Interest Groups

1
Interest Groups

• Chapter 11

2
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 dont- but they may choose sides.
• Interest Groups are policy specialists, Political
  Parties are policy generalists.

3
The Role and Reputation of Interest Groups

• Why Interest Groups Get Bad Press
• The writers of the Constitution disliked
  organized groups- parties and interest groups.
• Dishonest lobbyists get more press than the
  honest ones- even though there are far more
  honest lobbyists.
• The term lobbying in general has negative
  connotations.

4
Theories of Interest Group Politics

• Pluralist Theory
• Elite Theory
• Hyperpluralist Theory

5
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.

6
Theories of Interest Group Politics- Pluralism

• Continued
• Groups compete
• No group becomes too dominate
• Groups play by the rules
• Groups weak in one resource can rely on another
  resource.
• Lobbying is open to all, therefore, not a problem.

7
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, the power is not
  equally divided among them- some have much more.
• The largest corporations hold the most power.

8
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.

9
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.

10
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.

11
What Makes an Interest Group Successful?
12
What Makes an Interest Group Successful?

• The Surprising Ineffectiveness of Large Groups
• Free-Rider problem Some people dont join
  interest groups because they benefit from the
  groups activities without officially joining.
• The bigger the group, the larger the free-rider
  problem.
• Large groups are difficult to keep organized.

13
What Makes an Interest Group Successful?

• Small groups are better organized and more
  focused on the groups 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.

14
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.

15
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 dont always win in the
  policy arena.

16
The Interest Group Explosion
17
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.
• Two basic types Those that are employed by a
  group, and those that are hired temporarily.

18
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.

19
How Groups Try to Shape Policy

• Electioneering
• Direct group involvement in the election process.
• Political Action Committee (PAC) Used by
  corporations and unions to donate money to
  candidates. Sometimes used by groups as well.
• Groups are often picky about who gets money.
• Groups can do more than just donate money.

20
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.

21
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.
• Currently, some groups use a more soft sell
  approach style of public relations.

22
Types of Interest Groups

• Economic Interests
• Labor
• Agriculture
• Business
• Environmental Interests
• Equality Interests
• Consumer and Public Interest Lobbies

23
Understanding Interest Groups

• Interest Groups and Democracy
• A wide open government would force groups to
  compete and counterbalance each other.
• More groups means 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.

24
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?

25
Internet Resources

• AARP
• AFL-CIO
• NEA
• Greenpeace
• Common Cause
• Free speech- Social Security