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Interest Groups AP Government Unit 4

Interest Groups AP Government Unit 4. What is an Interest Group??. “ An interest group is an organization made up of people who share common objectives and who actively attempt to influence government policymakers through direct and indirect methods.”

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Interest Groups AP Government Unit 4

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  1. Interest Groups AP GovernmentUnit 4

  2. What is an Interest Group?? • “An interest group is an organization made up of people who share common objectives and who actively attempt to influence government policymakers through direct and indirect methods.” • “Interest Group is an organization of people with similar policy goals that tries to influence the political process to try to achieve those goals.”

  3. What do Interest Groups do? • Try to influence public policy • Lobbyists try and persuade public officials to believe a specific view • Every branch and every level of government is affected by interest groups

  4. The Roots and Development of American Interest Groups • National Groups Emerge (1830-80) • Progressive Era (1890-1920) • Organized Labor – the American Federation of Labor (AFL) (1886) • Business and Trade Associations – The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) (1895) • The Rise of the Interest Group State (1960s and 1970s) • Religious and Ideological Groups • Business Groups, Trade and Professional Associations • Organized Labor

  5. The Development of American Interest Groups • Interest groups have been part of the American political landscape since the country’s founding. • James Madison in Federalist #10argued for a proliferation of groups so that no one group could get hegemony over the other groups. • The open nature of the American government invites organized political participation.

  6. Interest Groups should: • Promote interest in public affairs • Provide useful information • Serve as watchdogs • Represent the interest of Citizens

  7. Why People Join Interest Groups • Solidary Incentives • For the social contacts • League of Women Voters, NAACP, PTSA, American Legion • Material Incentives • For economic reasons • AARP, Farmers Groups, Labor Unions • Purposive Incentives • For moral causes / crusades • Right to-Life, Pro-Choice, Greenpeace

  8. Who Joins Interest Groups? • Upper class interest groups- Big Business • More affluent join and are active • White collar workers • Professional groups • Working class interest groups- Big Labor • Labor unions have been very powerful in past • The AFL-CIO broke up in 2004, cutting big labor’s power

  9. Political Parties vs. Interest Groups • Political Parties • Nominate candidates • What to win elections • Concerned with many issues • Interest Groups • Don’t nominate • Want to influence policies • Concerned with one issue

  10. Economic Interest Groups • Most interest groups are based oneconomics • Businesses(create favorable environment for business to prosper) • Agriculture (work for price supports from gov’t, but also limit gov’t influence) • Labor (Call public attention to the legitimate needs of working people. Accomplishments …eight-hour work day …child labor laws …minimum wage laws ...workplace health & safety laws) • Professional (protect and advance their professional field -- to do this, they...publish journals…give awards for excellence ...communicate their opinions to gov’t officials)

  11. Other Types • Cause-based • (National Wildlife Federation, League of Women Voters, National Rifle Association, MADD) • Concerned with the welfare of people • (AARP – senior citizens, NAACP – African Americans) • Religious Organizations • (Christian Coalition, American Jewish Congress)

  12. Honest Lobbyists • A lobbyist must be honest and truthful if he or she wants to remain effective. • Access to lawmakers is critical and if a lobbyist gets a reputation of being untruthful or disingenuous legislators doors will close. • Good lobbyists will also make lawmakers aware of the downsides of a bill and the arguments on the other side as well. • And I have some swamp land in Florida for sale…

  13. Lobbyists • A Lobbyist is someone whose task it is to influence legislation or policymaking • Lobbyists are hired by: • Businesses • Trade associations • Colleges or universities • Foreign countries • Anyone else wanting their voice heard on policy matters (Health issues, parent issues…)

  14. Direct Techniques: Lobby at Capitol Hill Have private meetings Meet at social occasions Testify at hearings Drafting legislation Providing political info Supply nomination suggestions Indirect Techniques: Generating Public Pressure Use public pressure on “hot button” issues Use constituents to call lawmakers Build alliances with other groups Interest Group Techniques

  15. Interest Groups have been criticized for… • Ignoring the wider interest of society • Producing confusion and deadlock in Congress • Generating so much emotion that they make reasoned discussion difficult • Having too much influence

  16. What Makes an Interest Group Successful? • Leaders – having a prominent leader aids in the reputation of the group and enhances a group's ability to attain its goals. • Patrons and Funding– funding is critical. Without money, it is hard to get your message out. • Members – a group must have members to be successful. Organizing members allows for strength in numbers and pooling of financial support.

