Chapter 10- Interest Groups:

                              (1). Define what an Interest Group is, and contrast its functions with political parties.

                                (2). Examine the role, characteristics, growth, and diverse types of Interest Groups.

                                (3). Explain how Interest Groups are formed and maintained, and discuss the obstacles.

                                (4). Examine the strategies of Interest Groups and Political Action Committees (PACs).

                                (5). Discuss the role and function of lobbyists and examine the various types of lobbying.

                                (6). Examine the role of Interest Groups in litigation, and define amicus curiae.

                                (7). Analyze influence of Interest Groups, and contrast external & internal factors.

                                (8). Assess the overall positive & negative impact of Int. Grps on the political process.

                                (9). Prepare for Midterm Exam (Chapters 1-10).

 

G-10 Interest Groups CHAPTER OUTLINE

 

v   Defining Interest Groups (IGs)

Ø    10-1a  Interest Groups Versus Political Parties

§       Purpose & priorities of Political Party? (elections)

§       Purpose & priorities of Interest Group? (policy)

Ø    10-1b  The Roles of Interest Groups

§       Five main functions of Interest Groups:

·       Representation – interest of members

·       Political Participation – enable people to participate

·       Education – members, public, & government officials

·       Agenda building- push new issues onto public agenda

·       Program Monitoring- watch how laws are administered 


v   The Growth of Interest Groups

Ø    History & evolution of “factions”

§       De Tocqueville’s observations “forming associations”

§       Anti-slavery association of 1833

§       National Woman Suffrage Association of 1869

§       The Grange of 1860s (anti-Railroad monopolies)

§       Significant IG growth since 1942:

·       600 IGs in 1942 => 7K+ in 1995 (rough guess)

§       More demands of public placed on Government:

·       Civil Right & Anti-Vietnam War Legacy

·        Improvements & advances in technology

·       Rise of new issues


v   The Diversity of Organized Interests

Ø    Three general categories of Interest Groups:

§       Economic Interest Groups

§       Citizen Interest Groups

§       Government Interest Groups 

Ø    10-3a  Economic Interest Groups – four types:

§       Business- (Chamber of Commerce, NAM)

·       Trade Associations (Alliance of Automobile Man.)

§       Organized Labor – (AFL-CIO, Amer. Fed. Of Teachers)

§       Agricultural Groups- (Amer. Farm Bureau-large farms)

·       (National Farmer’s Union – smaller farms)

·       Specific commodities – (corn, hog, etc.)

§       Professional Associations-

·       (AMA, ABA, American Optometric Assoc.)

·       Also for advancement of women & minorities:

¨     American Association for University Women

¨     National Association for Black Accountants    

Ø    10-3b  Citizen Groups- promote group vision of public good

§       American Civil Liberties Union & NRA

§        Single issue groups (NAACP, Greenpeace, NOW)

Ø    10-3c  Government Interest Groups - State & Local Rep

§       Also Foreign Governments (Free Kuwait)

Ø    10-3d  Coalitions and Divisions

§       Groups of similar interests join in coalitions

·       The Military Coalition => military & VA benefits

§       Groups sometimes divide or realign on various issues

·       Politics & strange bedfellows – Trade with China issue  

v   Interest Group Formation and Maintenance

Ø    Reasons why interest groups form?

§       Disturbance Theory – in response to Government policy

·       Threat to the status quo – The Cat Mother response

§       Form mostly in response to government policy =>

·       Affecting or potentially affecting its members

·       Directly related to politics => influence gov. policy

·       Also formed for reasons unrelated to politics

§       Whose interest is usually represented?

·       Rich & powerful - why?

Ø    10-4a  Obstacles to Interest Group Formation

§       collective goods dilemma – (cost/benefit analysis)

§       free riders – if everyone chooses this response – result?

Ø    10-4b  Overcoming Obstacles to Interest Group Formation

§       Political entrepreneurs=> Cat Mother vs. Ralph Nader

§       Government or wealthy sponsor

§       Or – attract & motivate prospective more members – how?

