring about good policy for society as a whole
Examples:
Common Cause
Public Citizen
League of Women’s Voters
Sierra Club/Greenpeace
501(c)(3) groups: American Cancer Society, Girl Scouts

10. Ideological interest groups
Goal: to convince gov’t to implement policies that are consistent with their philosophies
Examples:
Christian Coalition
ACLU
American Conservative Union
“think tanks”—Brookings Institute, Heritage Foundation, Cato Institute

11. Warm up questions What is the primary goal of an interest group?
Why have the existence of interest groups grown so dramatically in gov’t?
Name 3 types of interest groups, the goal of the group, and an example for each.

12. Tactics of Interest Groups

13. Tactics Lobbying—influence peddling Boycotting Litigation
Revolving door
Amicus curiae briefs
Electioneering
Initiative/referendum at state level
Campaign contributions via PAC’s
Endorsement of candidates
“Targeting” of unfriendly candidates
Going public

14. Lobbying
Attempting to influence the gov’t—most effective on narrow, technical issues that aren’t well publicized
Functions of lobbyists:
Provide information
Testify at hearings
Help write legislation
Regulations require registration & disclosure. Limits on gifts

16. Case against lobbyists
Case for lobbyists
Case against lobbyists
Provide useful information to gov’t
Means of participation for people
Linking mechanism
1st amendment
Rich & powerful interests are over-represented
Single issue lobby adds to polarization
Lobbies make it more difficult for gov’t to get things done
Clip

17. Reasons for joining interest groups
Irrationality of joining
Single person wont make much of a difference
Person will probably receive benefits from the group anyway
“Free Rider” problem
Incentives
Material benefits
Purposive benefits
Solidary benefits

18. Factors influencing strength
Size
More members= more money, more votes
But more members also mean less focus
Spread: concentrated or dispersed?
Cohesiveness: degree to which members are committed to “the cause”
Organizational structure
Leadership
Resources: money, expertise, reputation, connections

19. Iron Triangle
System of sub-governments (“iron triangles”) to protect interests
Cause of hyper-pluralism?