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Groups and Interests Chapter 12

Groups and Interests Chapter 12. Interest Groups. Interest group- an organized group of individuals or organizations that makes policy related appeals to the government. Interest groups = lobby People who work on their behalf = lobbyists Difference between interest groups and PACs

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Groups and Interests Chapter 12

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  1. Groups and InterestsChapter 12

  2. Interest Groups • Interest group- an organized group of individuals or organizations that makes policy related appeals to the government. • Interest groups = lobby • People who work on their behalf = lobbyists • Difference between interest groups and PACs • PACs focus on winning elections and interest groups focus on influencing elected officials • PAC focus on personnel of govt and interest groups focus on the policies of govt

  3. Benefits • Help organize and represent people’s interests in government • Become a knowledge shortcut for voters • Encourage democratic participation from their members • Monitor government programs and report progress

  4. Not so beneficial • Madison warns, “The public good is disregarded in the conflict of rival (factions), …citizens…who are united and actuated by some common impulse of passion, or of interest, adverse to the rights of other citizens, or to the permanent and aggregate interests of the community.” • Common good vs. freedom of expression • Solution for Madison, “Take in a greater variety of parties and interest (and) you make it less probable that a majority of the whole will have a common motive to invade the rights of other citizens… (Hence the advantage) enjoyed by a large over a small republic • Why do you think they could be bad?

  5. Usually economically focused • Producer or Manufacturing based • National Petrochemical Refiners Association • Labor unions • AFL-CIO, United Mine Workers • Professional lobbies • American Medical Association • Sometimes public good is addressed • Union of Concerned Scientists

  6. Needs • Money • Leadership • Members • Upper-class bias • Respond to changes in the political environment

  7. How and why do they form? • Facilitate Cooperation • Prisoner’s Dilemma • The Logic of Collective Action • Free-rider problem, some groups don’t form or are counter active because of difference of opinion • Selective Benefits • Informational benefits-special newsletters, periodicals, training programs, conferences, and other information provided to members of groups to entice others to join • Material benefits- special goods, services, or money provided to members of groups to entice them to join. • Solidary benefits- selective benefits of group membership that emphasize friendship, networking, and consciousness-raising • Purposive benefits- selective benefits of group membership that emphasize the purpose and accomplishments of the group

  8. How they influence • Direct Lobbying- an attempt by a group to influence the policy process through persuasion of government officials • 7,000 groups are registered to lobby congress. • Provide information to busy elected officials • Some become part of congressional staff or other parts of the government • Most retain good relationships with both parties, others have better relationships with one • Friendships are important • Regulations • Lobbying is no longer a tax write off for businesses • Trade associations must report the proportion of their dues which go to lobbying • Gifts limited to $50 and no more than 100$ a year

  9. Courts • Use the courts to win policy arguments • ACLU does this very often • Affect public policy in 3 ways • By bringing suit directly on behalf of the group • By financing suits brought by individuals • By filing a companion brief as amicus curiae to an existing court case.

  10. Mobilizing Public Opinion • IG’s appeal to the public to pressure govt • Going Public- the act of launching a media campaign to build popular support. • Using advertisements and media outlets to reach the public and urge them to act.

  11. Using Electoral Politics • Watergate scandal- Nixon’s campaign received millions from corporate executives. • Individual contributions are now limited to $2000 to any candidate for federal election. • Political Action Committee- Private groups that raise and distribute funds for use in election campaigns. • A Political Action Committee can contribute $5000 as long as it contributes to at least 5 different federal candidates each year. • Laws permit corporations to cover the cost of soliciting private citizens by the PACs

  12. Initiatives • Many IGs support initiatives in states to by-pass local government and get their issue directly on the ballot. • These initiative campaigns can cost millions of dollars. • Initiatives were originally designed in the late 19th century as a reform to allow the people to govern directly. • Ironically, it was originally seen as a way to limit interest group’s influence on the legislative process.

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