  17. Important Interest Groups to Know • AARP- American Association of Retired persons • NRA- National Rifle Association • ACLU- American Civil Liberties Union • NAACP- National Association for the Advancement of Colored People • Sierra Club- Environmental advocate group • AFL-CIO- American Federation of Labor

  18. National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) • National Coalition for the Homeless • National Education Association (NEA) • National Endangered Species Act Reform Coalition • National Gay and Lesbian Task Force • National Organization for Women (NOW) • National Recycling Coalition • National Resources Defense Council • National Right to Life • National Rifle Association • National Rural Electric Cooperative Association • National Water Resources Association • Nuclear Waste Citizens Coalition • Office & Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU) • PeaceNet • People For the American Way • People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals • Physicians for a National Health Program • Planned Parenthood • Public Citizen • Public Interest Research Groups • Service Employees International Union • Sheet Metal Workers International Association • Sierra Club • Society for Electronic Access (SEA) • Society for Human Resource Management • Taxpayers Against Fraud • Teledemocracy Action News + Network • United Autoworkers Workers (UAW) • United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) • United Mine Workers of America (UMW) • United States Space Foundation • Vietnam Veterans of America • Women's Legal and Public Policy Information • WomensNet Others- and Links! • GreenNet (environmental) • Greenpeace International • Habitat for Humanity • Hollywood Women's Political Committee - HWPC • International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers • International Brotherhood of Teamsters • International Union of Bricklayers & Allied Craftworkers • LaborNet • League of Conservation Voters • League of Women Voters' Voter Education Project • Majority '96 • Militia Watchdog • National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League (NARAL) • National Air Traffic Controllers Association • National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) • National Association for Public Interest Law • National Association of Arab Americans • National Association of Baby Boomers • National Association of Broadcasters • National Association of Community Action Agencies • National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) • ConflictNet • Concord Coalition • Congressional Accountability Project • Contract with America • Bowling Green State University Coalition Against the Contract [ • "Contract on America" (book by Ann-Marie Rosato) • Council for Responsible Genetics • Death Penalty Information Center • EcoNet • Electronic Frontier Foundation • EMILY's List • Empower America • Environmental Defense Fund • Family Farm Alliance • Federation For American Immigration Reform (FAIR) • Feminist Majority Foundation Online • Friends of the Earth • Fund for Constitutional Government • Generation X Coalition • Government Purchasing Project • AFL-CIO • Alliance for Justice • American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) • American Association for Affirmative Action (AAAA) • American Association for People with Disabilities (AAPD) • American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) • American Association of University Women (AAUW) • American Bankers Association (ABA) • American Bar Association • American Civil Liberties Union • American Chemical Society • American Conservative Union • American Farm Bureau Federation • American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) • American Federation of Teachers (AFT) • American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA) • American Israel Public Affairs Committee • American Legion • American Petroleum Institute • American Postal Workers Union (APWU) • American Public Welfare Association (APWA) • Americans Against Political Corruption • Americans for Democratic Action • Amnesty International • Animal Rights Coalition • Catholics United for Life • Center for Democracy and Technology • Center for Public Integrity • Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) • Children's Defense Fund • Child Labor Coalition • Child Welfare League of America • Christian Coalition • Citizens Against Government Waste • Citizens for Budget Reform (CBR) • Citizens for Tax Justice • Communications Workers of America (CWA)

  19. Political Action Committees • PACS are the so-called “political arms” of interest groups • Support candidates with campaign money • ½ sponsored by corporations; 1/10 by unions • 1/3 liberal and 2/3 conservative (2001) • Incumbents get most PAC money • The “revolving door” • PACS hire former members of Congress to lobby their old friends, committees, etc… • This is legal but …Is this Ethical???

  20. Where does ALL the $$ Come From?? • Member dues • Federal grants • Direct mail appeals for cash • Internet sites • Dinners and fundraisers

  21. Money Limits • Individuals can give up to $2000 to a candidate but PACS can give $10,000 to a candidate • Federal money will match presidential campaign money but…. • Parties need at least 5% of vote in previous year for presidential candidate to receive funds • If that doesn’t happen you need PAC’s!!!

  22. Interest Group Mantra If you give… you shall receive!!

  23. And now for a bit of fun….

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