Influence of Interest Groups in the American System

1. Interest Groups Chapter 12

2. Interest Groups • The American System is one where groups organize around every conceivable issue • Single Issue Politics - The situation in which separate groups are organized around nearly every conceivable policy issue and press their demands and influence to the utmost.

3. Interest Groups • Interest Groups • Organizations that seek to influence government decisions. • Pluralism • The theory that all groups are well represented and no single interest controls government decisions.

4. Interest Groups • Disturbance Theory • The theory that when social, political, and economic relationships change, individuals form groups in response.

5. Interest Groups • Economic Groups - Interest groups that are organized primarily for economic reasons but that engage in political activity in order to seek favorable policies from government.

6. Interest Groups • Business Groups • Labor Groups • Agricultural Groups • Professional Groups

7. Interest Groups • Citizen’s Group - Organized interests formed by individuals drawn together by opportunities to promote a cause in which they believe but that does not provide them significant individual economic benefits.

8. Interest Groups • Public Interest Groups • Single-Issue Groups • Ideological Groups

9. Interest Groups

10. Interest Groups • Private Good (Selective Benefits) • Benefits that a group (usually economic) can grant directly and exclusively to individual members of the group. • Can only be accessed by those who participate in the group and thus encourage group activity.

11. Interest Groups • Material Benefit • Good or service offered to encourage participation in group activity.

12. Interest Groups • Social Benefit • Benefit that encourages individuals to join a group in order to enjoy the company of those who share similar opinions and interests. • Purposive Benefit • Benefit that encourages group participation by connecting individuals to a political purpose

13. Interest Groups • Public Good - Benefits that are offered by groups (usually citizens’) as an incentive for membership but that are non-divisible and therefore are available to non-members as well as members of the particular group.

14. Interest Groups • Free rider problem • A barrier to collective action because people can reap the benefits of a group without participating. • The incentive to join the group and to promote its cause is reduced because non-members (free riders) receive the benefits without having to pay any of the group’s costs.

15. Interest Groups • Lobbying • Communicating with government officials to persuade them toward a particular policy decision.

16. Interest Groups • Inside Lobbying • Form of lobbying in which an interest group meets directly with public officials to influence political decisions. • Outside Lobbying (Grassroots lobbying) - A form of lobbying in which an interest group seeks to use public pressure as a means of influencing officials.

17. Inside Lobbying • Meeting privately with public officials • Testifying before congressional committees • Testifying before executive rulemaking agencies • Assisting with the drafting of legislation • Meeting public officials at relaxed social functions • Providing political information to public officials • Supplying nominations for federal appointments

18. Outside Lobbying • Generating public pressure • Using constituents as lobbyists

20. Interest Groups and Money • While there are laws restricting the ability of labor unions, interest groups and corporations to donate directly to candidates, these groups will often form PACs so that they are still able to use money as an influence.