What are Interest Groups Interest groups Organizations of

What are Interest Groups? • Interest groups – Organizations of people with shared goals who try to turn their goals into policies, laws, or regulations. – They are part of the democratic process. • Interest groups are distinct from parties. – Political parties field candidates and fight election battles – Interest groups do not field candidates but may choose to influence elections. – Political parties are policy generalists: they have “platforms that amount to groups of goals. – Interest groups are policy specialists: they have areaspecific goals.

DISCUSS! • What do the following 2 slides reveal about Special Interest Groups in the United States?

Special Interest Group Types, 1959 v. 1995

Special Interest Group Numbers, 1959 v. 2008 1959 2008 6, 000 22, 000

The Bottom Line: Proliferation • The number and types of interest groups have exploded during the past fifty years. • Most interest groups had an economic focus through the 1950 s. • But now the “interest group universe” includes virtually everyone. • SIGs therefore have a profound and sustained influence on American

Iron Triangles

Part 2 • Not all Special Interest Groups and SGI members are the same.

Types of Special Interest Groups • Public Interest Groups: Dedicated to promoting the general welfare—see creating more informed voters. • Single-Issue Interest Groups: Dedicated to promoting the issues of a single cause—see Gun Rights or the Environment. • Professional Interest Groups: Dedicated to promoting high standards within a profession.

Why make/join Special Interest Groups? • Solitary Incentive: The social rewards that lead people to join local or state political organizations. People who find politics fun and want to meet others who share their interests are said to respond to solitary incentives. • Material Incentives: Benefits that have monetary value, including money, gifts, services, or discounts received as a result of one's membership in an organization. • Purposive Incentives: The benefit that comes from serving a cause or principle from which one does not personally benefit.

ACTIVITY! • How would you classify the following Special Interest Groups in terms of –Type –Incentive to make/join

Example-1: Grover Norquist & Americans for Tax Reform • Norquist’s organization lobbies politicians to lower taxes. Norquist authored the American Taxpayer Protection Pledge. 95% of Republicans in Congress have promised never to raise taxes. • He is an advocate of supply-side economics. – Tax cuts for the wealthy are innately stimulative and good for the economy.

Example-2: The Club for Growth is a conservative SIG that advocates low taxes, reduced gov’t spending, & deregulation.

2016 GOP Candidates affiliated with the Club for Growth Ted Cruz, TX Rand Paul, KY Marco Rubio, FL

Example-3: Tony Perkins & the Family Research Council

• A socially conservative group that favors laws 1) opposing same-sex marriage; 2) defunding planned parenthood, 3) prohibiting abortion; 4) censoring pornography; 5) and other related goals.

Example-4: The AMA • Incorporated in 1897, the AMA is to promote the science of medicine so that it improves public health. • It also supports the passage of laws that benefit doctors and patients. • It promotes a set of ethics that doctors must accept

Example-5: The Sierra Club • The Sierra Club is the nation's largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization. • It has protected millions of acres of wilderness and helped to pass the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, and Endangered Species Act.

Classifications? 1. Norquist and Taxes: Single-issue and material incentive 1. Club for Growth: Single-issue and material incentive and purposive incentive 1. Perkins and the FRC: Single-issue and purposive incentive 1. The AMA: Professional Public Interest Group and material/purposive incentive 1. The Sierra Club: Single-issue and purposive incentive.

Summary 1. How do Special Interest Groups enhance American democracy? 1. How do Special Interest Groups undermine American democracy?

Why are SIGs (arguably) good for democracy? • They generally bridge the gap between politicians and citizens. • They can provide lawmakers with details and specialized information that are not easily obtained. • They bolster the “checks and balances system” by making politicians accountable to the desires of organized citizens.