1. Interest Groups 2.0 Fitz-AP Gov

2. Focus: What do you get out of joining a Facebook group? How many do you belong to?

3. People Groups

7. What Are Interest Groups? Interest Group (simple definition) organization of people with similar policy goals that tries to influence the political process Influence every branch and every level of government.

13. 3 VIEWS ON GROUPS James Madison and Federalist #10 The open nature of the American government invites organized political participation.- Market of ideas

14. 1. Pluralist theory Groups are good. Representation is equal.

16. 1. Disadvantages to those who are not organized. 2. some interests have more power than others. 3. no room for consideration of transcendent national interests. Pluralism and its Critics

17. 2. Hyperpluralist theory Too many groups getting too much of what they want

18. 3. Elitist theory Only a few groups have power. Mainly the wealthy.

19. The Iron Triangle* Congressional Committees Interest GroupsGovernment Agencies

20. Gives electoral support to Gives campaign contributions to Supplies information to

21. Gives access to Passes friendly legislation for

22. Congressional support through lobbying

23. Low regulation, special favors, contracts

24. Gives funding and political support to

25. Carries out policy for Provides constituent services for

27. Why are large groups unsuccessful? Consumer group files lawsuit Former 24 Hour Fitness Members Benefit $20 for yours truly…for doing nothing

28. Olson says… The the group the further it will short of providing an optimal amount of a collective good

29. Free-rider problem Why join ? when everyone benefits from…

30. Selective or material benefits

31. Solidarity benefits

32. Purposeful benefits

33. What Do Interest Groups Do? A Lobbyists is someone whose task it is to influence legislation or policymaking. Lobbyists have to be: –Honest –Persuasive –Well-connected in order to be efficient

34. Interest Groups Techniques Direct Techniques: Lobbying –Private meetings –Testifying –Drafting Legislation –Social Occasions –Providing Political Info –Supplying Nomination suggestions Indirect techniques: Generating Public Pressure –Use Constituents as Lobbyists –Building Alliances with other groups

35. What Makes an Interest Group Successful? In general three factors tend to lead to interest group success: 1.Leaders 2.Patrons and Funding –Without money, it is hard to get your message out. 3.Members – a group must have members to be successful. Organizing members allows for strength in numbers and pooling of financial support.

36. Criticism Interest Groups Interest Groups have been criticized for Ignoring the wider interest of society Producing confusion and deadlock in Congress Generating so much emotion that they make reasoned discussion difficult Having too much influence

37. Important Points to Think About Interest Groups Promote interest in public affairs Provide useful information Serve as watchdogs Represent the interest of Citizens

38. Interest Groups 2.0 What is an interest group- Pluralist theoryHyperpluralist theory Elitist theoryOlson’s Law Free-rider problemSelective or material benefits Purposeful benefits What do interest groups do?Lobbying- Direct techniques-Indirect techniques- Recipe for success-Criticism of interest groups-