§       Offer selective benefits (vs. collective benefits) – 3 Types:

·       Material benefits

·       Solidary benefits

·       Expressive benefits  

Ø    10-4c  Interest Group Maintenance – can be difficult

§       Retain members by continuing selective benefits

·       Add or modify benefits

§       Increase or decrease reliance on patrons

§       Redefine group’s mission (March of Dimes)

Ø    10-4d  Interest Group Bias

§       Affluent & better educated over poor/less educated

§       Some exceptions – Cesar Chavez against grape growers

§       Raises questions about democracy & political influence 

v   Interest Group Strategies

Ø    10-5a  Creating Political Action Committees (Fig 10-1)

§       Since election reforms of early ‘70s => PACs grew

·       Different categories of PACs grew at different rates

¨     Corporate (most growth)

¨     Non-connected

¨     Trade, Membership, & Health

¨     Labor (decline)

¨     Other PACs  (Table 10-1 examples)    

§       How PACs spend members’ contributions (Figs 10-2 & 3)

Ø    10-5b  Lobbying the Government

§       lobbying & lobbyists, & direct lobbying

·       Targeted attempts to influence policy

·       Personal contact of government officials

¨     Plead clients case directly

§       Credible information key to effectively lobbying

·       Usually lobby officials of similar views

·       Support draft legislation & research

§       Lobbyists know how government process works

·       Many are former Exec. appointees or Congressmen

·       Problem: potential conflict of interest    

Ø    10-5c  Mobilizing Public Opinion

§       Various methods used to mobilize Public Opinion:

·       Education Campaigns => advocacy advertising

¨     Educate public by publishing research studies

Ø    Normally supporting IG’s policy positions

·       Grass-Roots Lobbying – very effective with Congress

¨     Petition drives (Ross Perot supporters for ‘92 ballot)

¨     Letters, phone calls, or e-mail to Congress or Admin

Ø    Effective way to get elected officials attention

¨     Marches & demonstrations

¨     Get out the vote efforts

¨     Astroturf lobbying?

·       Civil Disobedience => any recent examples?

Ø    10-5d  Litigating

§       When you lose with the Congress => sue

·       Last action on a continuing cycle – (next year)

§       Amicus curiae brief?

v   Interest Group Influence

Ø    10-6a  External Factors – beyond group’s control

§       Party in power (President and/or Congress)

·       Business & tax cuts more likely when who’s in power?

·       Union interests more likely to be considered by who?

§       Opposition Interest Groups – tend to cancel each other out

·       Better chance with no opposition (VA)

Ø    10-6b  Internal Factors:

§       Membership- (size and commitment) – who votes!

§       Leadership- understand how Washington works

·       Effectively manages group’s interests

·       Able to maintain focused & cohesive membership

§       Financial Resources- in general more $ is better than less

·       Contribute to political campaigns

·       Hire lobbyist who give parties that Congressmen attend

·       Conduct media campaigns (Insurance co. defeat Hilary)

·       Buy state of the art equipment – direct mail operations 

·       What do less funded groups do to compensate?

§        Objectives => the narrower & less know the better – why?

v   The Balance Sheet on Interest Groups

Ø    10-7a  A Love/Hate Relationship

§       General disdain for factions & Interest Groups in theory

§       Support (at various levels) for specific interests (Fig 10-4)

§       Disagreement over virtues of different groups (opposition)

·       Great diversity & interests

§       One common thread appears throughout:

·       Wealthy & more powerful better represented – Why?

Ø    10-7b  Calls for Reform

§       Complaints re. rich & powerful interest favored over rest

§       Prompt calls for reforms to change rules (& outcomes)

·       Limited changes made by Congress:

¨     Limit $$$ gifts (but also raised pay at same time)

¨     Greater disclosure policies – Identify lobbyists

Ø    Box 10-2: Lobbyists influence on Congress

·       Campaign Finance Reform – limited reforms made

¨     Limited PAC $$$ & increase individual contribution

¨     1st Amendment Rights – challenge by opponents- sue

Ø    Constitutional right to petition the government

§       Problems of unintended consequences – (growth of PACs)

 

Ø    10-7c  The Contributions of Interest Groups:

§       Represents views of members to Government

§       Enables people to participate in political process

§       Educates public about potential issues affecting them

§       Pushes new issues onto the political agenda

§       Monitors Government’s actions & pushes for change

·       Women’s suffrage & civil rights

§       Upholds the right of American citizens to petition Government     

G-10: Interest Group KEY TERMS:

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