Interest Groups Characteristics, Formation and How They Do Business.
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Interest GroupsCharacteristics, Formation and How They Do
Business
What if Firefighters Ran the World?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VO6DORwBzuA
Interest Groups
Make policy related appeals to government Enhance Democracy Represent the Evils of Faction Have Economic Interests Need Money, Leadership and Members Have an upper class bias Respond to political changes
Enhancing Democracy
Groups educate members about issues Mobilize members Monitor government behavior
The “Evils of Faction”
Madison feared the power of interests forsaking the public good
But had to balance that fear against suppressing the freedom to organize
No one interest should outcompete another (pluralism)
But which interests are better at it? Those who are more organized and more
resourceful
Economic Interests
Producers/Manufacturers National Petrochemical Refiners
Labor AFL-CIO
Professional Lobbies AMA, ADA, ABA
Public interests Natural Resources Defense Council, Common
Cause
Money, Leadership, and Members (AARP)Policies: Social security MedicareBenefits: Insurance DiscountsOrganization: Dues, Structure, Offices
Benefits Insurance Commercial Discounts
Upper Class Bias
Increased political efficacy Higher Income levels Higher Education levels Time and Money
Political Changes
Great proliferation in the last forty years Stimulated by new laws, court decisions, and
election financing laws Roe v. Wade, Campaign Finance, Civil Rights
Public interest groups have grown Common Cause, Sierra Club, EDF
Direct Mail Computerized databases Internet/email
American Farm Bureau
“We Are Farm Bureau” According to their
website, their mission is to “enhance and strengthen the lives of rural Americans, and to build strong prosperous agricultural communities”
Policy Influence
Energy Supports – energy
independence is crucial to agriculture (renewable fuels)
Federal Clean Water Act Opposes – because the
bill would regulate farming and control runoff into ditches, gullies, and culverts
Benefits
Economic Banking Insurance
Social Food Check Out Week 37 working days to pay
for a year of food 77 for income taxesCelebrating Farmers!
Allies and Enemies
Allies: United Farm Workers of America http://www.conversationsoncare.com/about-
us.aspx
Enemies: Animal Rights Activists http://www.fb.org/index.php?fuseaction=new
sroom.focusfocus&year=2008&file=fo1013.html
Policy Influence
Legislative Branch Writing letters, grassroots organization, e-
lists
http://capwiz.com/afb/home/
Dollars and Cents
http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/indus.php?ind=A
Voting Records
Obama http://www.votesmart.org/voting_category.php?
can_id=9490&type=category&category=4&go.x=14&go.y=17
McCain http://www.votesmart.org/voting_category.php?
can_id=53270&type=category&category=4&go.x=7&go.y=10
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