“In no country in the world has the principle of association been more successfully used… than in America.” James Madison, Federalist 10: Factions are.

“In no country in the worldhas the principle of association been more successfully used…than in America.”

James Madison,Federalist 10:Factions are inevitable but alarge republic best controls them.

The Role of Interest Groups

Interest group An organization of people with shared policy

goals that try to influence the political process to achieve those goals

More than 100,000 in U.S. today

What are the 3 characteristics?

1. Shared interests and goals

2. Organized structure

3. Want to influence policy• Lobbyists hired and PACs formed

The Role of Interest Groups

Why are there so many in the U.S.? The more religious, cultural, and regional lines in society,

the greater the variety of interests that will exist. American constitutional system allows for a federal,

decentralized system which creates multiple points that groups can access the gov’t

Right to join a group is protected by the 1st amendment Often spawned by social movements (women’s rights,

civil rights, immigrants, etc.)

Single-issue interest groups are generally more effective than multi-issue groups -Why?

Who joins interest groups? Usually higher income Usually higher education level

• Solidarity: Sense of status, pleasure, companionship that arises out of meeting together in small groups. Face-to-face contact important, so organize in small local groups = League of Women Voters, PTA, Rotary Club• Activities of interest groups at state levels have

been growing much faster than at the national level• Material: Receive money or other valued group or

service from membership = AARP supply low cost insurance, discount drugs, travel

• Purposeful: A reason for supporting group activities based on agreement with the goals of the group• Occupy, Abortion, Gun control, Environment

Incentives to join:

Interest Groups vs. Political Parties Interest groups are distinct from parties –

how? Political parties fight election battles – they try

to get candidates elected to office Interest groups try to influence public policy

but do not run candidates for office; they don’t have to try to appeal to everyone

Which one is a policy specialist? Interest groups Political parties are policy generalists.

Theories of Interest Group Politics Pluralist Theory

Politics is mainly a competition among groups, each one pressing for its own preferred policies; all get voices heard – a good thing.

Elite Theory Societies are divided along class lines and an upper-class elite

rules, regardless of the formal niceties of governmental organization.

Hyperpluralist Theory Groups are so strong that government is weakened by trying to

please all. This is an extreme, exaggerated form of pluralism.

Pluralism and Group Theory Groups provide a key link between the people and

the government – provides representation to all.Groups compete and no one group will become

too dominant – they counterbalance each other.Groups play by the “rules of the game.”Groups weak in one resource may use another.Lobbying is open to all so is not a problem that

some groups may be stronger.

Theories of Interest Group Politics

Elites and the Denial of Pluralism- Real power is held by the relatively few -

majority of public in recent years seems to agree with this view.- The largest corporations hold the most power.- Elite power is fortified by a system of interlocking

directorates of these corporations and other institutions.- Other groups may win many minor policy battles,

but elites prevail on big policy decisions.- Lobbying is a problem because it benefits the few

at the expense of the many.

Theories of Interest Group Politics:

The Hyperpluralist Critique Groups have become too powerful as the government

tries to appease every interest – too many groups are getting too much.

Trying to please all results in contradictory policies. “Interest group liberalism” – government tries to appease

all, government agencies grow & prosper, conflicting regulations expand, programs multiply & the budget skyrockets!

Many subgovernments (iron triangles) aggravate the process.

Subgovernments – a/k/a iron triangles Networks of groups that exercise a great deal of control over specific

policy areas. Consist of interest groups, government agency, and congressional

committees that handle particular policies

Theories of Interest Group Politics: Hyperpluralism

“IRON TRIANGLE” OR “SUB-GOVERNMENTS”

What Makes an Interest Group Successful?

MONEY! Not all groups have equal amounts of money.

Political Action Committees (PACs) Big money associations (AMA, ABA, etc.)

Monetary donations usually translate into access to the politicians, such as a phone call, meeting, or support for policy.

Wealthier groups have more resources—and presumably more access—but they do not always win on policy.

What Makes an Interest Group Successful?

Money, size, leadership, cohesiveness, ability to rally support

What Makes an Interest Group Successful? SIZE The Surprising Ineffectiveness of Large

GroupsPotential group: all the people who might be

interest group members because they share a common interest (AARP-all retired persons)

Actual group: the part of the potential group consisting of members who actually join

(AARP-only those who join & pay dues)Collective good: something of value that cannot

be withheld from a group member (clean air, higher minimum wage, etc.)

