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Chapter 9 Interest Groups

Chapter 9 Interest Groups. Power and Influence. Goals & Objectives. Interest groups influence on policy. Role of interest groups in politics. Interest groups and public affairs. Disproportionate influence. Types of interest groups. Propaganda and public policy.

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Chapter 9 Interest Groups

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  1. Chapter 9Interest Groups Power and Influence

  2. Goals & Objectives • Interest groups influence on policy. • Role of interest groups in politics. • Interest groups and public affairs. • Disproportionate influence. • Types of interest groups. • Propaganda and public policy. • Lobbyists techniques and influence.

  3. Roles of Interest Groups • To Make or Influence Public Policy (Congress, Presidency, Bureaucracy) • Gun Control: NRA v. Handgun Inc. • Abortion: Right to Life v. Pro Choice • War: Doves v. Hawks • Taxes: Taxpayers vs. Non-taxpayers

  4. Competing Interest Groups NRA Handgun Control Inc.

  5. The Constitution Says? • 1st Amendment: • Right to Assemble • Right to Speech • Right to Petition • Without this right, what will happen?

  6. “Where the body is, there will the vultures be gathered” • Body: Government’s Purse: • Beach Insurance • Social Security • Seat Belt Laws • Drugs and Alcohol (ABC) • Welfare, Food Stamps, Housing, etc… • Subsidies to Business

  7. Vultures & Interest Groups

  8. Interest Groups: Good or Bad…..you decide! • James Madison: the dangers of factions. Read pg. 238 • “adverse to the rights of other citizens” • Explain?

  9. Functions of Interest Groups: • MADD…Who? Why? • Sierra Club…Who? Why? • ACLU…Who? Why? • Southern Poverty Law Center…Who? • NRA…Who? Why? • “to raise awareness or propaganda”

  10. Global Warming Interest Groups

  11. Functions of Interest Groups • Stimulate interest in public affairs. • Represent members attitudes and beliefs. • Organize and provide information • Vehicles for political participation. • “Watchdog” function on politicians and institutions of government.

  12. Criticism of Interest Groups • They decide “who gets: • WHAT? • HOW? • HOW MUCH? • Madison, Washington, Jefferson warned of the dangers of factions.

  13. Lobby Criticism

  14. Criticisms • Influence far out of proportion to their actual size and membership. Not serving the interest of the public good or the inherent rights of the individual. • Group names are misleading in characterization. • Groups often do not represent the membership they claim to represent. • Groups use bribery, threats, property damage, and slander/libel.

  15. Business Interest Groups • Chamber of Commerce • U.S. Brewers Ass. • Am. Banker’s Ass. • Am. Trucker’s Ass. • Am. Restaurant Ass. • AFL-CIO • Fraternal Order of Police • Am. Farm Bureau • Nat’l Farmers Union • Cattlemen’s Beef Ass.

  16. American Banker’s Association Influence

  17. Professional Interest Groups • NEA • ABA • AMA • Am. Society of Civil Engineers

  18. Education Interest Groups

  19. Agricultural Groups • Farm Bureau • National Farmers Union • The Grange • National Association of Wheat Growers • American Meat Institute • Cattlemen’s Beef Association • National Cotton Council

  20. Farm Subsidies Subsidies do what to farm prices? Subsidies do what to poor foreign farmers?

  21. Political Interest GroupsRadicals and Reactionaries • ACLU v ACRU • PRO CHOICE v PRO LIFE • HANDGUN CONTROL v NRA • Nat’l Wildlife Federation • Audubon Society • Friends of the Earth (elf…Terrorism)

  22. Due Process Interest Groups Pro-Life 5th Amend. Pro-Choice 14th Amend

  23. Cause Groups • ACLU • ACRU • League of Women Voters • Sierra Club • Audubon Society • Right-to Life • NRA

  24. ACLU & 14th Amendment

  25. Welfare Promotion Groups • American Legion • Veterans of Foreign Wars • AARP • NAACP • National Urban League • Mexican American Legal Defense Fund • National Association of Arab Ameicans

  26. Wounded Warrior Project

  27. Religious Groups • National Catholic Welfare Council • American Jewish Congress • Anti-Defamation League • Christian Coalition

  28. Public-Interest Groups • Common Cause • Ralph Nader’s Public Citizen • League of Women Voters • NRA • ACRU

  29. PROPAGANDA • Does not use objective logic. Begins with a conclusion and creates evidence • Name Calling • Card-Stacking • Glittering Generalities • Symbols • Bandwagon Approach • Plain Folks Approach

  30. Play on Words?! • Define: Fair to whom? The interest group? The individual? The public good? • Define: Just and impartial. • Terms with absolute definitions. • Which is valid? How do you prove validity in our government institution? • Would you rather have someone treat you with fairness or with equality? Explain.

  31. Lobbyists • Political Action Committees (PAC’s) • Money channeled to a political party to a particular candidate for election or reelection purposes. • Good or Bad? Develop an argument based upon the Constitution!

  32. Survivor…..Yes the television show. • What happens first? • Who becomes the leader? • Who is eliminated first? • Who is eliminated second? • What tactics are used to gain power? • Who wins? Who loses? • Interest Groups use the same tactics as the game show and they are equally effective.

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