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Interest Groups. An organized group that tries to influence public policy Truman Disturbance theory Interest groups form in part to counteract the efforts of other groups. What are Interest Groups?.
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An organized group that tries to influence public policy • Truman • Disturbance theory • Interest groups form in part to counteract the efforts of other groups What are Interest Groups?
Generally, interest groups is a term used to describe the numerous organized groups that try to influence government policy • Public Interest Groups • Economic Interest Groups • Governmental Units • Political Action Committees • Multi-Issue versus Single Issue Groups Kinds of Organized Interests
Free-Rider Problem • Some people don’t join interest groups because they benefit from the group’s activities without officially joining. • Bigger the group, larger the problem • Large groups are difficult to organize • Olson’s law of large groups: • “The larger the group, the further it will fall short of providing an optimal amount of a collective good.” • Overcome Olson’s law by providing selective benefits: Goods that a group can restrict to those who pay their annual dues What Makes an Interest Group Successful?
Lobbying • The activities of a group or organization that seeks to influence legislation and persuade political leaders to support the group’s position • 23 ways for lobbyists and organizations to lobby on the state and national level • Most often they: testify at legislative hearings, contact government officials directly, help draft legislation What Do Interest Groups Do?
Members of Congress targets of lobbyists • Many lobbyists former members • Lobbyists work closely with those members who share their interests • Effectiveness depends on a lobbyists’ reputation for fair play and accurate information Lobbying Congress
As the scope of federal government has expanded, so has lobbying of the executive branch. • Many potential access points • Lobbyists seek influence at formation and implementation stages. • An especially strong link exists between interest groups and regulatory agencies • Groups often monitor the implementation of the laws or policies they advocated. Lobbying the Executive Branch
Can take two forms: • Direct sponsorship • Filing amicus curiae briefs • Brief that informs the court of the group’s policy preferences, generally in guise of legal arguments • Interest groups also attempt to influence who is nominated and placed on the bench. Lobbying the Courts
A form of pressure-group activity that attempts to involve individuals who contact their representatives directly in an effort to influence policy • Persuading ordinary voters to act as the group’s advocates Grassroots Lobbying