Patterson ch09

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Chapter 9

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The Interest-Group SystemInterest group: any organization that seeks to influence

public policyDiffers from a political party in that parties address a broad

range of issuesFederalism and separation of powers fuels interest groupsTocqueville: “a nation of joiners”

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The Interest-Group SystemEconomic groups

Business groupsLabor groupsFarm groupsProfessional groups

Material incentives

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The Interest-Group SystemCitizens’ groups

Purposive incentivesGroups based on social groupingsSingle-issue groupsIdeological groupsCitizens’ groups difficult to classify

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The Interest-Group SystemThe organizational edge: economic groups versus

citizens’ groupsUnequal access to resources

Private goods versus collective goodsThe free rider problem

The advantages and disadvantages of sizeThe size factor: business groups smaller and more

efficientAARP and strength in numbers

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Inside Lobbying: Seeking Influence through Official Contacts

Acquiring access to officials“Revolving door”Supply officials with information—policy supportLobbyists must understand both the issues and the processMoney is key element—amount contributed is staggering

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Inside Lobbying: Seeking Influence through Official Contacts

Acquiring access to officialsLobbying CongressLobbying the executive branchLobbying the courts

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Inside Lobbying: Seeking Influence through Official Contacts

Webs of influence: groups in the policy processIron triangles

Bureaucrats, lobbyists, legislatorsSmall, informal, stable

Issue networksOfficials, lobbyists, and policy specialists TemporaryMore frequent than iron triangles

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Outside Lobbying: Seeking Influence through Public Pressure

Constituency advocacy: grassroots lobbyingSpecialty of the AARPMembers of the public try to get lawmakers’ attention

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Outside Lobbying: Seeking Influence through Public Pressure

Electoral action: votes and moneyPACs (political action committees)

Funneling a group’s election contributionsPAC contributions limited to $10,000 per candidate for

each election cycleMost PACs associated with businessGive much more heavily to incumbents

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Outside Lobbying: Seeking Influence through Public Pressure

Electoral action: votes and moneySuper PACs or independent-expenditure-only-committees

(IEOCs)Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010)Not allowed to contribute/coordinate directly to the party

or candidateUnrestricted fundraising and spendingDisclosure of donors not required

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The Group System: Indispensable but Biased in Favor of Economic Groups

The contribution of groups to self-government: pluralismServing the “public interest”?

Flaws in pluralismInterest-group liberalismNot equally representative

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The Group System: Indispensable but Biased in Favor of Economic Groups

A Madisonian dilemmaA free society must allow pursuit of self-interest.Checks and balances work to protect rights, but also

exaggerate the influence of minorities.Groups can wield too much influence over individual

policies or agencies.