2. Chapter 16 Interest Groups

3. Chapter Outline and Learning Objectives
LO 16.1: An organized interest is a collection of people or groups with shared attitudes who make claims on government. Political scientists approach the development of interest groups from a number of theoretical perspectives, including pluralist theory, the transactions approach, and neopluralist theories such as population ecology. Interest groups can be classified in a variety of different ways based on their functions and membership.
LO 16.2: Interest groups did not begin to emerge in the United States until the 1830s. From 1890 to 1920, the Progressive movement dominated. The 1960s saw the rise of a wide variety of liberal interest groups. During the 1970s and 1980s, legions of conservatives formed new groups to counteract those efforts. Business groups, corporations, and unions also established their presence in Washington D.C. during this time.
Roots of the American Interest Group System
LO 16.1: Trace the roots of the American interest group system.
The Development of American Interest Groups
LO 16.2: Describe the historical development of American interest groups.

4. Chapter Outline and Learning Objectives
LO 16.3: Interest groups often fill voids left by the major political parties and give Americans opportunities to make organized claims on government. The most common activity of interest groups is lobbying, which takes many forms. Groups routinely pressure members of Congress and their staffs, the president and the bureaucracy, and the courts; they use a variety of techniques to educate and stimulate the public to pressure key governmental decision makers. Interest groups also attempt to influence the outcome of elections; some run their own candidates for office. Others rate elected officials to inform their members how particular legislators stand on issues of importance to them. Political action committees (PACs), a way for some groups to contribute money to candidates for office, are another method of gaining support from elected officials and ensuring that supportive officials stay in office.
LO 16.4: Interest group success can be measured in a variety of ways, including a group’s ability to get its issues on the public agenda, winning key pieces of legislation in Congress or executive branch or judicial rulings, or backing successful candidates. Several factors contribute to interest group success, including leaders and patrons, funding, and committed members.
What Do Interest Groups Do?
LO 16.3: Identify several strategies and tactics used by organized interests.
What Makes Interest Groups Successful?
LO 16.4: Analyze the factors that make an interest group successful.

5. Chapter Outline and Learning Objectives
LO 16.5: It was not until 1946 that Congress passed any laws regulating federal lobbying. Those laws were largely ineffective and were successfully challenged as violations of the First Amendment. In 1995, Congress passed the Lobbying Disclosure Act that required lobbyists to register with both houses of Congress. By 2007, a rash of scandals resulted in the sweeping reforms called the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act, which dramatically limited what lobbyists can do. The executive branch is also regulated by the 1978 Ethics in Government Act.
Toward Reform: Regulating Interest Groups and Lobbyists
LO 16.5: Explain reform efforts geared toward regulating interest groups and lobbyists.

6. Groups build social capital and civic virtue.
Roots of the American Interest Group System LO 16.1: Trace the roots of the American interest group system.
Groups build social capital and civic virtue.
Their main goal is to influence public policy.
To Learning Objectives

7. Theories of Interest Group Formation
LO 16.1
Note: the theory the author refers to as transactions theory is sometimes characterized as “elite theory.”
Photo caption: How do special interests develop?
Geography often determines the kinds of special interests that are most common in a given region.
Theories of Interest Group Formation
Pluralist theory
Disturbance theory
Transactions theory
Neopluralist theory
To Learning Objectives

8. Kinds of Organized Interests
LO 16.1
Click to see a table listing the membership numbers and campaign contribution amount for specific interest groups within each category.
Kinds of Organized Interests
Types of interest groups
Public Interest Groups
Economic Interest Groups
Governmental Units
Political Action Committees
Multi-issue versus single-issue groups
What are the characteristics of different types of interest groups?
To Learning Objectives

9. A “PAC” is an acronym for ____________.
LO 16.1
A “PAC” is an acronym for ____________.
Political Action Committee
Politically Anonymous Company
Public Action Ceremony
People’s Ardent Continuum
Population American Committee
To Learning Objectives

10. A “PAC” is an acronym for ____________.
LO 16.1
A “PAC” is an acronym for ____________.
Political Action Committee
Politically Anonymous Company
Public Action Ceremony
People’s Ardent Continuum
Population American Committee
To Learning Objectives 10

11. National Groups Emerge (1830-1889)
The Development of American Interest Groups LO 16.2: Describe the historical development of American interest groups.
National Groups Emerge ( )
Business interests play larger role after Civil War.
Groups begin to send lobbyists to Washington.
The Progressive Era ( )
Explosion of interest groups.
Growth of labor, business organizations, and trade associations.
To Learning Objectives

