Interest Groups
FINAL EXAM REVIEW STARTING ON P. 328
Review Pamphlet
3 FOLD BROCHURE STYLE
Layout
First page label: PLURALISM
Second page label: Elitism
Third page label: Hyperpluralism
First page label: Iron Triangles
Second page label: Vocab
Third page label: Interest Groups
Interest Group Definition
 An organization of people who have similar policy
goals who enter the political process to try to achieve
those goals
Interest Group Theories
OPINIONS ON HOW BENEFICIAL OR
DETRIMENTAL INTEREST GROUPS ARE TO
AMERICAN GOVERNMENT
Interest Group Theories: Pluralism
Pluralism
 Interest groups bring
representation to all
 Groups win some and
lose some but no one
loses all the time
 Competition is good
Group theory:
 IG provided a link




between people and
government
IG compete
No one group can
become dominant
IG’s usually play fair
IG’s weak in one
resource can use another

Weak in money, strong in
numbers
Interest Group Theories: Elitism
Elitism
Assertions:
 Real power is held by
 Numerous groups
relatively few groups

Wal-Mart, Oil companies, etc
 Majority of the public
agrees with this theory
 Argument: 1/3 of top
business positions hold
more than one position


Corporate Boards, university
trustees
Interlocking
directorates
mean nothing because
groups are unequal
 Largest corporations
hold most of the power
 Interlocking
directorates
 Corporate elites always
prevail
Interest Group Theories: Hyperpluralism
Hyperpluralism
 The problem is interest
group liberalism

Government is overly
deferential to groups, with
all demands seen as
legitimate and
government should listen
to everyone
 As a result, government
grows out of control
Assertions:
 Groups have become
too powerful as
government as tries to
please everybody
 Trying to please
everybody results in
policy gridlock
 Iron Triangles
Iron Triangles
 Subgovernments are
composed of 3 things
working together:
Interest groups,
Government agencies,
and members of
Congressional
committees
 These iron triangles
are the main policy
makers
Iron Triangles
Vocabulary: 16 words
What makes certain interest
groups successful?
P. 336
AP GOV FINAL EXAM REVIEW
In summary, interest groups are successful if
 They are more focused (intensity)
 Single-issue groups
 They’re smaller
 They limit membership and more importantly
membership benefits


Free-rider problem
Selective benefits
 One thing to remember: Money is important, but it
doesn’t guarantee success
Tactics of interest groups
P. 339
AP GOV FINAL EXAM REVIEW
In summary, interest groups use 4 tactics
 1. Lobbying
 Communication by someone acting not on his/her own behalf directed
to a government decision maker with the hope of influencing their
decision
 1. Regular paid employees
 2. Temporary
 2. Electioneering
 Aiding candidates financially
 Money is donated through PACs
 3. Litigation
 Going to court
 Amicus Curiae briefs
 Class action lawsuits
 4. Appealing to the public
 Advertising campaigns
 Public Relations (PR)
4 ways lobbyists actually help Congress:
 1. They provide information
 2. They can help politicians with strategy for getting
laws passed
 3. They can help members with their campaigns and
getting reelected
 4. They are a source of ideas
Types of interest groups
P. 347
AP GOV FINAL EXAM REVIEW
Types of Interest Groups
Economic
Environmental
 Corporations
 Sierra Club
 Labor unions
 Nuclear power
 Arctic National
Wildlife Refuge
Types of Interest Groups
Equality
Public Interest
 NAACP
 Seek a collective good,
 NOW
the achievement would
not just benefit the
members but everyone
 Consumer groups
 Ralph Nader and
public safety
FINAL EXAM
T H U R S D A Y , J A N U A R Y 1 4 TH
9:00 AM