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What is an Interest Group

What is an Interest Group. Organization that seeks to influence public policy Corporations Unions Professionals Civil Rights Women Public Interest Social Welfare. Influence of Interest Groups. Size and Wealth used to matter Now every group can throw money around Super-PACs

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What is an Interest Group

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  1. What is an Interest Group • Organization that seeks to influence public policy • Corporations • Unions • Professionals • Civil Rights • Women • Public Interest • Social Welfare

  2. Influence of Interest Groups • Size and Wealth used to matter • Now every group can throw money around • Super-PACs • Generate dramatic news • Mobilize Voters (outsider strategy- grassroots) • File a suit • Supply information to Congress (insider strategy- lobbying)

  3. Interest Groups - Abortion Liberal Groups • EMILY’s List (Early Money Is Like Yeast) • Planned Parenthood Conservative Groups • National Abortion Rights Action League (NARAL) • National Right to Life

  4. Interest Groups – Education Liberal Groups • American Federation of Teachers (AFT) • National Education Association (NEA) Conservative Groups • Center for Education Reform • Educational Excellence Network

  5. Interest Groups – Environment Pro • Sierra Club • National Wildlife Federation (NWF) • Greenpeace • Environmental Defense Fund Con • National Forestry Association • Alliance for America • Center for the Defense of Free Enterprise

  6. Interest Groups – Gay Rights Pro • Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) • Log Cabin Republicans • Human Rights Campaign Con • American Family Association • Focus on the Family • Family Research Council

  7. Interest Groups – Gun Control Pro • Violence Policy Center • Coalition to Stop Gun Violence (CSGV) • Brady Campaign Con • Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms • Gun Owners of America (GOA) • National Rifle Association (NRA)

  8. Interest Groups – Health Care • American Medical Association (AMA) • American Public Health Association (APHA) • American Council on Science and Health (ACSH) • Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD)

  9. Interest Groups – Immigration Liberal • National Immigration Forum • Urban Institute Conservative • Center for Immigration Studies (CIS) • Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR)

  10. Interest Groups – Union Pro • AFL-CIO • Industrial Workers of the World Con • Heritage Foundation • National Right to Work • US Chamber of Commerce

  11. Interest Groups – Social Security Pro • American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) Con • Cato Institute

  12. Interest Groups – Civil Rights • National Organization for Women (NOW) • National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) • Anti-Defamation League • American Civil Liberties Union • Rainbow/PUSH Coalition • Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies • American Indian Movement (AIM)

  13. Why Lobbyists Exist • Cleavages in American Society • Multiple points of access (Constitution- separation of powers) • Political Parties are weak Discussion Question: Why have interest groups grown stronger as political parties have grown weaker? Could this inverse relationship be changed, with both interest groups and parties growing more powerful? Or are there incentives for these organizations to compete? Could interest groups and political parties both grow progressively weaker?

  14. Institutional Organizations • Any sector of the American economy that needs “protection” from other groups (external and internal) • Coalition of groups who have same goal (even if they are competitors of each other) • Examples: • U.S. Chamber of Commerce • Car Lobby • Tobacco Lobby

  15. Membership Organizations • Intent to make a person’s voice louder, so the government can hear it (generally members are “hardcore” believers of cause) • Often have “sympathetic” support from community • Examples: • NAACP • Sierra Club • PTA

  16. Why do people join? • Incentives • Solidary (social benefit- status or companionship) • Local groups exist to help National Organization do the “heavy lifting” • Material (economic benefit- magazines, discounts) • Attracts people to an organization to increase numbers and money • Purposive (ideological benefit) • Social Movements (often helps non-members) • Environment, Civil Rights, Feminism, Unions

  17. The Free Rider Problem • Some pay but everyone benefits • Offer material incentives that would provoke people to join the groups • Magazines • Gifts for joining

  18. Public Interest • Often issues that are controversial • Shaped by the mood of the times • Often advance causes through lawsuits • Challenge / Support existing legislation or proposed legislation

  19. Expansion of Public-Interests • Difficult to get people to join interests with purposive incentives • Social Movements spawn many organizations and groups that deal with many issues revolving around the movement • Staff of Interest Groups – Activists

  20. Social Movements • Environment • 1890’s Sierra Club • 1930’s Wilderness Society • 60’s – 70’s Environmental Defense Fund • Feminist • 1830’s, 1890’s, 1920’s and the 60’s • Union • Others – • Civil Rights, Immigration, Homosexual Rights

  21. The business of expressing your viewpoints…

  22. Interest Group Funding • Foundation Grants • Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation • Rockefeller Family Fund • Ford Foundation • 1/3 received ½ or more of their funding from these groups • Federal Grants – Not for the lobby itself • Federal Contracts – Not for the lobby itself • Companies/Individuals interested in movement • Direct Mail • Teaser, Famous endorsements, Arouse emotions, etc. • Evolved into telemarketing and emails

  23. The “Revolving Door” • Federal government workers leave to take more lucrative positions in private industry (lobbying, consulting, executive positions) • This may give private interests a way to improperly influence government decisions

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