1. Types How Interest Groups Work

2. Interest Groups give the unrepresented or underrepresented an opportunity to be heard
Problem is they also give wealthy and powerful the opportunity to influence policy makers at all levels of government

3. Disturbance Theory: To form an interest group to counteract other interest groups
Lobbyist is a representative hired by an interest group to push their particular agenda
Many states and municipalities retain lobbyists to work on their behalf in Washington (but isn’t that what Congressman are supposed to do?)

4. The downside to interest groups is that as they grow they demand more and more attention thus increasing the cost of public policies and the size of the government

5. Table 16.1: What are the characteristics of selected interest groups?

6. Types of Interest Groups
Interest groups may be divided broadly into three general types:
(1) economic interests
(2) consumer
(3) public interests
(4) equality & justice

7. Economic Interests Concerned primarily with profits, prices, and wages
Government can significantly effect them through regulations, subsidies, contracts, trade policy and tax advantages

8. Economic Interests (1) Labor Unions (2) Agriculture groups
(3) Business groups
(4) Professional groups

9. Economic Interests: Labor Unions
Focus on better working conditions & higher wages
To ensure their solidarity, unions have established the union shop( requires new employees to join the union representing them)

10. Economic Interests: Labor Unions
Employers, on the other hand, have supported right-to-work laws
Argue that union membership should be optional

11. Labor Unions
In 1970 about 25% of the work force belonged to a union shop, but membership has been declining over the past 30 years

12. Agriculture Groups
Equally as important are the specialized agriculture groups
Different crops have different groups:
National Potato Council
National Peanut Farmer

13. Economic Interests: Business Groups
Large corporations, such as General Motors and GE, exercise considerable political influence, as do hundreds of smaller corporations

14. Economic Interests: Professional Groups
Some of the most powerful interest groups
Represent various occupations
Some are well-known ones are the AMA, American Bar Association, NEA

15. Economic Interests: Professional Groups
These groups are interested in the many government policies that affect their professions
For example—lawyers are licensed by states, which set up certain standards of admission into the bar

16. Consumer & Public Interest Groups
Differ from many other interest groups in that they:
Seek a collective good
Benefits for everyone--not just the members of the interest groups themselves

17. Public Interest Groups
Ralph Nader first gained national attention with his book, Unsafe at Any Speed
Attacked General Motors’ Corvair as a dangerous & mechanically deficient automobile

18. Public Interest Groups
Public Interest Groups (PIRGs) actively promote:
Environmental issues
Safe energy
Consumer protection
Good government

19. Environmental Interests
A special type of public interest group focuses on environmental interests

20. Environmental Interests
A few, like the Sierra Club and Audubon Society, were founded in the late 19th century
Most were created after 1970

21. Environmental Interests
Environmental groups promote:
Pollution control
Wilderness protection
Population control

22. Environmental Interests
They have opposed:
Strip-mining
Oil pipelines
Offshore oil drilling
Nuclear power plants

23. Environmental Interests
Energy producers argue that environmentalists oppose energy projects necessary to keep modern society operating

24. Equality & Justice Interests
Interest groups have championed equal rights & justice, particularly for women & minorities

25. Equality & Justice Interests
Oldest & largest is the NAACP
NAACP—lobbied & pressed court cases to defend equal rights in voting, employment, and housing

26. Equality & Justice Interests
Most prominent women’s rights organization is the NOW
Pushed for ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) in the 1970s

27. Equality & Justice Interests
Although the amendment did not pass, NOW still lobbies for an end to sexual discrimination
Other organizations that support equal rights are the National Urban League, Women’s Political Caucus