Interest Groups

1
Interest Groups

• So far, we have discussed the legislature, the
  executive branch, and the judiciary.
• Today we will discuss the final and a very
  different player in the policy processinterest
  groups.

2

• What are interest groups?
• An interest group may be defined as an
  organization of individuals sharing one or more
  interests who try to influence decisions of
  government agencies, political representatives,
  or other policymakers

3

• Sowhat makes them interest groups are their
  efforts to influence government decisions.
• A hunt club that owns or leases forest land for
  hunting will not ordinarily be considered an
  interest group. However, if the same club tries
  to influence the wildlife agencies by trying to
  get them to practice a certain type of wildlife
  management, then it becomes an interest group.
• Interest groups try to achieve their objectives
  through the use of lobbyists.
• A lobbyist works for an interest group and
  represents the groups causes in the political
  system

4

• Although natural resource managers often tend to
  look down on interest groups (particularly
  environmental interest groups), they are
  nevertheless quite important for the policy
  process to work.
• Now, we know that natural resource managers are
  often at odds with at least some of the
  environmental groups.
• Why then am I saying that their existence is
  important?
• Some of us may even think that life would be
  great if these groups didnt exist, but in
  reality that may not be the case.
• Environmental interest groups have their purpose
  in the policy process.
• Any ideas what this purpose may be?

5

• First, these groups provide a diversity of views,
  some of which may not have even been considered
  if these groups did not bring them up.
• This diversity of views prevent us from getting
  too focused on just achieving our objectives and
  look at the bigger picture instead.
• This could help in preventing unintended
  consequences of forest management.

6

• Second, these groups often function as a watchdog
  for government agencies and industries.
• In the absence of these groups, mismanagement of
  resources both in the public and private sector
  may go unnoticed.
• These groups also help prevent misapplication of
  policies

7

• Third, these groups prevent our policies from
  going too close to the either extreme.
• Since there are interest groups on either side of
  an issue, they tend to balance each other and
  pave the way for compromises.

8
Types of Interest Groups

• Interest groups may be classified into three
  groups
• Citizen interest groups
• Trade associations
• Professional associations

9

• Citizen interest groups are comprised of
  individuals who share a general interest in a
  particular policy arena.
• Citizen groups concerned with environmental
  issues are perhaps some of the strongest and most
  effective lobbying forces.
• These groups vary in terms of origin, membership,
  and objectives.
• They also vary in terms of strategy.

10

• Trade associations are the interest groups that
  are oriented toward the production of
  commodities.
• This type of interest group is usually comprised
  of companies that are concerned about the impacts
  of government policy and action on their
  business.
• What can be an example of such an organization in
  forestry?
• American Forest Paper Association (AFPA) is
  the largest trade association in forestry.

11

• Professional associations are composed of
  professionals who are employed in a certain area,
  such as natural resources.
• One important distinction of this type of group
  from trade association is that membership is
  independent of employment.
• Membership in these organizations include
  government employees, people employed in the
  private sector, academics, researchers, and
  sometimes even concerned citizens.
• Examples include the Society of American
  Foresters, Wildlife Society, Ecological Society
  of America etc.

12

• Next, we will discuss interest group strategies
  and tactics.
• But first what are the differences between
  strategies and tactics?
• Any ideas?

13

• Strategy has more of a long-term connotation to
  it.
• Strategies set the general objectives of an
  entity.
• They define the direction of all activities by
  the entity.
• Tactics, on the other hand, are specific
  activities needed to achieve the strategy.

14

• Interest groups adopt a number of different
  strategies in order to achieve their goals.
• The first such strategy may be forming
  coalitions.
• Often interest groups will form coalitions and
  work together either on a particular issue or on
  a number of issues.
• Forming coalitions combines their resources. It
  means more members are available to work at the
  grass-roots level, or contact policy makers.
• Coalitions also combine monetary and other
  resources. Sharing members, resources, and
  information cuts costs for the groups.
• Since forming a coalition means increased number
  of members working on the same issue, it also
  increases the relative strength of the groups and
  gives them leverage over other groups. It becomes
  easier for the groups in a coalition to influence
  policy makers.

