Chapter 9 - Interest Groups
See reading from iCivics on Interest Groups
Interest groups – AKA pressure groups, organized interests, special interests, factions
- found at every level of government
- they are not to be confused with a political party
o focus on a particular issue or interest, not the overall pubic agenda
- they do stimulate public interest on a topic or issue
- can provide valuable information to the public & government
- are not restricted by geographic region
- encourage political participation
- can end up serving as a watchdog function on officials & the government
- competing interest groups actually help check the influence they have
- Criticisms: issue focused on may not be in the public’s best interest (even if
they claim it is); can have more influence then they deserve (better run &
better funded organizations); hard to tell how many people an interest group
actually represents; sometimes they do not actually present the views of the
group they represent (active minority takes charge of agenda); some use
underhanded tactics to win influence (corruption, threats – Abramoff scandal)
Interest Groups & lobbying (again see reading)
Since Abramoff scandal, Congress in 2007 tightened some rules for lobbyists
- all lobbyists & their staff must be registered with both the House & Senate
o provide name, address, principal place of business & general
description of activities
o must also submit quarterly reports of income
- former members of the Senate & top level executive branch officials must
now wait a minimum of 2 years before becoming a lobbyist; former House
officials – at least 1 year
- no member of Congress may receive a gift from a lobbyist or their clients
Lobbying Congress
- can target individual members; more often target the standing committees
linked to “their” issue
- testify before Congress & provide regular reports on their organization’s views
on issues
- can assist Congress as all sides of an issue typically have lobbyists that
present the detailed arguments
o info is typically good as to falsify info would ruin their credibility and
end the relationships lobbyists develop
Lobbying the Executive Branch
- focus is now on senior aides in the White House and to various agencies
o also to the Director of Public Liaison – who’s job it is to help have good
relations with interest groups, especially those who favor the
President’s agenda
- will also try to influence appointments made by the President
Lobbying & the Courts
- lawsuits brought by interest groups (NAACP, ACLU) to fight for that interest
- amicus curiae brief – “amicus brief” – interest groups submit arguments for
or against a case they have no direct connection to, but the topic is “their”
interest
- again, will try to influence judicial appointments
“Grass-roots Lobbying”
- start applying pressure right from the beginning, by either lobbyists or people
who support that interest group
o most Congressional offices keep track of who they hear from that is a
constituent vs. interest groups/ lobbyists
- Internet has assisted this big time and often with low budget operations
- Also will hold demonstrations & protest marches to publicize “their” issue
- Some will “rank” the members of Congress’ voting records as to how closely
they voted to support “their” issue
- AARP considered the best at grass-roots lobbying
Shape public opinion through publicity, advertising, and media coverage; by having its
members talk up or down an issue; and use celebrities & prominent figures to speak for
“the cause” (NRA’s Charlton Heston)
Propaganda is a powerful tool for interest groups. Keep in mind, they are not always
fully truthful – often uses anything to “convince” an audience that “their” side is the right
one; including name calling & attack ads mixed in with patriotic symbols and names
Electioneering – most useful and most appreciated tool that an interest group can do for
an elected official  help them win elections! Then more likely to advance goals of
“their” group
Economic Interest groups:
Business groups: US Brewers Assoc., National Assoc. of Manufacturing; US
Chamber of Commerce
Trade associations: American Trucking Assoc., Assoc. of American Railroads,
National Restaurant Assoc.
Labor Groups for labor unions: AFL-CIO, SEIU, Teamsters, Change to Win,
Communications Workers of America
Agricultural Groups: National Grange, American Farm Bureau Federation,
National Farmers Union, National Assoc. of Wheat Growers, National Cattlemen’s Beef
Assoc., National Milk Producers Federation
Professional Associations: American Medical Assoc., American Bar Assoc.,
National Education Assoc., American Library Assoc., American Optometric Assoc.
Issue Oriented Groups: ACLU, Women’s Political Caucus, National Wildlife Federation,
Sierra Club, Wilderness Society, National Right-to-Life Committee, Women Exploited by
Abortion, National Abortion & Reproductive Rights Action League, Planned Parenthood,
National Rifle Assoc., Handgun Control, Inc., MoveOn.org, Americans for Democratic
Action, American Conservative Union
Organizations for Specific Groups: American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Older
Americans, Inc., AARP, NAACP, National Urban League, Japanese American Citizens
League, Mexican American Legal Defense Fund, National Assoc. of Arab Americans
Religious Organizations: Protestants = National Council of Churches, Christian Voice,
Christian Coalition; Catholics = National Catholic Welfare Council; Jewish = American
Jewish Congress, B’nai B’rith’s Anti-Defamation League
Public Interest Groups: Common Cause, League of Women Voters, Public Citizen,
Inc. (Ralph Nader)