Aim: How do interest groups influence U. S. government and politics? What is an interest group? Why do we have so many interest groups in the United States?

Aim: How do interest groups influence U. S. government and

politics?

• What is an interest group?• Why do we have so many interest

groups in the United States?• What do you know about PACs?• What is the difference between an

institutional interest group and a membership interest group?

Aim: How do interest groups influence U. S. government and

politics?

What has contributed to the “rise” of interest groups in the United States?

• Broad economic developments• Government policy helps• Individuals• More government involvement

leads to the formation of more interest groups

Aim: How do interest groups influence U. S. government and

politics?

• What incentives are there for joining an interest group?

• What is a public interest lobby?• How do social movements give rise

to interest groups?• Are all environmental groups the

same?• What are some feminist groups?

What’s their ideology?

Aim: How do interest groups influence U. S. government and

politics?

• How do interest groups raise funds?• Who gets more PAC money – incumbents or

challengers?• How large is the typical PAC contribution?• Corporate PACs make up ____% of all PACs.• Labor PACs give to which party?• Corporate PACs give to which party?• Who gets more PAC $ - Democrats or

Republicans?

Aim: How do interest groups influence U.S. government and

politics?

INTEREST GROUPS AND BIAS???• Upper-class bias – why?• Yeah, but cleavages exist

within upper class – effect?

Aim: How do interest groups influence U.S. government and

politics?

What activities do interest groups engage in?

• Information• Public Support• Money and PACs• Litigation (lawsuits)• INSIDER VS. OUTSIDER

APPROACH

Aim: How do interest groups influence U.S. government and

politics?• How are interest groups (lobbying)

regulated?…problems? • What is meant by the “revolving

door”? (see text)• How do interest groups “make

trouble”? Why is this a “win,win” for interest groups? (And, a “lose,lose” for government officials?)

Aim: How do interest groups influence U.S. government and

politics?

• What has happened to union membership since 1960s?

• Ideological PACs raise more, but spend less. Why?

Aim: How do interest groups influence U.S. government and

politics?

• How are interest groups helpful to American politics?

• How are interest groups harmful to American politics?

• On balance…more helpful or harmful?

• Reforms??• Outlawing PACs?• Public financing of campaigns?

SUMMARY• Why are there so many interest

groups in the U.S.?• What are the two basic types of

interest groups?• What is the trend in regard to

interest groups since the 1960s? How does it relate to the trend regarding the strength of political parties?

• What is a PAC?

SUMMARY

• How have social movements impacted the development of interest groups?

• What activities do interest groups use to affect public policy?

• What is the difference between an insider strategy and an outsider strategy?

• What is meant by the “revolving door”?

• How are interest groups regulated?