INTEREST GROUPS 1 What Are Interest Groups Interest

INTEREST GROUPS 1

What Are Interest Groups? • Interest Group (special interests) is an organization of people with similar policy goals that tries to influence the political process to try to achieve those goals. • Interest groups try to influence every branch and every level of government. • Links citizens to government 2

How are Interest Groups different from Political Parties? • Interest Groups seek support for issues that affect their members (not election to office) • Interest Groups support public officials who support the groups issue • Interest Groups focus on a particular issue • Interest Groups are private organizations accountable only to their members 3

The Roots and Development of American Interest Groups • Interest groups have existed since the country’s founding. – Federalist #10 • The open nature of the American government invites organized political participation. • Labor unions were some of the earliest and best organized interest groups. 4

The Rise of the Interest Group State (1960 s and 1970 s) • Economic Interest Groups – Professional Associations – Trade Associations – Organized Labor • • • Government Interest Groups Civil Rights Ideological Groups Religious Groups Public Interest Groups – “Think Tanks” – Public-Interest Law Firms – Environmental Groups • Single-Issue Groups 6

In pairs… • For each type of interest group, provide a real-life, current example. • Focus on those you would consider joining. • Use a note card to record your examples. 8

What Do Interest Groups Do? • Goals: – Gain access to policy makers – Influence public policy – Support sympathetic policy makers 9

Interest Groups Techniques Direct Techniques: • Lobbying – Private meetings – Testifying – Drafting Legislation – Social Occasions – Providing Political Info – Supplying Nomination suggestions – Contributions (PACs) Indirect Techniques: • Generating Public Pressure – Groundswell of public pressure – Use Constituents as Lobbyists – Building Alliances with other groups 10

Lobbying • Most common and effective technique to influence policymaking • Lobbying… -Congress (about 30, 000 /spend about $2 billion/year) -Executive Branch (regulatory agencies) -Courts (bring cases to the courts, file briefs, influence nominations) • The best lobbyists are truthful and genuine 11

What Makes an Interest Group Successful? • • 1. Leaders – having a prominent leader aids in the reputation of the group and enhances a group's ability to attain its goals. 2. Financial Resources – funding is critical. Without money, it is hard to get your message out. 3. Size – a group must have members to be successful. Organizing members allows for strength in numbers and pooling of financial support. 4. Intensity – the more committed the members the better 13

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Hyperpluralist Theory § Detriments of too many groups: § Groups dominate the political decision-making § Consideration of the greater public interest becomes impossible § Policy can become confusing or contradictory § Lawmakers avoid making tough decisions 18

In pairs… • Generate a list of pros and cons for the influence of interest groups. Include at least 3 of each. • In the end, answer these two questions: • 1. Do interest groups represent a net benefit to American society? Why or why not? • 2. What can be done to limit the negative consequences of interest groups? 19

Power Elite Theory • Small number of super rich individuals, powerful corporate interests, & large financial institutions dominate key political areas – PACs develop close connection between money and politics 20

Criticism 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 21

Important Points to Think About Interest Groups • Promote interest in public affairs • Provide useful information • Serve as watchdogs • Represent the interest of Citizens 22