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Interest Groups

Explore how interest groups influence policies, the role of social connections, theories of pluralism and elitism, functions, downsides, and membership patterns.

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Interest Groups

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  1. Interest Groups Now Chapter 7

  2. Value of Interest Groups • Organizations that seek to achieve their goals by influencing government decisions. • James Madison believed interest groups were good. • Social Capital: the ways in which our lives are improved by social connections • Robert Putman believes that social capital improves lives, communities and improves government. He also believes that social groups are in decline.

  3. Interest Groups and Civic Participation • Interest groups afford a way for people to band together to influence government as a collective force. • They encourage groups to communicate their views one on one with elected officials.

  4. Pluralist Theory • Pluralist: a theory that holds policy making is a competition among diverse interest groups that ensure the representation of individual interests. • Pluralist view it as a competition between groups to influence Congress, Executive branch, and the courts. • They believe interest groups are essential and that individuals rights can be protected through these diverse groups. • They also believe that interest groups provide structure and rules for participating in politics. • They believe that these groups form balance in the government by counter acting each other.

  5. Elite Theory • A theory that holds that a group of the wealthy, educated individuals wields most political power. • Even though a majority of people participate in interest groups only the elite hold the power over the U.S. government. • Elite only protect their interests. • Non elites can claim elite status through education. Thus this mobility allows anyone to move up in status.

  6. Key functions of Interest Groups • Educate the public about policy issues. • Provide average citizens with an avenue of access to activism. • Mobilize citizens and stimulate them to participate in political affairs • Perform electoral • Provide info and expertise to policy makers. • Can protect the common good • Are an integral part of the government system of checks and balances.

  7. Downside of Interest Groups • Appearance of corruption • Fund raise with (PAC) and make money a vital force in American Politics • PAC’s in turn make contributions to campaigns. • They strength incumbents. • Elites are strengthen by incumbents and non elites are left weak.

  8. Patterns of Membership • Interest Group Participation is related to three demographic characteristics: 1. Income 2. Social Class 3. Education

  9. Participation on Occupation • People with higher incomes tend to have a better occupation than most. Thus they have the means to spend money on interest groups. • Also some of these higher occupations interest group activity is useful. • Ex: Doctors (AMA) or Lawyers (ABA) • In 2008 the AMA started a campaign to get 47million Americans health care coverage. • Teachers and Tradesman are likely to be in Unions and tend to donate to the NEA.

  10. Interest groups and Social Class • People of lower social classes will tend not to participate in interest groups. • It also depends on if a person starts participating in them at a young age.

  11. Education and Interest Groups • Students in college 19-25 are more likely to join interest groups than their counterparts that are not in college. • Higher education tends to mean more knowledgeable about issues. • Internet groups have become more predominate

  12. Motivation for joining interest groups • For the benefits they receive • Certain causes • Meet new people

  13. Solidary Incentives • Motivation to join an interest group based on companionship and the satisfaction derived from socializing with others that it offers. • Ex: Joining Sierra Club because they enjoy hiking and protecting the wilderness. • NRA: Enjoys guns and shooting contest

  14. Purposive Incentives • Motivation to join an interest group based on the belief in the groups cause form an ideological or moral standpoint. • Ex: PETA because you strongly object to animal abuse and want to work with others animal cruelty. • NRLC because you believe in pro life.

  15. Economic Incentives • Motivation to join an interest group because the groups works for policies that provide their members material benefits. • Ex: NAPO provides bullet proof vests, overtime pay, ect

  16. Organizational Resources • The two resources that interest groups rely on are membership and financial resources. • Strength in numbers • Cohesion of the group • Intensity • Demographics • PAC – political action committee is a group that raises and spends money in order to influence the outcome of an election

  17. Organizational Environment • This is the setting in which interest groups attempt to achieve its goals. • Keys are leadership and presence or absence of opposition from groups. • Strong Leaders are the key • Opposition- If no opposition than people are more likely to believe the group.

  18. Economic Interest Groups • Corporate and Business- motion picture association of America (MPAA) • Umbrella Organization-interest groups that represent collective groups of industries or corporations • Labor- (AFL-CIO) • Agriculture- (AFBF) • Trade- (AH&LA)

  19. Public and Ideological Interest Groups • Collective Goods- outcomes shared by the general public • Free Rider Problem- the phenomenon of someone deriving benefit from others actions • Rational Choice Theory- the idea that from an economic perspective it is not rational for people to participate in collective action when they can secure the collective good without participating. • Consumer interests • Environmental interests and Religious issues

  20. Interest Group Strategies • Direct strategies involve actual contact between reps. of interest groups and policy makers. This is mostly used. • Indirect strategies use intermediaries to advocate cause. • Lobby-to communicate directly with policy makers on the interest groups behalf. • Issue networking – the fluid web of connections among those concerned about policy and those who create policy.

  21. Interest Group Strategies cont.. • Iron Triangle- the interaction of mutual interest among members of congress, executive agencies, and organized interest during policy making. • Litigation by interest groups- example RIAA and stealing songs. • Providing expert testimony- celebrates are brought in to help pass issues.

  22. Indirect Strategies • Public Outreach is done by climate control which is building favorable public opinion of the organization. Wal-Mart example • Electioneering- working to influence the elections of candidates who support the organizations issues. • This is done through PAC’s and endorsements. PACs are mainly Democratic.

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