Chapter 11.3
Interest Groups
Types of Interest Groups
Interest groups form to promote a
shared viewpoint. By pooling their
resources, members can increase
their chances of influencing decision
makers.
 The 1st Amendment protects the
right to belong to interest groups by
guaranteeing the right to assemble
peacefully and to petition the gov’t.

continued

Groups based on economic interests
are some of the most powerful. The
Chamber of Commerce, one of the
largest, promotes free enterprise.
Others, such as the Tobacco
Institute, represent specific types of
businesses.
continued
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Labor unions work for the economic
interests of workers. The largest, the AFLCIO, is an alliance of labor unions.
Professionals, such as doctors and
lawyers, have their own interest groups.
People have also organized to promote an
ethnic group (NAACP), age group (AARP)
or gender (NOW). Interest groups also
work for special causes such as protecting
nature (Sierra Club).
continued

Public interest groups support
causes that affect the lives of
Americans in general, rather than
just the special interests of their own
members. For example, Common
Cause promotes laws to control
pollution and protect consumers.
Influencing Gov’t


Public policy is the course of action the
gov’t takes in response to an issue or
problem. The primary goal of interest
groups is to influence public policy.
Interest groups back candidates who
agree with their beliefs. Many form
political action committees (PACs)
that use money from members to support
candidates.
continued

Interest groups also try to influence
public policy by bringing court cases.
A group may use the courts to argue
that a law or gov’t policy is
unconstitutional.
continued

Lobbyists are representatives of
interest groups who contact gov’t
officials directly to influence their
policy making. Lobbyists understand
how gov’t functions. They know
where to go and whom to see. They
know how to make friends and talk
persuasively.
continued
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For lobbyists, information is an important
resource. Lawmakers need information
about issues. Lobbyists supply it. They
suggest solutions to problems. They
sometimes draft bills for lawmakers to
consider and testify in hearings on bills.
Once laws are enacted, lobbyists help to
see that the laws are carried out, enforced
and stand up in court.
Techniques of Interest Groups

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All interest groups want to influence public
opinion both to increase their
memberships and to convince people of
the rightness of their cause.
Many use direct mail to recruit members.
They target potential members by using
subscriber or membership mailing lists
from magazines or groups with similar
views.
continued
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Interest groups advertise on radio and TV.
They may organize protests or public
events to get media coverage.
To promote their views, interest groups
may use propaganda techniques such as
endorsements, card stacking, the
bandwagon, glittering generalities,
symbols, “just plain folks” and namecalling.
Regulation of Interest Groups

Laws regulate the activities of
interest groups to prevent abuses,
such as winning lawmakers’ votes by
offering fancy meals and gifts.
continued

The Federal Election Campaign Act
limits the amount PACs may
contribute to candidates for national
office. The Federal Regulation of
Lobbying Act requires lobbyists to
register and to disclose who hired
them, how much they are paid and
how they spend money related to
their work.
continued

These laws are not very effective.
They apply only to people who spend
most of their time lobbying. Also,
the laws provide no means of
enforcement.
continued

Laws require a waiting period before
former gov’t officials can become
lobbyists. The purpose is to prevent
ex-public officials from taking unfair
advantage of their insider knowledge
and friendships on behalf of interest
groups. These laws have also proved
inadequate.
continued
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Critics claim that campaign
contributions give interest groups
improper influence over
officeholders. Others point out that
membership in interest groups with
skilled lobbyists give citizens a way
to increase their influence.