1. Interest Groups
Chapter 7

2. Interest Group Theory Groups build social capital and civic virtue.
Their main goal is to influence public policy.
A variety of theories exist about why groups form.
Pluralist theory, which is related to disturbance theory.
Transactions theory.
Neopluralist theory (i.e. population ecology theory).

3. Types of Organized Interests
Public interest groups (i.e. NARAL, NRA).
Economic interest groups (i.e. AFL-CIO, NAM).
Governmental units, who lobby for earmarks.
Political action committees (i.e. EMILY’s List).
Multi-issue versus single-issue groups.

5. AV- Interest Group Ratings
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6. Roots of Interest Groups
First national groups emerge in 1830s.
Business interests play larger role after Civil War.
Groups begin to send lobbyists to Washington
Progressive era leads to an explosion of groups.
Growth of labor and trade associations.

7. The Interest Group State
Expansion of civil rights and groups in 1960s.
Development of conservative and religious groups.
Evolution of new business groups dedicated to lobbying.
Declining power of organized labor.

9. Table 16.1- Interest Group Profiles
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10. Lobbying Target Congress through research, money, or testimony.
Also target bureaucratic agencies and the president.
Lobby courts through sponsorship or amicus briefs.
Can use grassroots techniques, such as petitions.
May also resort to protests and activism.

11. Table 16.2- Lobbying Techniques
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12. Election Activities Recruiting and endorsing candidates.
Organizing get out the vote efforts.
Rating candidates and office holders.
Establishing political action committees.

15. What Makes a Group Successful?
Leaders, to inspire membership.
Patrons, for funding.
Members, who are involved at varying levels.
Membership helps to overcome the free rider problem.
Particularly true for groups that provide collective goods.

17. Regulating Interest Groups
1995 Lobbying Disclosure Act regulates Congress.
Requires lobbyists to register and report payments.
New 2007 Honest Leadership and Open Government Act.
Bans gifts, toughens disclosure, increases time limits.
Executive regulated by 1978 Ethics in Government Act.

18. Table 16.4- Ethics in Government Act
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