Make a list of all the interest groups you can think of and what they represent

Categorize them as: economic, environmental, equality, consumer/public interest, or professional/government

Which types benefit non-members, as well as members?

Bellringer

INTEREST GROUPS

Chapter 9

Today we will …

Objectives Agenda Interest Groups

Explain the rise of interest groups.

Describe how interest groups influence public policy making.

Interest Groups – notes Ch. 9 Reading Quiz FRQ Review, if time HW: Interest Groups

assignment

Unit Test MC Portion on Friday

11/21 FRQ portion on Tuesday

11/25

Copyright © 2009 Cengage Learning

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Fortune’s “Power 25”The 10 Most Effective Interest Groups

Copyright © 2009 Cengage Learning

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Some Other Important Interest Groups (That Didn’t Make the List)

An interest group is any organization that seeks to influence public opinion.

1. Many kinds of cleavage, many different interests

2. Constitution provides many “access points”

3. Weakness of political parties

Why do we have so many interest groups?

1. Broad economic development Rise of industrialization led to increased need for

unions & their interests

2. Government policy itself Wars create Veterans. Collective Bargaining creates

unions.

3. Emergence of strong leaders Especially social movements focused on need for

change & inspired by political and religious doctrine Usually young people

4. Expanding role of government More government activities = more interests that

those actions will affect

1. Factors that account for the rise of interest groups

Individuals or organizations representing other organizations

Business, Trade, Governmental Associations, Universities

Interest organizations Less likely union - more

likely religious, political, civic

Greater sense of political efficacy - civic duty

Institutional vs. Membership

Who actually lobbies?

Solidarity Incentives: happiness, status & companionship

http://www.pta.org/

Material Incentives: money, things, services http://www.ilfb.org/

Purposive Incentives: goal/purpose of the organization itself, passion

• Recruit members sometimes using fear & anger• May be deeply controversial/off the times

Also, patronage can help to attract members

Incentives to Join: combating the “free rider” problem

Some members of an interest group may not care about many of the issues w/which the interest group gets involved.

What the interest group does may reflect what the interest group staff wants rather than what the members it represents believe.

Staff influences the group’s policy agenda if solidarity or material benefits are more important to members than purposive goals.

Staff Influence

Check for understanding

How do institutional and membership interest groups differ?

What are three incentives for joining an interest group?

3. Consumer & Public Interest Lobby

Group pursuing “common” policy interests

Benefits non-members Purposive incentive to join

Single issue focused groups Tend to be liberal?

◦ PUBLIC CITIZEN◦ Research and Lobbying◦ Litigations to advance the cause Ralph Nader

4. Interest Groups & Social Movements Environmental movement

Wilderness & wildlife conservation Feminist movement

Suffrage – League of Women Voters Equal Rights – NOW, NARAL Enforcement

Union movement AFL-CIO What area is fastest growing now?

Politics

6. Activities of Interest Groups Information Public Support

Earmarks Money & PACs The “Revolving Door” Civil Disobedience

Trouble

Most important tactic Detailed, CURRENT- can build or destroy

legislator/lobbyist relationship Most effective on narrow and/or

technical issues Political cues & rating systems http://

www.adaction.org/pages/publications/voting-records/2013vrgraphics.php

Supplying groups with credible information

“Friend of the Court”: Document filed by someone/ a group not directly related to the case to volunteer information that they deem to be worthy in deciding the case.

APA

Amicus Curiae Brief

Outsider strategy Grassroots

lobbying Who is the key

target?

Dirty Dozen

Public Support/ Pressure

Promise of future job to officials Conflict of interest

The Revolving Door

Disrupt the institution and force negotiations

Enlist the support of others, who will also press for negotiations

Create martyrs to draw public concern and support

◦ K Street protests: Occupy, Take Back The Capitol set to protest lobbyists | WJLA.com

Trouble

1. What are the 5 activities IG’s use to influence policy making?

2. Which do you think is most effective?3. Which is least effective?

Check for Understanding

Chapter 9 Reading Quiz

Closure

1.What is the fundamental goal of interest groups in the political process?

2.What is the fundamental goal of political parties?

3.How do interest groups support the goal of parties?

Tactics/Strategies Legislative

◦ Testifying◦ Contacting (Formally

or Informally)◦ Drafting◦ Alerting to Impacts◦ Mobilizing

Constituents◦ Contributing◦ Electioneering◦ Endorsing◦ Coalition-building

Executive◦ Contacting◦ Influencing

Appointments◦ Drafting Rules/

Regulations/Guidelines◦ Serving on Boards

Judicial◦ Litigation◦ Amicus curiae briefs

Grassroots