Interest Groups Characteristics, Formation and How They Do Business.

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