Copyright Atomic Dog Publishing, 2006 Chapter 10 Interest Groups.

Copyright Atomic Dog Publishing, 2006

Chapter 10

Interest Groups


InterestGroups

An organized group of people who share some goals and try to influence

public policy.


All Groups Are Not Interest Groups!

• Fan clubs

• Sports teams

• Alcoholics Anonymous

• Religious groups that emphasize personal salvation, spirituality rather than public policy


Five MainFunctions of

Interest Groups

Representation Education

ProgrammingMonitoring

PoliticalParticipation

AgendaBuilding


Freedom of Association Guaranteed

First Amendment to the US Constitution:

“Congress shall make no law…abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”


Permissable (?) Limits on the Right of Association

• Require a parade permit or bond for legal liability

• Funds for extra police protection, traffic control, litter

• Laws against inciting a riot or encouraging criminal activity

• Decibel limits on loudspeakers

• Limit activity to a designated public space

• Security of government officials: President, Governor

• Bar tax-exempt organizations from endorsing parties or candidates


Tough Issues for Freedom of Association

• Can gays and lesbians march in the St Patrick’s Day parade in New York City? - NO

• Can the American Nazi Party march in a heavily Jewish suburb? - YES

• Can the Boy Scouts refuse to accept gay scoutmasters? – YES

• Can clergy endorse candidates from the pulpit?


Business Groups

Organized Labor

Agricultural Groups

Professional Associations

10-3a Economic Interest Groups


Public interest groups are dedicated to promoting a

vision of good public policy rather than the economic

interests of their members.

Examples:

Common CauseLeague of Women Voters

Sierra ClubMoveOn.org

10-3b Citizen Groups


StateGovernments

10-3c Government Interest Groups

ForeignGovernments

LocalGovernments


10-4b Overcoming Obstacles to Interest Group Formation

Collective Goods Dilemma

In this situation, the interest group may not form because everyone has an

incentive to let someone else pay the costs of group formation.

A dilemma created when people can obtain the benefits of interest group

activity without paying any of the costs associated with it.


Free riders

People or groups who benefit from the efforts of

others without bearing any of the costs.


Three Benefits of Interest Groups

• Material benefits - Goods and services received by member.

• Solidarity benefits - Emotional and psychological enjoyment of being in a group that shares your goals.

• Expressive benefits - Satisfaction of working for a cause you believe is just and right. Also known as purposive benefits.


Selective Benefit:

A benefit given to group members,

but denied to nonmembers

Material

Solidarity

Expressive


Why Join the American Political Science Association?

• Selective benefits: journal, lower conference fees

• Solidarity benefits: networking with other members via Web site or

conference

• Expressive benefits: support lobbying on behalf of intellectual activities

and good citizenship

Reforms in election administration, campaign finance

Access to government documents, Presidential libraries

Funding for research

• A professional nonprofit association does NOT take stands on political

issues


Why Join the National Rifle Association?

• Selective benefits: cheaper ammunition, rifle ranges, gun-safety classes

• Solidarity benefits: links to other hunters, gun enthusiasts

• Expressive benefits: support the right to bear arms, resist efforts at gun control. The NRA also provides information on candidates’ positions or voting records on gun control

• The NRA is explicitly political, not nonprofit, and can thus take stands on partisan issues and endorse candidates


Political Action Committees

Organizations that solicit contributions from members

of interest groups and channel those contributions

to election campaigns.


Trying to influence governmental decisions,

especially the voting decisions legislators make

on proposed legislation.

10-5b Lobbying the Government


Types of Lobbying

• Direct Lobbying - Trying to influence public policy through direct contact with elected government officials or bureaucrats.

• Education Campaigns - Interest groups try to mobilize the public through education, hoping that the public will demand government action.

• Grass-Roots Lobbying - Trying to influence public policy indirectly by mobilizing an interest group's membership and the broader public to contact public officials.


More Types of Lobbying

• Astroturf Lobbying - Efforts, usually led by interest groups with deep financial pockets, to create synthetic grass-roots movements by aggressively encouraging voters to contact their elected officials about specific issues.

• Advocacy Advertising - Newspaper, television, and radio advertisements that promote an interest group's political views.

• Civil Disobedience - the practice of breaking laws in order to pressure legislators into changing them. Civil Rights movement – marches, restaurant and movie sit-ins

Includes Juror Nullification - refusal to convict people accused of violating unjust laws.

1850s – Northern juries refuse to return escaped slaves 2000s – some African-Americans refuse to convict blacks charged

with drug crimes, or to impose capital punishment on black criminals


Membership

Leadership

FinancialResources

Objectives

10-6b Internal Factors


Public Attitudes towards Interest Groups


The Debate over Social Capital

• Since 1960s, declines in membership groups: labor unions, bowling teams, lodges, PTA, local party organizations.

• Increase in professional lobbying groups based in Washington DC. Citizens only involved by writing checks or sending E-mails to public officials.

• Lack of group contact may lead to lower voter turnout

and less political awareness.

• Robert Putnam’s book Bowling Alone: Americans are watching TV instead of joining organizations.

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Copyright Atomic Dog Publishing, 2006 Chapter 10 Interest Groups.

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