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The Primary Goal of Interest Groups
An interest group is an organization of
people sharing a common interest or goal
that seeks to influence public policy
Organization: Interest Groups are organized. There is a
structure with a heirarchy.
Common Interest: Interest Groups can have one narrow
interest (NRA) or a broader range (Sierra Club).
Influence Public Policy: Interest Groups attempt to get the
government to pass (or not pass) laws that impact their
interests.
Factors That Promote Interest Groups
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Size and Diversity of the Country
Decentralized Power
Increasing Weakness of Parties
Variety of Ethnic Groups
Diversity of Religious Groups
Separation of Powers
Federalism
Why such growth?
• Broad Economic Developments Create New Interests and
Redefine Old Interests
– Farmers became politically active
– Mass-Production Industries lead to unions
• Government Policy
– Wars create Veterans who demand benefits
• Strong Leaders in Social Movements
– Religious Revival (1830s) Civil Rights (1960s)
• Expanding Role of Government
– Public Interest Lobbies as government involves itself in
more areas.
Why Join Interest Groups (Incentives)
• All interest groups deal with the Free Rider
problem.
– Free riders are persons in the general public who
benefit from the efforts without joining the
organization (no financial or membership effort)
• Reasons
– Solidary Incentives (Companionship)
– Material Incentives (Benefits)
– Purposive Incentives (Goals)
Parties and Interest Groups
• Both are linkage institutions (links average
citizen with government activities)
• But differ in fundamental goals
– Parties: Elect members to government
– Interest Groups: Influence policy of government
Interest Groups can often work as a
support system to help parties achieve
their goals
Interest Group Tactics
Insider Strategy
• Providing
Information
• Earmarks in
Legislation
• Expenditures
• Litigation
• Money and PACs
Outsider Strategy
• Grassroots
mobilization
• Protests
• Endorsements
• Civil Disobedience
Providing Information
• The single most important tactic of Interest
Groups is supplying credible information to
legislators
• Detailed, current information at a premium
and can build or destroy a legislator-lobbyist
relationship
• Most effective on narrow, technical issues
• Often presented in briefings, papers, or
Congressional Hearings
Earmarks in Legislation
• Lobbyists use the exchange of information to
convince members of Congress to draft special
provisions in legislation to benefit their
clients, called Earmarks
• Types of Earmarks
– Contracts
– Tax Exemption/Loopholes
– Exemption from Regulations
Litigation (Using the Courts)
• Bringing a Law Suit
– When issues include “rights” held by citizens court
cases are often brought up (Brown v. Board of
Education by NAACP)
– Used often when a group does not have “access to
legislators” or strong popular support
– Sets a precedent that lasts beyond that case.
• Amicus Curare briefs
– Means “friend of court”
– Submit written legal arguments to the Court during
cases that concern the interest.
PACs and Money
• Political Action Committees (PACs)
– Organizations created by business firms, labor
unions, trade associations, ideological groups, and
interest groups
– Goal is to provide campaign contributions to
candidates
– Although regulated as of 2009 there were 4,611
PACs operating
PACs and Money
• Money is the least effective way to influence
politicians
– Due to growth in PACs more overall money available
on all sides of the issues.
– Politicians establish their own PACs to advance their
cause.
– Have largest chance of influence when issue is of little
concern to voters
• ½ of PACs sponsored by corporations, 1/10 of
PACs sponsored by unions.
• PACs tend to support incumbents
Spending in the 2012 Election
opensecrets.org
Spending in the 2012 Election
opensecrets.org
Spending in the 2012 Election
opensecrets.org
NOTE: The organizations themselves did not donate, rather the money came from the
organizations' PACs, their individual members or employees or owners, and those
individuals' immediate families. Organization totals include subsidiaries and affiliates.
Spending in the 2012 Election
opensecrets.org
Spending in the 2012 Election
opensecrets.org
Grassroots Mobilization
• Although insider strategies more common there is a
larger use of outsider strategy
– Congress members more individualistic
– Modern Technology makes it easier
• Politicians dislike controversy so work with interest
groups they agree with
• Interest Groups target “undecided” legislators and/or
legislators in marginal districts
• Some groups attack their likely allies to embarrass
them
• “Voter Guides” given to members of interest group
Civil Disobedience
• Tactics have been used more frequently since
1960s
• Generally more accepted (As long as not
violent or causes disruption to an individual)
• Goals
– Disrupt institution and force negotiations
– Enlist the support of others
– Create martyrs to draw public support
Who uses the various tactics?
LitigationEarmarks:
Issues
Interest
in which
Groups
with
are
access
involved.
to
government
Groups
that
Often
have
Providing
Campaign
Information:
Contributions:
Allrights
Interest
Groups
Groups
that
have
who
large
have
access
to
Grassroots
Mobilization:
Groups
that
may
have
lessfinancial
financial
done
little
on
public
technical
support
and/or
that
voters
little on
access
have
to government.
information
or
government.
More
resources.
effective
technical
issues.
means
butissues
have
large
numbers
oflittle
members.
concern for.
Pros/Cons for Lobbyists
• Pros
–Deliver Information to Legislators
–Magnify Individual’s Voices
• Cons
–Perception of Corruption
–Influence of Money on Politics