What Makes an Interest Group Successful? 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 – e.g., AARP

Selective Benefits of AARP: Information publications, travel discounts, group

insurance rates, etc. Not an actual member, don’t get the benefits

What Makes an Interest Group Successful? ORGANIZATIONAL FEATURES: Small groups are better organized and more

focused on the group’s goals. Multinational corporations are successful because there

are few of them and, therefore, have an easier time organizing for political action.

Consumer groups have a difficult time getting significant policy gains because the benefits are spread over the entire population.

Leadership – goes a long way!Charlton Heston - NRA

Actor identifiable with powerful roles

Intensity!!! (Cohesiveness)How quickly can the group rally support?Single-Issue groups are more successful:

groups that focus on a narrow interest, dislike compromise, and often draw membership from people new to politics

Groups may focus on an emotional issue, providing them with a psychological advantage --- e.g., NOW.

Intensity encourages non-conventional means of participation, i.e.—protests---ABORTION! -- PETA

What Makes an Interest Group Successful?

The Interest Group Explosion

How Groups Try to Shape Policy Note: their success may be in blocking policy rather than

actually persuading Congress to pass policy

The key to success is ACCESS to government officials! Interest groups provide gov’t officials with sources of info and assistance Gov’t officials provide interest groups with opportunities to express their views

Work to cultivate long-term relationships with government officials.

How Groups Try to Shape Policy

#1 - Lobbying Lobbyists are political persuaders

who represent organized groups –they provide info to Congress!

Origin of term? Two basic types of lobbyists:

Full-time, paid employees of a group Temporary hires

Two types of lobbying:

DIRECT TECHNIQUES:Lobbying, publicizing ratings of political behavior, building coalitions, providing campaign assistance.

Direct – overtly trying to influence policy choices; very effective – minimizes understanding

Indirect – trying to influence a 3rd party or the general public to adopt the group’s position

Roles/Methods of Lobbyists: Groups maintain offices near the Capitol Some common lobbying activities:

Gain Access - Private meetings with officials

Testifying before Congress and

Executive Branch agencies:

(they’re policy specialists!)

Lobbying Congressional aides and staff Can be most lucrative

Lobbyists are regulated – they have to register with Congress and disclose fees.

Protest and civil disobedience are also methods used.

Lobbyists also assist in drafting legislation

Lobbyists assist Congressmen by providing information, political and campaign strategy, supplying nominations for federal appointments in the Executive Branch and serving as a source of new ideas and innovation.

They also rate legislators in how well they do in passing and implementing policy favorable to the interest group.

How Groups Shape Policy#2 – Electioneering Endorsing candidates

$ and group support for candidates Getting the right people into office and/or keeping them

there is key strategy of sigs Groups form PACs to give $

608 IN 1974 - 3,877 IN 2008 In recent elections, nearly half of House of Reps got

majority of their campaign funds from PACs PACs give heavily to incumbents- WHY? PACs (legal under the Federal Elections Campaign Act)

can give $5,000 to each candidate in a primary or a general election

If legislative efforts fail, go to the Courts Environmental groups have had much success this way

Clean Air Act, etc. Most famous use of litigation?

CIVIL RIGHTS – Brown, etc. Groups also write “amicus curiae” (friend of the court)

briefs Written arguments by non-parties to the case to support one

side of a case Also, groups file class action lawsuits

Allows a group of similarly situated plaintiffs to combine similar grievances into a single lawsuit

Very effective way to remedy mass wrongs

How Groups Shape Policy#3 – Litigation

Groups make a direct appeal to public opinion to help their cause

Groups consistently work on their public relations image

Methods of appealing to public opinion: running advertisements, polls,

phone, maintaining a web site

How Groups Shape Public Policy#4 – Going Public (Indirect Technique)

ECONOMIC INTERESTS Most prolific type Labor – AFL-CIO! Agriculture Business Professionals

ENVIRONMENTAL INTERESTS EQUALITY INTERESTS CONSUMER AND PUBLIC INTEREST LOBBIES

Ralph Nader – Consumer Reports! Public Interest lobbies seek collective goods and services

Types of Interest Groups

INTERESTGROUPS Chapter 11