INTEREST GROUPS
Organizing together to achieve goals
INTEREST GROUP:
An organization of people with shared goals working
collectively to achieve these goals.
Constitutionally Protected
“peaceably to assemble and to petition the Government
for a redress of grievances.”
- 1st Amendment, United States Constitution
MULTIPLICITY OF ARENAS
• Not limited to one aspect of politics
• Target any level of government
- Congress during the legislative process
- Bureaucracies during implementation
- Candidates during elections
- Work within Federalism
GROUPS V. PARTIES
Groups
Political Parties
• Back candidates, do not
• Must produce and support
• Policy specialists
• Policy generalists
- focused on all aspects of
one singular issue.
- must include a wide
range of issues to maximize
voter interest.
produce candidates.
electable candidates.
POLITICS OF INTEREST GROUPS
Pluralist Theory
- belief that politics is a competition among groups for
a preferred policy.
Linkage institutions
- connecting people with government
Competition
- compete with other groups for resources and
attention.
POLITICS OF INTEREST GROUPS
Pluralist Theory cont.
Core Beliefs
I. Groups “play by the rules”
II. All groups are weak in one aspect, strong in another
III. Lobbying is not harmful to the process due to its open
nature.
POLITICS OF INTEREST GROUPS
Elitist Theory
- societies are divided along class lines with the upper
class always in control.
- real power is held by a select few.
- government is run by these select few interests (Oil)
- pluralist notion of competition is false. Few groups
wield power.
POLITICS OF INTEREST GROUPS
Elitist Theory cont.
Core Beliefs
I. Awesome power is held by Corporations
II. Groups may win battles, Corporations win wars.
III. Lobbying is a hindrance to the system.
- a few benefit at great cost to others.
POLITICS OF INTEREST GROUPS
Hyper-pluralist Theory
- groups are so strong that government is weakened.
- interest group liberalism – government’s excessive
deference to groups.
Example: Environmentalists v. Big Business
POLITICS OF INTEREST GROUPS
Hyper-pluralist Theory cont.
Sub-governments:
- network of agencies that exercise great control over a
certain policy area.
Iron Triangles – relationship between an interest group,
controlling agencies, and pertinent Congressional
Committee members.
POLITICS OF INTEREST GROUPS
Hyper-pluralist Theory cont.
Core Beliefs
I. Groups have become too powerful.
II. Government tries to appease all interested parties.
III. Results in creation of contradicting and confusing
policy.
GROUP EFFECTIVENESS
• Bigger is better? Not always!
•
- small groups have organizational advantages
• Potential Group – group of people who may become
group members, share a common interest.
• Actual Group – those of a potential group that choose to
organize or join an organization.
• Collective Good – something of value that cannot be
denied from the potential group
•
- clean air is an example
GROUP EFFECTIVENESS
The Trouble with Free Riders
- ability to be rewarded without participating.
example: everyone benefits from clean air
The smaller the group, the greater the value of collective
good.
Small groups: “anyone can make a difference”
Large groups: “let someone else do it”
GROUP EFFECTIVENESS
How can groups overcome this issue?
- Selective Benefits
- goods or rewards that are limited to actual group
members only.
Examples include:
group insurance rates for union members
travel discounts
publications
GROUP EFFECTIVENESS
Single Issue Groups
- These are the most successful
- very narrow interest of a single good
- dislike compromise
- NRA
Money is key to effectiveness
- the most successful groups are well financed.
TOOLS OF INTEREST GROUPS
I. Lobbying
- dates back to the earliest days of Washington
- trying to influence a decision maker’s position.
Not always bad!
- important source of information
- help with political strategy
- campaign strategy, steer its members to back candidates.
- ideas and innovations – suggest new legislation
TOOLS OF INTEREST GROUPS
II. Electioneering
- direct group involvement in the electoral process
- funding campaigns
- provide campaign staffers
- form PACs
- groups formed by corporations, unions or interest
groups to provide financial support to campaigns
TOOLS OF INTEREST GROUPS
III. Litigation
- amicus curiae briefs
- class action suits
IV. Public Relations
- educate the public on their respective issue.