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Understanding Interest Groups in American Government

Explore the theories, types, and impact of interest groups on public policy in American government. Learn about lobbying strategies, election activities, and what makes a group successful.

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Understanding Interest Groups in American Government

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  1. Chapter 16Interest Groups  To Accompany Comprehensive, Alternate, and Texas Editions American Government: Roots and Reform, 10th edition Karen O’Connor and Larry J. Sabato  Pearson Education, 2009

  2. Groups build social capital and civic virtue. • Their main goal is to influence public policy. • A variety of theories exist about why groups form. • Pluralist theory, which is related to disturbance theory. Interest Group Theory

  3. Pluralist and Disturbance theory Political power is distributed among a wide variety of competing groups. Any time there is a disturbance in a political system, a group will rise. Example?

  4. Public interest groups (i.e. NARAL, NRA). • Economic interest groups (i.e. AFL-CIO, NAM). • Governmental units, who lobby for earmarks. • Political action committees (i.e. super pacs). • Multi-issue versus single-issue groups. Types of Organized Interests

  5. First national groups emerge in 1830s. • Business interests play larger role after Civil War. • Groups begin to send lobbyists to Washington • Progressive era leads to an explosion of groups. • Growth of labor and trade associations. Roots of Interest Groups

  6. Expansion of civil rights and groups in 1960s. • Development of conservative and religious groups. • Evolution of new business groups dedicated to lobbying. • Declining power of organized labor. The Interest Group State

  7. Target Congress through research, money, or testimony. • Also target bureaucratic agencies and the president. • Lobby courts through sponsorship or amicus briefs. • Can use grassroots techniques, such as petitions. • May also resort to protests and activism. Lobbying

  8. Recruiting and endorsing candidates. • Organizing get out the vote efforts. • Rating candidates and office holders. • Establishing political action committees. Election Activities

  9. Leaders, to inspire membership. • Patrons, for funding. • Members, who are involved at varying levels. • Membership helps to overcome the free rider problem. • Particularly true for groups that provide collective goods. What Makes a Group Successful?

  10. 1995 Lobbying Disclosure Act regulates Congress. • Requires lobbyists to register and report payments. • New 2007 Honest Leadership and Open Government Act. • Bans gifts, toughens disclosure, increases time limits. • Executive regulated by 1978 Ethics in Government Act. Regulating Interest Groups

  11. AV- Interest Group Ratings  Back

  12. Table 16.1- Interest Group Profiles  Back

  13. Table 16.2- Lobbying Techniques  Back

  14. Table 16.3- Interest Group Membership  Back

  15. Table 16.4- Ethics in Government Act  Back

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