Interest Groups History and Interest Group Formation Interest

Interest Groups History and Interest Group Formation

Interest Groups ØAny organization that seeks to influence public policy ØFound in many societies ØUnusually large number found in U. S.

Proliferation Ø 1. Social cleavages Ø 2. U. S. constitutional system Ø 3. Decline of political parties

Social Cleavages Ø Number of social divisions Ø Income, occupational, religious, racial, & cultural lines

U. S. Constitutional System Ø Stimulates political activity, including interest group activity Ø Because of federalism & separation of powers, there exists many different important centers in which impt decisions are made

U. S. Constitutional System ØMany different interest groups can exercise different power ØIn Britain, interest groups are fewer in number & larger in scale to match centralized govt structure

Decline of Political Parties Ø Has made interest groups more needed & powerful Ø In European countries (with strong parties) interest groups— such as labor unions & professional societies—tend to work through the parties

Kinds of Interest Groups ØInstitutional ØMembership

(1) Institutional Interest Groups ØOrganizations representing other groups ØTypical institutional interests are business, government, foundations, & universities

(2) Membership Interest Groups ØSupported by the activities & contributions of individual citizens ØExamples include: AARP, NAACP, Christian Coalition, Sierra Club

Birth of Interest Groups Ø Since the 1960 s the number of interest groups has increased rapidly Ø There have been other historical eras of interest group proliferation

Historical Eras of Interest Group Growth Ø 1770 s (pro-independence groups) Ø 1830 s & 1840 s (religious & antislavery groups) Ø 1860 s (trade unions, the Grange) Ø 1880 s & 1890 s (business orgs)

Historical Eras of Interest Group Growth Ø 1900 s & 1910 s (a vast array of orgs) Ø 1960 s (environmental, consumer, and political reform orgs)

Interest Groups Ø Do not arise spontaneously or automatically Ø At least four factors help explain the rise of interest groups

Rise of Interest Groups Ø (1) Broad economic developments Ø (2) Government policy Ø (3) Religious & moralistic movements Ø (4) Expansion of government activities

(1) Broad Economic Developments Ø Rise of mass production industry encouraged the rise of massmembership labor unions

(2) Government Policy Ø Public programs create constituencies with an incentive to organize to maintain their benefits Ø Veterans’ benefits create veterans’ groups Ø Licensing of professionals by state gov gives societies of doctors & lawyers a strong reason to exist

(2) Government Policy Ø Sometimes the gov supports the formation of orgs (American Farm Bureau) by providing benefits to its members Ø Sometimes gov policies are designed to make private interest group formation easier (passage of laws in 1930 s to aid labor)

(3) Religious & Moralistic Movements ØProduce people, frequently young people, who are willing to form orgs, often at large personal cost

(3) Religious & Moralistic Movements Ø Religious revivals of the 1830 s & 1840 s fed the antislavery crusade Ø Civil Rts. & antiwar movements of 1960 s likewise produced an org. explosion

(4) Expansion of Gov Activities Ø The more activities gov undertakes, the more interest groups form as a response to those activities Ø Public interest lobbies have increased since 1970, when gov became active in civil rts, social welfare, and consumer rts.