GROUPS AND INTERESTS
CHAPTER 12
INTEREST GROUPS
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Interest group- an organized group of
individuals or organizations that
makes policy related appeals to the
government.
Interest groups = lobby
People who work on their behalf =
lobbyists
Difference between interest groups and
PACs
PACs focus on winning elections and
interest groups focus on influencing
elected officials
 PAC focus on personnel of govt and
interest groups focus on the policies of
govt
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BENEFITS
Help organize and represent people’s interests in
government
 Become a knowledge shortcut for voters
 Encourage democratic participation from their
members
 Monitor government programs and report
progress
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NOT SO BENEFICIAL
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Madison warns, “The public good is disregarded in the
conflict of rival (factions), …citizens…who are united
and actuated by some common impulse of passion, or
of interest, adverse to the rights of other citizens, or
to the permanent and aggregate interests of the
community.”
Common good vs. freedom of expression
Solution for Madison, “Take in a greater variety of
parties and interest (and) you make it less probable
that a majority of the whole will have a common
motive to invade the rights of other citizens… (Hence
the advantage) enjoyed by a large over a small
republic
Why do you think they could be bad?
USUALLY ECONOMICALLY FOCUSED
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Producer or Manufacturing based
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Labor unions
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AFL-CIO, United Mine Workers
Professional lobbies
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National Petrochemical Refiners Association
American Medical Association
Sometimes public good is addressed
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Union of Concerned Scientists
NEEDS
Money
 Leadership
 Members
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Upper-class bias
Respond to changes in the political environment
HOW AND WHY DO THEY FORM?
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Facilitate Cooperation
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The Logic of Collective Action
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Prisoner’s Dilemma
Free-rider problem, some groups don’t form or are counter
active because of difference of opinion
Selective Benefits
Informational benefits-special newsletters, periodicals,
training programs, conferences, and other information
provided to members of groups to entice others to join
 Material benefits- special goods, services, or money
provided to members of groups to entice them to join.
 Solidary benefits- selective benefits of group membership
that emphasize friendship, networking, and consciousnessraising
 Purposive benefits- selective benefits of group membership
that emphasize the purpose and accomplishments of the
group
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HOW THEY INFLUENCE
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Direct Lobbying- an attempt by a group to influence
the policy process through persuasion of government
officials
7,000 groups are registered to lobby congress.
Provide information to busy elected officials
Some become part of congressional staff or other parts
of the government
Most retain good relationships with both parties,
others have better relationships with one
Friendships are important
Regulations
Lobbying is no longer a tax write off for businesses
Trade associations must report the proportion of their dues
which go to lobbying
 Gifts limited to $50 and no more than 100$ a year
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COURTS
Use the courts to win policy arguments
 ACLU does this very often
 Affect public policy in 3 ways
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By bringing suit directly on behalf of the group
 By financing suits brought by individuals
 By filing a companion brief as amicus curiae to an
existing court case.
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MOBILIZING PUBLIC OPINION
IG’s appeal to the public to pressure govt
 Going Public- the act of launching a media
campaign to build popular support.
 Using advertisements and media outlets to reach
the public and urge them to act.
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USING ELECTORAL POLITICS
Watergate scandal- Nixon’s campaign received
millions from corporate executives.
 Individual contributions are now limited to $2000
to any candidate for federal election.
 Political Action Committee- Private groups that
raise and distribute funds for use in election
campaigns.
 A Political Action Committee can contribute
$5000 as long as it contributes to at least 5
different federal candidates each year.
 Laws permit corporations to cover the cost of
soliciting private citizens by the PACs
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INITIATIVES
Many IGs support initiatives in states to by-pass
local government and get their issue directly on
the ballot.
 These initiative campaigns can cost millions of
dollars.
 Initiatives were originally designed in the late
19th century as a reform to allow the people to
govern directly.
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Ironically, it was originally seen as a way to limit
interest group’s influence on the legislative process.