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Chapter 10: Interest Groups

Chapter 10: Interest Groups. Do Interest Groups Help or Hinder American Democracy?. Theories of Interest Group Politics. Americans form associations More likely to participate in civic associations More likely to participate in community-service groups

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Chapter 10: Interest Groups

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  1. Chapter 10: Interest Groups Do Interest Groups Help or Hinder American Democracy?

  2. Theories of Interest Group Politics • Americans form associations • More likely to participate in civic associations • More likely to participate in community-service groups • More likely to expressed political views via a group

  3. Theories of Interest Group Politics • Role of Interest Groups in Politics • Organizing to promote an interest • Essential part of a democracy • Framed in the First Amendment • Definition – an organization of people with a similar policy goal or goals who enter the political process at one or more points

  4. Theories of Interest Group Politics • Role of Interest Groups in Politics • Definition – an organization of people with a similar policy goal or goals who enter the political process at one or more points • Federalism • State level • National level • Separation of Powers • Legislative Branch • Executive Branch • Judicial Branch

  5. Theories of Interest Group Politics • Political Party vs. Interest Group • Parties • Attempt to control policy by getting elected to office • Generalists • Must get most votes • Must appeal to more people • Must address many topics

  6. Theories of Interest Group Politics • Political Party vs. Interest Group • Interest Groups • Attempt to control policy by influencing • Those in office • The voters • Specialists • Only interested in one topic • Must appeal only to one group

  7. Theories of Interest Group Politics • Explosion of Interest Groups • An organization for nearly every conceivable interest • Advanced technology reaches more people

  8. Theories of Democracy • Pluralism • Many centers of power • Each fighting for its own cause • Group theory of politics • IG s provide a key link between people and government • Groups compete against each other

  9. Theories of Democracy • Pluralism • Group theory of politics • Groups compete against each other • No one group can dominate • Usually play “by the rules” • There are various resources groups can rely on • Money • Members

  10. Theories of Democracy • Elitism • Most groups are very weak • Power is held by the few • People • Groups • Institutions • Generally accepted by the public in recent years

  11. Theories of Democracy • Hyperpluralism • The system is out of control • Very many groups • Government defers to groups to get votes

  12. Theories of Democracy • Hyperpluralism • Iron Triangles • Interlocking power of • Interest groups • Government agencies • Government institutions • One goal  protect self interest

  13. Iron Triangles

  14. Theories of Democracy • Hyperpluralism • Issue Networks • MANY groups, agencies and institutions • Interwoven connections • Iron Triangles on steroids!

  15. What Makes an Interest Group Successful? • Size • Potential Group – those who would benefit from the group’s work • Actual Group – those who actually join and support the group

  16. What Makes an Interest Group Successful? • Size • Logic of (in)action • Collective good – everyone benefits • Free-Rider problem – if everyone benefits anyway, why put out your own resources?

  17. What Makes an Interest Group Successful? • Size • Logic of (in)action • Big potential group? – • Let someone do the work • Lots of work for small sliver of the profits • Offer SELECTIVE BENEFITS to members – perks for paying members only

  18. What Makes an Interest Group Successful? • Size • Logic of (in)action • Small potential group? – • Everyone has to do it! • Lots of work for large slice of the profits

  19. What Makes an Interest Group Successful? • Intensity • Psychological advantage when networking • Passionate membership • Single-issue group • Narrow interest • Less likely to compromise • Tenacious to get goals realized

  20. What Makes an Interest Group Successful? • Financial Resources • Biased to the wealthy? • Big interest doesn’t always get what it wants • No observable effect on policy outcomes • Other resources (size or intensity) can be just as effective • Competition between big interest groups • Often times coalitions of richer and poorer groups blur conclusions

  21. How Groups Try to Shape Policy – Strategies • Lobbying • Communication • Between a person and a government official • Not acting on his own behalf • Hoping to influence policy

  22. How Groups Try to Shape Policy – Strategies • Lobbying • Types • Permanent • Hired by an interest group • Represent the group’s interest • Temporary • Hired by a low-budget group • For a specified (short) period

  23. How Groups Try to Shape Policy – Strategies • Lobbying • Regulations on lobbyists • Must register with the Senate • File report how much they were paid for lobbying • Reports are made public

  24. How Groups Try to Shape Policy – Strategies • Lobbying • Helping officials • Source of information • Plan strategy • To get legislation passed • To get reelected • Source of new ideas and innovations

  25. How Groups Try to Shape Policy – Strategies • Electioneering • Helping candidates • Contributions • Rallying membership support

  26. How Groups Try to Shape Policy – Strategies • Electioneering • PACs (political action committees) • An association (group) • Business association • Labor union • Civic groups

  27. How Groups Try to Shape Policy – Strategies • Electioneering • Raising money purely for political purposes • Assisting politicians who support their views • Issues “report cards” on politicians • Mobilizing volunteers

  28. How Groups Try to Shape Policy – Strategies • Litigating • Go to court to get specific rulings • Often used when cause is controversial • Majorities in legislatures may not endorse the change • Courts uphold the rights of the minorities • Used extensively in Civil Rights Movement

  29. How Groups Try to Shape Policy – Strategies • Litigating • Assist in a case that isn’t theirs, but reflects their values • File amicus curiae (friend of the court) brief • offer additional research

  30. How Groups Try to Shape Policy – Strategies • Going Public • Try to keep a clean public image • Needs public to be on their side

  31. Types of Interest Groups • Economic Interests • Influence government policies in business and industry • Regulations • Subsidies • Tax policy

  32. Types of Interest Groups • Economic Interests • Labor • Working conditions • Fair wages and promotions • Establish Union Shops • Fight against Right-to-Work laws • Power • Blue collar labor peaked in the mid-50s • Expanded in the public sector

  33. Types of Interest Groups • Economic Interests • Business • Increasingly well-organized • High investments in lobbying and lobbyists • Making PAC contributions

  34. Types of Interest Groups • Environmental Interests • Try to influence policy on nature • Did I really need to explain it?

  35. Types of Interest Groups • Equality Interests • Equal protection under the law • Equality • Voting • Housing • Employment • Education

  36. Types of Interest Groups • Consumer and Other Public Interest Lobbies • Seek a collective good which benefits the society as a whole • Needs a policy entrepreneur • Spearhead the movement • Collective good makes it difficult to draw followers without the entrepreneur

  37. Incentive to join • Solidary Incentive • Sense of pleasure • Status • Companionship • Usually a coalition of local chapters

  38. Incentive to join • Material Incentive • Money or valued services offered • Lure people to join by offering special deals

  39. Incentive to join • Purposive Incentive • The appeal of goals to get people to join • Ideological IG – Based on personal principles • Public-interest lobby – based on the belief that benefits will spread out to all in public, not just members

  40. Interest Groups and the Scope of Government • Americans are individualistic but also join groups in great numbers • Interest groups expand the scope of government • Protecting existing policy • Creating new policy

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