Interest Groups
The Role and Reputation of
Interest Groups

Defining Interest Groups
– An organization of people with shared policy
goal entering the policy process at several
points to try to achieve those goals. Interest
groups pursue their goals in many arenas.
– Political Parties fight election battles, Interest
Groups don’t - but they may choose sides.
– Interest Groups are policy specialists, Political
Parties are policy generalists.
Theories of Interest Group
Politics

Pluralist Theory


Elite Theory
Hyperpluralist Theory
Click on name to go to that slide.
Theories of Interest Group
Politics - Pluralism

Definition:
– Politics is mainly a competition among groups,
each one pressing for its own preferred policies.
– Many centers of power and many diverse,
competing groups.
– No group wins or loses all the time.
– Groups provide the key link between the people
and the government.
Theories of Interest Group
Politics - Pluralism

Continued…
– Groups compete
– No group becomes too dominate
– Groups play by the rules of the game
– Groups weak in one resource can rely on
another resource.
– Lobbying is open to all, therefore, not a
problem.
Theories of Interest Group
Politics - Elitism

Definition:
– Societies are divided along class lines and that
an upper-class elite will rule, regardless of the
formal niceties of governmental organization.
– Numerous groups means nothing, power is not
equally divided among them - some have much
more.
– The largest corporations hold the most power.
Theories of Interest Group
Politics - Elitism

Continued…
– The power is strengthened by a system of
interlocking directorates of these corporations
and other institutions.
– Corporate elites are willing to lose the minor
policy battles, but work to win the major policy
issues in their favor.
– Lobbying is a problem because it benefits the
few at the expense of the many.
Theories of Interest Group
Politics - Hyperpluralism

Definition:
– Groups are so strong that government is
weakened. Extreme, exaggerated form of
pluralism.
– Iron Triangles keep government from working
properly.
– Interest groups have become too powerful since
the government tries to serve every interest.
Theories of Interest Group
Politics - Hyperpluralism

Continued…
– The many subgovernments (iron triangles)
aggravate the process.
– When the government tries to please all the
groups, the policies become confusing and
contradictory.
– But with more interest groups getting involved,
these subgovernments may be dissolving.
What Makes an Interest Group
Successful?

The Surprising Ineffectiveness of Large
Groups
– Potential group: All the people who might be
interest group members because they share a
common interest.
– Actual group: The part of the potential group
consisting of members who actually join.
– Collective group: Something of value that
cannot be withheld from a group member
What Makes an Interest
Group Successful?
– Free-Rider problem: Some people don’t join
interest groups because they benefit from the
group’s activities without officially joining.
– The bigger the group, the larger the free-rider
problem. (Olson’s law of large groups)
– Large groups are difficult to keep organized.
What Makes an Interest
Group Successful?
– Small groups are better organized and more
focused on the group’s goals.
– Thus consumer groups have a difficult time
getting significant policy gains - the benefits
are spread over the entire population.
– Groups that can provide selective benefits is a
way to overcome this problem.
What Makes an Interest
Group Successful?

Intensity
– Single-Issue groups: Groups that focus on a
narrow interest and dislike compromise.
– Groups may focus on an emotional issue,
providing them with a psychological advantage.
– May be more likely to use protests and other
means of political participation than traditional
interest groups that use lobbyists.
What Makes an Interest
Group Successful?

Financial Resources
– Not all groups have equal amounts of money.
– Monetary donations usually translate into
access to the politicians - a phone call, a
meeting, etc.
– There is a bias towards the wealthier groups.
– But, the wealthier groups don’t always win in
the policy arena.
How Groups Try to Shape
Policy

Lobbying
– “communication by someone other than a
citizen acting on his own behalf, directed to a
governmental decisionmaker with the hope of
influencing his decision.” (Lester Milbrath)
– Two basic types: Those that are employed by a
group, and those that are hired temporarily.
How Groups Try to Shape
Policy
– Lobbyists are a source of information.
– Lobbyists can help politicians plan political
strategies for legislation.
– Lobbyists can help politicians plan political
strategies for reelection campaigns.
– Lobbyists can provide ideas and innovations
that can be turned into policies that the
politician can take credit for.
How Groups Try to Shape
Policy

Electioneering
– Direct group involvement in the election
process.
– Political Action Committee (PAC): Used by
interest groups to donate money to candidates.
– PACs help pay the bill for increasing campaign
costs.
– Most PAC money goes to incumbents.
How Groups Try to Shape
Policy

Litigation
– If an interest group fails in one area, the courts
may be able to provide a remedy.
– Interest groups can file amicus curiae briefs in
court cases to support their position.
– Class Action lawsuits permit small groups of
people to try and correct a situation on behalf of
a much larger group.
How Groups Try to Shape
Policy

Going Public
– Groups try and cultivate a good public image.
– Groups use marketing strategies to influence
public opinion of the group and its issues.
– Groups will purchase advertising to motivate
the public about an issue.
Types of Interest Groups

Economic Interests
– Labor
– Agriculture
– Business

Environmental Interests
 Equality Interests
 Consumer and Public Interest Lobbies
Understanding Interest
Groups

Interest Groups and Democracy
– A wide open government would force groups to
compete and counterbalance each other.
– More groups mean more lobbyists and thus
better democracy to some.
– Others argue that groups are not equal and
some get more than they should, which is not
good for democracy.
Understanding Interest
Groups

Interest Groups and the Scope of
Government
– Interest groups seek to maintain policies and
programs that benefit them.
– Interest groups continue to pressure
government to do more things.
– But as the government does more things, does
that cause the formation of more groups?