12. The Rise of the Interest Group State
LO 16.2
The Rise of the Interest Group State
Expansion of civil rights and groups in 1960s.
NAACP and ACLU
Nader’s Unsafe at Any Speed  Common Cause and Public Citizen
Rise of conservative/religious groups.
Evolution of new business groups dedicated to lobbying.
Declining power of organized labor.
To Learning Objectives

13. LO 16.2
In 1965 _________ became a well known consumer rights advocate with the publishing of his book, “Unsafe at Any Speed.”
Jerry Falwell
Ralph Nader
Pat Robertson
Ronal Reagan
John McCain
To Learning Objectives

14. LO 16.2
In 1965 _________ became a well known consumer rights advocate with the publishing of his book, “Unsafe at Any Speed.”
Jerry Falwell
Ralph Nader
Pat Robertson
Ronal Reagan
John McCain
To Learning Objectives 14

15. Political interest groups
What Do Interest Groups Do? LO 16.3: Identify several strategies and tactics used by organized interests.
Some are non political.
Political interest groups
increase representation and participation
increase public awareness about important issues
help frame the public agenda
monitor programs to guarantee effective implementation
engage in lobbying and election activities
To Learning Objectives

16. Grassroots lobbying, such as petitions Protests and radical activism
Congress
through research, money, or testimony
The executive branch
The courts
through sponsorship or amicus briefs
Grassroots lobbying, such as petitions
Protests and radical activism
To Learning Objectives

17. Candidate recruitment and endorsements Getting out the vote
LO 16.3
Click to view cartoon depicting a simplified view of the role of special interests.
Election Activities
Candidate recruitment and endorsements
Getting out the vote
Rating the candidates or office holders
Campaign contributions
PACs
To Learning Objectives

18. LO 16.3
Interest groups participate in the electoral process in all of the following ways EXCEPT
nominating candidates for office.
contributing money to political campaigns.
getting out of the vote.
rating office holders.
Endorsing candidates who are running for office.
To Learning Objectives

19. LO 16.3
Interest groups participate in the electoral process in all of the following ways EXCEPT
nominating candidates for office.
contributing money to political campaigns.
getting out of the vote.
rating office holders.
Endorsing candidates who are running for office.
To Learning Objectives 19

20. What Makes Interest Groups Successful. LO 16
What Makes Interest Groups Successful? LO 16.4: Analyze the factors that make an interest group successful.
Photo caption: Who are interest group leaders?
As president of the Children’s Defense Fund, Marian Wright Edelman continues to fight against child poverty and for better health care.
Leaders
Funding and patrons
Members: helps to overcome the free rider problem, especially for collective goods
To Learning Objectives

21. LO 16.4
The phenomenon in which potential members fail to join an interest group because they can get the benefit without contributing the effort is known as
transactions theory.
disturbance theory.
grassroots lobbying.
the free rider problem.
a common cause.
To Learning Objectives

22. LO 16.4
The phenomenon in which potential members fail to join an interest group because they can get the benefit without contributing the effort is known as
transactions theory.
disturbance theory.
grassroots lobbying.
the free rider problem.
a common cause.
To Learning Objectives 22

23. Regulating Congressional Lobbyists
Toward Reform: Regulating Interest Groups and Lobbyists LO 16.5: Explain reform efforts geared toward regulating interest groups and lobbyists.
Click to view a table listing the provisions of The Ethics in Government Act of 1978.
Regulating Congressional Lobbyists
The Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995
Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 1927
Regulating Executive Branch Lobbyists
The Ethics in Government Act of 1978
To Learning Objectives

24. LO 16.6
What law requires the president the source and amount of all earned income and any positions held in business, labor, or non-profit organization?
The Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995
Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 1927
The Ethics in Government Act of 1978
Federal Election Campaign Act of 1974
The Clayton Act of 1914
To Learning Objectives

25. LO 16.6
What law requires the president the source and amount of all earned income and any positions held in business, labor, or non-profit organization?
The Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995
Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 1927
The Ethics in Government Act of 1978
Federal Election Campaign Act of 1974
The Clayton Act of 1914
To Learning Objectives 25

26. What role do lobbyists play in Congress
What role do lobbyists play in Congress? This cartoon presents one popular, although not always correct, view of how legislation gets enacted on Capitol Hill.
Discuss why this view is popular, but not always correct.
How is this view a simplification of the lobbying process?
Do some candidates receive more support than others?
How can students find out which interest groups are funding which candidates?
How does incumbency play into this process?
Back
To Learning Objectives

27. Table 16.1: What are the characteristics of selected interest groups?
Use the table to look for patterns among different types of interest groups. Then consider questions such as:
Which interests groups spent the most?
Which interest groups are the largest?
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To Learning Objectives

28. Table 16.2: What are the key provisions of the Ethics in Government Act?
Use the table to discuss the purpose each of the provision.
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