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Interest Groups

Interest Groups. An organized group that tries to influence public policy Truman Disturbance theory Interest groups form in part to counteract the efforts of other groups. What are Interest Groups?.

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Interest Groups

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  1. Interest Groups

  2. An organized group that tries to influence public policy • Truman • Disturbance theory • Interest groups form in part to counteract the efforts of other groups What are Interest Groups?

  3. Generally, interest groups is a term used to describe the numerous organized groups that try to influence government policy • Public Interest Groups • Economic Interest Groups • Governmental Units • Political Action Committees • Multi-Issue versus Single Issue Groups Kinds of Organized Interests

  4. Free-Rider Problem • Some people don’t join interest groups because they benefit from the group’s activities without officially joining. • Bigger the group, larger the problem • Large groups are difficult to organize • Olson’s law of large groups: • “The larger the group, the further it will fall short of providing an optimal amount of a collective good.” • Overcome Olson’s law by providing selective benefits: Goods that a group can restrict to those who pay their annual dues What Makes an Interest Group Successful?

  5. Lobbying • The activities of a group or organization that seeks to influence legislation and persuade political leaders to support the group’s position • 23 ways for lobbyists and organizations to lobby on the state and national level • Most often they: testify at legislative hearings, contact government officials directly, help draft legislation What Do Interest Groups Do?

  6. Members of Congress targets of lobbyists • Many lobbyists former members • Lobbyists work closely with those members who share their interests • Effectiveness depends on a lobbyists’ reputation for fair play and accurate information Lobbying Congress

  7. As the scope of federal government has expanded, so has lobbying of the executive branch. • Many potential access points • Lobbyists seek influence at formation and implementation stages. • An especially strong link exists between interest groups and regulatory agencies • Groups often monitor the implementation of the laws or policies they advocated. Lobbying the Executive Branch

  8. Can take two forms: • Direct sponsorship • Filing amicus curiae briefs • Brief that informs the court of the group’s policy preferences, generally in guise of legal arguments • Interest groups also attempt to influence who is nominated and placed on the bench. Lobbying the Courts

  9. The Interest Group Explosion

  10. A form of pressure-group activity that attempts to involve individuals who contact their representatives directly in an effort to influence policy • Persuading ordinary voters to act as the group’s advocates Grassroots Lobbying

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