Interest Groups

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Interest Groups
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• Interest Group a private organization of
  like-minded people whose goal is to influence and
  shape public policy
• Number of Interest Groups has increased over time
• Anti-slavery, trade unions, womens rights,
  environmental protection, health care

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Characteristics of IGs

• Size
• More people more influence
• Free-rider problem the larger the group, the
  less likely that people will participate actively
• Resources
• Need a lot of money
• Use mass mailings, phone calls
• Intensity
• Some issues are felt deeply by people public
  and politicians respond (MADD)

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Types of Interest Groups

• Economic Interest Groups
• Trade associations seek to create a good
  economic climate
• Labor unions includes AFL-CIO, UAW
• Agricultural Groups Milk Council
• Professional groups doctors, lawyers, teachers

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• Social Action and Equality Groups
• Seek some kind of social change
• AARP, NOW, NAACP, Christian Coalition
• Public Interest Groups
• Seek to educate the public about the candidates
  and issues in elections

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How IGs Work

• Lobbying
• Def. an organized process in which an
  individual or group tries to influence
  legislation or policy
• Direct lobbying lobbyists meet directly with
  public officials
• Indirect lobbying interest groups arrange for
  third party to contact officials

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• Electioneering
• Def. the process of actively and publicly
  supporting a candidate or political party
• Interest groups form PACs (Political Action
  Committees) to funnel money to candidates
• Can only contribute 5000 per election

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• Litigation
• Using the courts when Congress does not support
  its causes
• Class-action lawsuits a lawsuit brought by a
  person or group both on their behalf and on
  behalf of many others in similar circumstances
• Brown v. Board of Education and NAACP

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• Shaping Public Opinion
• Buying broadcast time on radio and television or
  ads in newspapers and magazines
• Publish studies
• Stage media events to draw pubic attention
  (Greenpeace)