interest group are: organizations composed of individuals who share one or more interests in common...
TRANSCRIPT
Interest Group are:
Organizations composed of individuals who share one or more interests in common and who have formed an association for their purpose of advancing or protecting their interests
Interest groups are similar to political parties Provide method of participation for
people Act as linkage institution
Provide representation for members Educate people and leaders about issues Agenda building-pushing their issues to
front of political consciousness Program monitoring-making sure policies
are carried out according to their wishes
Similarities continued…
Provide campaign contributions for elections
Goal of influencing policy Provide factions for electoral
competition
Differences between political parties and interest groups
Parties Similar views on
most issues Broad coalition of
members Affect policy by
getting people elected to office
Interest Groups Similar views on
one or a handful of issues
Narrow focus Affect policy
through access and lobbying
Types of Interest GroupsPrivate Interest groups: pursue chiefly economic interests that benefit their members Business groups-
largest and most powerful of interest groups that represent large business corporations, chambers of commerce, small business
National Association of Manufacturers
American Petroleum Institute-represents 400 oil and gas corp.
US Chamber of Commerce: 3 million businesses, 2,800 state chambers,
Labor Groups
Campaign for workers’ issues like minimum wage, workplace safety, industry protection from overseas competition
AFL-CIO-88 unions and trade groups
United Auto Workers Union
National Education Association
Teamsters Union
Agriculture Groups
Farm groups that lobby for farm subsidies, environmental issues, genetic engineering
American Farm Bureau Association
In 2005, over $25 billion paid out
Professional Groups
Groups that represent occupations that require some special training (question: what do they lobby for?)
AMA-American Medical Association
ABA-large and well-funded group representing lawyers
Other Private Interest Groups Elderly Foreign
governments
AARP-powerful lobby for people over 55 with a lot of clout on issues like Social Security and prescription drugs. Seniors vote in large numbers
Public interest groups: groups that lobby for benefits and interests that are not limited to its members
Consumer Groups: Nader’s Raiders
Women’s Groups: NOW
Religious Groups Environmental
Groups: Audubon Society, Sierra Club
Single Issue Groups: groups that look at a single issue they want to change National Rifle
Association: very rich and powerful
Abortion: Operation Rescue, Planned Parenthood
Civil Rights: NAACP, LULAC (a group rising in importance as the Hispanic population grows)
PETA
Methods
Interest groups try to influence the making of public policy by using tactics that are effective for them such as donating campaign funds, filing lawsuits, electioneering.
Lobbying provides access for interest groups and forces Congress to take action on their issue. Sometimes no action is a successful strategy because nothing changes, for the interest group.
Direct lobbying Personal Contact:
meeting with policymakers and doing what they can to persuade them to support their cause
Providing Expertise: using their specialized body of knowledge about a certain topic to aid in writing legislation
Testifying at hearings: provide information for Congressional hearings to get their message out and get free publicity (see iron triangle)
Final direct method
Giving money: Interest groups endorse candidates who support their interest and then help finance that candidate’s campaign by using PACs.
PACs give billions of dollars primarily to congressional campaigns and to incumbents.
PACs are limited by law to give $5,000 for each campaign (hard money), but there are no limits on donations to parties (soft money).
PACs can also create issue ads without specifically endorsing a particular candidate.
Indirect Methods
Mobilizing grassroots: Letter campaigns, phone campaigns-getting members to act on their own
Molding public opinion: ads, rallies, rating political leaders; cultivating a positive image of their group in the eyes of the public
Coalition building: ex. Daylight Savings Time Coalition was made up of lobbyists representing 7/11, Kingsford charcoal, amusement parks, lawn and garden centers, meat producers, and travel companies