History of Groups

1
History of Groups

• Proliferation in US due to
• Social cleavages along income, occupational,
  religious, racial and cultural lines
• US Constitutional system increases access points
• Institutional vs. Membership groups
• Business, governments, foundations, universities
• Or, supported by activities/contributions of
  mems.
• Factors explaining rise of groups
• Broad economic developments (mass production)
• Government Policy (public programs vets, poor)
• Religious/Moralistic movements
• Rise in parallels govt involvement since 1970s

2
Interest Groups

• More IGs, more belonging?
• No for unions, businesses, charities
• Yes for civil/political organizations
• Therefore, greater civic duty/political efficacy
• High-Status joiners- High-class bias?
• But, outputs who wins and who loses?
• Internal group divisions (farmers, etc.)
• Elite opinion cleavages rampant
• Some well organized (NAACP), some not (taxpay)
• Bus/Prof. tend to be more well
  organized/financed
• Extension of member concerns?
• External political strategy vs. internal
  recruitment
• Leftist leaning union perspectives, AARP material
  b

3
Political Representation

• In US Ideological vs. Geographic Rep.
• 4 factors for IG representation accuracy
• Group homogeneity
• Peoples motives for joining
• The size of the staff
• Level of militance and activity of membership
• Challenges to IGs
• Large constituencies (taxpayers, women) hard to
  organize
• Mancur Olsons free-rider problem
• No incentives to join
• How to overcome them
• Material/Purposive/Solidary benefits AARP

4
IGs in action

• Policy influence occurs through
• Credible information
• Public support
• Money
• Direct Action
• Regulation of IGs
• Federal Regulation of Lobbying Act of 1946
• 1995 tighter regulation. Violations to Justice
  Dept
• Best Regulation Tax Code
• Bundling and PACs Example of EMILYs list