Bellringer



Make a list of all the interest groups you can think
of and what they represent
Categorize them as: economic, environmental,
equality, consumer/public interest, or
professional/government
Which types benefit non-members, as well as
members?
INTEREST GROUPS
Chapter 9
Today we will …
Objectives

Interest Groups
 Explain
the rise of
interest groups.
 Describe how interest
groups influence public
policy making.
Agenda




Interest Groups – notes
Ch. 9 Reading Quiz
FRQ Review, if time
HW: Interest Groups
assignment
Unit Test
 MC Portion on Friday
11/21
 FRQ portion on Tuesday
11/25
Fortune’s “Power 25”
The 10 Most Effective
Interest Groups
Copyright © 2009
Cengage Learning
4
Some Other
Important
Interest
Groups (That
Didn’t Make
the List)
Copyright © 2009
Cengage Learning
5
Why do we have so many interest groups?

1.
2.
3.
An interest group is any organization that seeks to
influence public opinion.
Many kinds of cleavage, many different interests
Constitution provides many “access points”
Weakness of political parties
1. Factors that account for the rise of
interest groups
Broad economic development
1.
Rise of industrialization led to increased need for unions & their
interests

Government policy itself
2.
Wars create Veterans. Collective Bargaining creates unions.

Emergence of strong leaders
3.


Especially social movements focused on need for change & inspired by
political and religious doctrine
Usually young people
Expanding role of government
4.

More government activities = more interests that those actions will
affect
Institutional vs. Membership


Individuals or organizations
representing other
organizations
Business, Trade,
Governmental Associations,
Universities
Who actually
lobbies?



Interest organizations
Less likely union - more likely
religious, political, civic
Greater sense of political
efficacy - civic duty
Incentives to Join: combating the “free
rider” problem
Solidarity Incentives: happiness, status & companionship

http://www.pta.org/
Material Incentives: money, things, services

http://www.ilfb.org/
Purposive Incentives: goal/purpose of the organization
itself, passion
•
•
Recruit members sometimes using fear & anger
May be deeply controversial/off the times
Also, patronage can help to attract members
Staff Influence



Some members of an interest group may not care
about many of the issues w/which the interest group
gets involved.
What the interest group does may reflect what the
interest group staff wants rather than what the
members it represents believe.
Staff influences the group’s policy agenda if
solidarity or material benefits are more important
to members than purposive goals.
Check for understanding


How do institutional and membership interest groups
differ?
What are three incentives for joining an interest
group?
3. Consumer & Public Interest Lobby



Group pursuing “common” policy interests
Benefits non-members
Purposive incentive to join
 Single

issue focused groups
Tend to be liberal?
◦
◦
◦
PUBLIC CITIZEN
Research and Lobbying
Litigations to advance the cause
Ralph Nader
4. Interest Groups & Social Movements

Environmental movement


Feminist movement




Wilderness & wildlife conservation
Suffrage – League of Women Voters
Equal Rights – NOW, NARAL
Enforcement
Union movement


AFL-CIO
What area is fastest growing now?
Politics
6. Activities of Interest Groups


Information
Public Support
 Earmarks



Money & PACs
The “Revolving Door”
Civil Disobedience
 Trouble
Supplying groups with credible information





Most important tactic
Detailed, CURRENT- can build or destroy
legislator/lobbyist relationship
Most effective on narrow and/or technical issues
Political cues & rating systems
http://www.adaction.org/pages/publications/votin
g-records/2013vrgraphics.php
Amicus Curiae Brief


“Friend of the Court”: Document filed by someone/
a group not directly related to the case to volunteer
information that they deem to be worthy in deciding
the case.
APA
Public Support/ Pressure



Outsider strategy
Grassroots lobbying
Who is the key target?

Dirty Dozen
The Revolving Door


Promise of future job to officials
Conflict of interest
Trouble



Disrupt the institution and force negotiations
Enlist the support of others, who will also press for
negotiations
Create martyrs to draw public concern and support
◦
K Street protests: Occupy, Take Back The Capitol set to protest lobbyists
| WJLA.com
Check for Understanding
1.
2.
3.
What are the 5 activities IG’s use to influence policy
making?
Which do you think is most effective?
Which is least effective?
Chapter 9 Reading Quiz
Closure
1. What is the fundamental goal of interest
groups in the political process?
2. What is the fundamental goal of political
parties?
3. How do interest groups support the goal of
parties?
Tactics/Strategies

Legislative
◦
◦
◦
◦
◦
◦
◦
◦
◦
Testifying
Contacting (Formally or
Informally)
Drafting
Alerting to Impacts
Mobilizing Constituents
Contributing
Electioneering
Endorsing
Coalition-building

Executive
◦
◦
◦
◦

Judicial
◦
◦

Contacting
Influencing Appointments
Drafting Rules/
Regulations/Guidelines
Serving on Boards
Litigation
Amicus curiae briefs
Grassroots