1. Interest Groups

2. The Role and Reputation of Interest Groups ► Defining Interest Groups  An organization of people with shared policy goals entering the policy process at several points to try to achieve those goals. Interest groups pursue their goals in many arenas.  Political Parties fight election battles, Interest Groups don’t - but they may choose sides.  Interest Groups are policy specialists, Political Parties are policy generalists.

3. Understanding Interest Groups ► Interest Groups and Democracy  James Madison’s solution to the problems posed by interest groups was to create a wide-open system in which groups compete.  Elite theorists point to the proliferation of business PACs as evidence of interest group corruption.

4. Understanding Interest Groups ► Interest Groups and the Scope of Government  Interest groups seek to maintain policies and programs that benefit them.  Interest groups continue to pressure government to do more things.  But as the government does more things, does that cause the formation of more groups?

5. What Makes an Interest Group Successful?

6. ► The Surprising Ineffectiveness of Large Groups  Potential group: All the people who might be interest group members because they share a common interest.  Actual group: The part of the potential group consisting of members who actually join.  Collective good: Something of value that cannot be withheld from a group member

7. What Makes an Interest Group Successful?  Free-Rider problem: Some people don’t join interest groups because they benefit from the group’s activities without officially joining.  The bigger the group, the larger the free-rider problem. (Olson’s law of large groups)  Large groups are difficult to keep organized.

8. What Makes an Interest Group Successful?  Small groups are better organized and more focused on the group’s goals.  Consumer groups have a difficult time getting significant policy gains - the benefits are spread over the entire population.  Groups that can provide selective benefits can overcome this problem.

9. What Makes an Interest Group Successful? ► The Benefits of Membership in the AARP (Figure 11.2)

10. What Makes an Interest Group Successful? ► Intensity  Single-Issue groups: Groups that focus on a narrow interest and dislike compromise.  Groups may focus on an emotional issue, providing them with a psychological advantage.  May be more likely to use protests and other means of political participation than traditional interest groups that use lobbyists.

11. What Makes an Interest Group Successful? ► Financial Resources  Not all groups have equal amounts of money.  Monetary donations usually translate into access to the politicians - a phone call, a meeting, etc.  There is a bias towards the wealthier groups.  The wealthier groups don’t always win in the policy arena.

12. Types of Interest Groups ► Economic Interests  Labor  Agriculture  Business ► Environmental Interests ► Equality Interests ► Consumer and Public Interest Lobbies

13. Figure 11.3 The Interest Group Explosion

14. How Groups Try to Shape Policy ► Lobbying  “communication by someone other than a citizen acting on his own behalf, directed to a governmental decisionmaker with the hope of influencing his decision.” (Lester Milbrath)  Two basic types: Those that are employed by a group, and those that are hired temporarily.

15. How Groups Try to Shape Policy  Lobbyists are a source of information.  Lobbyists can help politicians plan political strategies for legislation.  Lobbyists can help politicians plan political strategies for reelection campaigns.  Lobbyists can provide ideas and innovations that can be turned into policies that the politician can take credit for.

16. How Groups Try to Shape Policy ► Electioneering  Direct group involvement in the election process.  Political Action Committee (PAC): Used by interest groups to donate money to candidates.  PACs help pay the bill for increasing campaign costs.  Most PAC money goes to incumbents.

17. How Groups Try to Shape Policy ► Litigation  If an interest group fails in one arena, the courts may be able to provide a remedy.  Interest groups can file amicus curiae briefs in court cases to support their position.  Class Action lawsuits permit small groups of people to try and correct a situation on behalf of a much larger group.

18. How Groups Try to Shape Policy ► Going Public  Groups try and cultivate a good public image.  Groups use marketing strategies to influence public opinion of the group and its issues.  Groups will purchase advertising to motivate the public about an issue.