Imagine a person with an intense devotion to a social cause

Let’s say that he or she believes strongly in animal rights, or is distressed about the deteriorating environment

Or think of someone else whose work is seriously undervalued, who works very hard but is paid very little money

What can any of these imagined people do to improve their situation?

One solution is to start or join a group with similar interests, with the idea that people together can do more to bring about change than people alone

They could organize an interest group to put pressure for change on elected officials & policy makers on all levels of government

Organization of people who enter the political process to try to achieve their shared goals

Almost from the beginning,
Americans have distrusted their motives and methods of influence

Called interest groups and political parties factions
Saw federalism & separation of powers as necessary to control their
“evils”

Since the number of interest groups & people who participate in them have increased greatly over the past half century, they appear to be even more important today than they have been in the past

Parties, Interest Groups, &
PACS
Interest groups, like political parties, are organizations that exist outside the structure of government
But they interact with government in such a way that it is impossible to separate them

Parties, Interest Groups, &
PACS
Policy making is intertwined with both parties & interest groups so that government would operate very differently without them

Parties, Interest Groups, &
PACS
In recent years a third type of outside organization, called political action committees
(PACs) have joined parties & interest groups as a major influence on policy making in this country

Parties vs. Interest Groups
Parties & interest groups have a great deal in common
They represent political points of view of various people who want to influence policy making

Parties vs. Interest Groups
This similarity has led some observers to suggest that interest groups may someday even replace parties as linkage institutions to the electorate

Parties vs. Interest Groups

Parties vs. Interest Groups
Parties influence government primarily through the electoral process

Parties vs. Interest Groups
Although they serve many purposes, parties always run candidates for public office
Interest groups an PACs support candidates, but they do not run their own slate of candidates

Parties vs. Interest Groups
(2) Parties generate and support a broad spectrum of policies; interest groups support one or a few related policies

Parties vs. Interest Groups
Whereas a party may take a position on gun control, business regulations, campaign finance reform & U.S. involvement in conflicts abroad, an interest group almost always focuses on one area

PACS
Political and money-raising arms of interest groups
Legally entitled to raise voluntary funds to contribute to favored candidates or political parties

PACS
Like political parties, PACs focus on influencing election results, but their interest in the candidates is narrowly based because they are almost always affiliated with particular interest groups

PACS
Number has increased substantially over the past 30 years
Especially since the
Campaign Reform Act of
1974 (limits individual contributions to campaigns)

PACS
This act did allow PACs to exist
Most large interest groups formed them as ways to direct
(funnel) money to their favorite candidates for office

PACS
Today more than 4000 PACs represent:
Corporations
Labor unions
Professional & trade associations

PACS
Biggest explosion or number has been in the business world
More than half represent corporations or other business interests

Are interest groups good or bad for American politics?

Interest Groups
Different points of view can be separated into 3 theories with different answers to that question

Theories of Interest Group
Politics
(1) Elitist Theory
(2) Pluralist Theory
(3) Hyper pluralist theory

Elitist Theory
Argues that just a few interest groups have most of the power
Although many groups exist, most of them have no real power

Elitist Theory
Government is run by a few big groups trying to preserve their own interests

Elitist Theory
An extensive system of interlocking directorates (the same people sitting on several boards of corporations, foundations, and foundations) fortifies the control

Elitist Theory
Believe that corporate interests control many government decisions

Elitist Theory
Theory strikes at the heart of democracy
If only a few groups control the political system, how can true democracy exist?

Pluralist Theory
Claims that interest groups benefit American democracy by bringing representation to all

Pluralist Theory
According to pluralists, interest groups have many benefits

Pluralist Theory: Benefits
(1) Groups provide linkage between people & government: they allow people’s voices to be heard in many ways that otherwise would be lost

Pluralist Theory: Benefits
(2) the existence of many groups means that any one group can’t become too powerful because others counterbalance it

Pluralist Theory: Benefits
(3) Groups usually follow the rules —those that don’t get bad publicity that helps to keep them in line

Pluralist Theory: Benefits
(4)No one set of groups dominates because those weak in one area are strong in another

Pluralist Theory: Benefits
For example--although business interest groups usually have more money, labor groups have more members

Hyper Pluralist Theory
Claims that too many groups are trying to influence the political process
Negative effects---political chaos & contradiction among government policies

Hyper Pluralist Theory
Believe that the political system is out of control because the government tries to please every interest & allows them to dictate policy in their area

Hyper Pluralist Theory
Since all interest groups try to protect their self-interest, the policies that result from their pressure are haphazard & illconceived

Growth of Interest Groups
Interest groups have been part of American politics singe the beginning
Their numbers, however, have grown substantially in recent years

Growth of Interest Groups
Some well-known groups, such as the Sierra Club and the NAACP have existed for a century

Growth of Interest Groups
Many interest groups, however, are relatively new, with more than half forming after WWII

Growth of Interest Groups
Interest groups seems to exist for everyone
Some are broad-based
(National Association of
Manufacturers) and others are specific (American Cricket
Growers Assoc)

Growth of Interest Groups
Many groups base their organization on economics
More than 3/4s originated from industrial, occupational, or professional membership

Growth of Interest Groups
In recent years more groups have moved their headquarters to Washington to be as close to the source of power as possible

Growth of Interest Groups
Today, very few occupations or industries go without interest groups to represent them in Washington

Types of Membership
Membership in interest groups may be classified in two ways:
(1) institutional
(2) individual

Institutional Interests
Most represent a business or corporation
Over 500 hundred firms have lobbyists, public-relations experts and/or lawyers in Washington
Most of them opened offices since 1970

Institutional Interests
Other institutions represented in Washington are:
Universities
Foundations
Governments

Institutional Interests
City governments are represented through the National
League of Cities
Counties through the National
Assoc of Counties
National Council on Ed speaks for institutions of higher learning

Individual Interests
Individual Americans are much more likely to join religious & political associations than are citizens in other democracies

Individual Interests
Many of the orgs they join are represented in DC & lobby the government for favorable policies for their interest

Individual Interests
Many of the largest interest groups have individual , not institutional, membership

Individual Interests
AARP
American Federation of Labor
NAACP
Sierra Club

Individual Interests
Religious organizations are also well-represented
Very influential Christian
Coalition