15

• Another strategy often used by interest groups is
  litigation.
• Environmental interest groups such as the
  Environmental Defense Fund, natural Resources
  Defense Council, and the Sierra Club use this
  strategy quite often.
• Other groups use litigation a more of a back up
  strategy. This is because litigation is
  expensive.
• Smaller groups may use litigation more often than
  others. This is because groups with large
  memberships can use grass-roots lobbying more
  effectively.

16

• Another strategy sometimes used by interest
  groups is confronting and embarrassing agencies
  or industries.
• Groups will often use the media to publicize
  failures of a government agency or an industry.
• This strategy can sometimes be quite successful.
  For example, widespread publicity about the Exxon
  Valdez oil spill in 1989 helped stop
  reauthorization of expanded drilling in the
  Alaska National Wildlife Refuge.

17

• Some interest groups prefer direct confrontation
  and would sometimes, in rare occasions, break the
  law in the process.
• Protests and sit-ins are the mildest forms of
  direct action. While protests sometimes create
  inconveniences, it is also important to remember
  that everyones entitled to their first amendment
  rights to free speech.
• Some of the matters that we take for granted
  today, were achieved by direct action in the
  past. Examples include womens right to vote,
  civil rights for minorities etc.
• However, a few interest groups sometimes take
  direct action to the level of illegal activities
  and outright violence. Driving spikes into trees,
  or preventing loggers to do their job may be
  examples of such activities.

18

• Many interest groups believe that the best
  long-term strategy is to provide reliable
  information on issues.
• Policymakers operate in a world of imperfect
  information. They often rely on the interest
  groups for reliable information on an issue.
• This provides the interest groups a direct
  channel of access to the policymakers.
• However, providing unreliable information may
  tarnish the image of a group and may have a
  negative impact on their effectiveness.

19

• A frequently used strategy is to get the members
  of a group contact the policymakers.
• This is especially effective when the policymaker
  is an elected official.
• Legislators are likely to respond favorably to
  constituents than to lobbyists. The National
  Rifle Association (NRA), the Sierra Club etc. has
  used this strategy quite effectively.

20

• Next, we will discuss some of the tactics often
  used by interest groups.
• The first and perhaps most common tactic is
  direct communication with the policymakers.
• This can be achieved in several ways.
• Interest group staff members often meet with
  agency heads, legislators, or legislative staff.
• Letter-writing campaigns are another means of
  communication. Groups often encourage their
  members to write to their lawmakers.
• Interest groups may also maintain grass-roots
  communication with the public at large. This also
  puts pressure on the lawmakers.
• Appearing at legislative hearings may be another
  form of direct communication. Group staff and
  members will frequently attend legislative
  hearings, and sometimes their staffs may testify
  in the hearings. Failure to attend may be
  construed as a lack of interest in the issue.
• Legal action may also be considered a form of
  direct communication. A lawsuit (or a threat of
  one) will often get the attention of bureaucrats
  of industries pretty quickly

21

• Campaign contributions are often considered
  effective tactics to influence elected officials.
  
• In the recent years, excessive use of money in
  the political process has been highly criticized.
  
• While there have been a lot of finger-pointing on
  this issue, the truth is interest groups on both
  sides of an issue are guilty of trying to
  influence lawmakers with campaign contributions.

22

• A more recent form of monetary involvement has
  been Political Action Committees (PAC).
• These are voluntary groups organized to support
  political candidates or issues of interest to a
  particular constituency.
• PACs collect contributions from various sources
  and then distribute the funds among candidates
  that represent the interest sought by the PAC.

23

• Public endorsement is another tactic sometimes
  used by interest groups.
• However, this may not always work in the groups
  favor. Endorsements only tend to play well in the
  minds of like-minded constituents.
• Sometimes groups will publicize lawmakers voting
  records as a tactic. The League of Conservation
  Voters (LCV) has been doing this for many years.
• LCV also rates each House and Senate member based
  on their voting record on environmental issues.
  This may cause a lawmaker some embarrassment and
  aggravation.

24

• A very common tactic used by interest groups is
  public relations.
• This is done through advertising campaigns,
  research on issues, the media, or by the groups
  own newsletters and other publications.
• Good public relations are very important for the
  success of a group since public support is an
  important element of policymaking.