10 Pump Primer Explain how interest groups are different from political parties?

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Pump Primer

Explain how interest groups are different from political parties?

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Interest Groups

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Biblical Integration

Christians must constantly be wary of violating Scriptural convictions in order to please others. John 12:42-43

Video: The Big Picture 10

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Learning Objectives

Describe the role of interest groups in American politics

Compare and contrast the theories of pluralism, elitism, and hyperpluralism

10.1

10.2

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Learning Objectives

Analyze the factors that make some interest groups more successful than others in the political arena

Assess the four basic strategies that interest groups use to try to shape policy

10.3

10.4

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Learning Objectives

Identify the various types of interest groups and their policy concerns

Evaluate how well Madison’s ideas for controlling the influence of interest groups have worked in practice

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10.5

10.6

Video: The Basics

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Role of Interest Groups

Interest groups pursue policy goals An organization of people with shared policy

goals entering the policy process at several points to try to achieve those goals

Different from political parties Do not run candidates Policy specialists, not generalists

25,000 interest groups Technology aids lobbying to reach both

policy makers and the public

10.1

a. 5,000

b. 25,000

c. 100,000

d. 50,000

10.110.1 How many interest groups are there in the United States?

a. 5,000

b. 25,000

c. 100,000

d. 50,000

10.110.1 How many interest groups are there in the United States?

Video: In Context 10.1

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Theories of Interest Group Politics

Pluralism

Elitism

Hyperpluralism

10.2

Pluralism

Group theory of politics Groups link people and government Groups compete No one group likely to become dominant Groups play by the rules of the game Groups weak in one resource can use another

Concessions Some groups stronger than others All interests do not get equal hearing

10.2

Elitism Groups are unequal in power Real power held by a few

Held by the largest corporations (multinational corporations)

78% of Americans share this view Power of a few is fortified by interlocking

directorates (group of directors) Other groups win minor policy battles, but

corporate elites win the big decisions. Lobbying benefits the few at the expense of

the many

10.2

Video: In the Real World

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10.2

Hyperpluralism

Interest group liberalism Groups out of control Government tries to appease all of them

Budgets, programs, regulations expand

Iron triangles A tight, ongoing relationship between interest groups, the

federal agency that oversees policy related to their interest—and the congressional committee in charge of handling relevant policy

Contradictory and confusing policy results

10.2

a. Elitism

b. Hyperpluralism

c. Pluralism

d. None of the above

10.210.2 Which theory of interest group politics views interest groups positively?

a. Elitism

b. Hyperpluralism

c. Pluralism

d. None of the above

10.210.2 Which theory of interest group politics views interest groups positively?

What Makes an Interest Group Successful?

Surprising Ineffectiveness of Large Groups

Intensity

Financial Resources

10.3

Smaller groups have advantage Potential group

All people who might be group members because they share

some common interest Actual group

Those in the potential group who choose to join Collective good - benefits even nonmembers Free-rider problem

Offer some sort of reward for joining the group that’s

unavailable to nonmenbers = selective benefits

Selective benefits some sort of reward for joining the group that’s

unavailable to nonmembers

Surprising Ineffectiveness of Large Groups

10.3

Intensity

Develop psychological (mental) advantage

Single-issue groups On the rise Dislike compromise Ex. Abortion, Gay Marriage, etc.

10.3

Financial Resources

System is biased toward wealthy 2008 federal elections cost $5 billion Donations lead to access

But $$$ does not always lead to lobbying success Other side contributes, too

10.3

Chart: The Power 25 10.3

a. Other side can also make contributions

b. Campaign contributions are too restricted to make a significant difference

c. Most groups cannot afford to buy politicians

d. Most politicians refuse to accept interest group contributions

10.310.3 Why does money not always lead to lobbying success?

a. Other side can also make contributions

b. Campaign contributions are too restricted to make a significant difference

c. Most groups cannot afford to buy politicians

d. Most politicians refuse to accept interest group contributions

10.310.3 Why does money not always lead to lobbying success?

How Groups Try to Shape Policy

Lobbying

Electioneering

Litigation

Going Public

10.4

Lobbying

Two types of lobbyistsFull-time employeeTemporary employee Often former legislators

Why do Congressmen listen to lobbyists? Lobbyists provide specialized expertise Lobbyists help with political & campaign

strategy Lobbyists provide ideas

10.4

FIGURE 10.1: Industries’ big spenders on lobbying, 2009-2011

10.4

NRA 10.4

Here, a shooting instructor fires a high-power pellet rifle in the indoor range at the 2012 annual meeting of the NRA, which was attended by more than 70,000 members.

For years, the National Rifle Association has successfully lobbied against gun control measures, arguing that the Second Amendment to the Constitution guarantees all citizens the right to bear arms.

Electioneering

Aiding candidates financially

Getting out the vote

PACs Political funding vehicles created by the 1974

campaign finance reforms $5,000 limit in primary and general election Mainly support incumbents

Should PACs be eliminated?

10.4

Explore Interest Groups: Can Interest Groups Buy Public Policy?

http://media.pearsoncmg.com/long/long_edwards_mpslgia_16/pex/pex10.html

10.4

Litigation

Suing for enforcement Environmental regulations Civil rights groups – 1950s

Amicus curiae (-ˈkyu̇� r-ē-) briefsFriend-of-the-court” briefs

Class action lawsuits Group of people combine their common

grievances into a single suit

10.4

Going Public

Public opinion influences policy makers

Mobilize public opinion Send postcards E-mails Petitions

Public relations (PR) Campaigns in national media Pays off for big business

10.4

Interest group ad 10.4

Interest groups spent more than $100 million appealing to public opinion during the debate over health care in 1994.

In a counter-ad produced by the Democratic National Committee, the argument was made that opponents of the Clinton health care plan were using scare tactics.

"Harry and Louise" Health Care Advertisements

10.4

a. Lobbying

b. Litigation

c. Electioneering

d. Going public

10.410.4 On what tactic do interest groups rely to influence policy when Congress is unsympathetic?

a. Lobbying

b. Litigation

c. Electioneering

d. Going public

10.410.4 On what tactic do interest groups rely to influence policy when Congress is unsympathetic?

Explore the Simulation: You Are a Lobbyist

http://media.pearsoncmg.com/long/long_longman_media_1/2013_mpsl_sim/simulation.html?simulaURL=16

10.4

Types of Interest Groups

Economic interests

Environmental interests

Equality interests

Consumer and other public interest lobbies

10.5

Economic Interests Labor

Unions Organizations press for policies to ensure better

working conditions and higher wages. About 10 million Americans belong to labor unions, or

about 12% of the workforce, down from 33% in 1956 Closed shop versus “right-to-work”

“Closed shop” - labor unions make membership mandatory

“Right-to-work” - forbid unions to require membership

10.5

Wisconsin collective bargaining fight 10.5

Despite protests by union members and supporters, the Wisconsin state legislature passed, and the governor signed a bill taking away collective bargaining rights from public sector employees.

Economic Interests

Business Wealthiest and most powerful lobbyist and PACs Favors the party in power – paying for access

Business interests not monolithic Policy differences among industries

Ex. Trucking and rail businesses would favor different policies

10.5

FIGURE 10.2: How corporate PACs have shifted toward the majority party

10.5

Environmental Interests

Sprang up since 1970 More than 10,000 groups with $2.9 billion

revenue

Profound policy impact Influential due to numbers, not money Strong public support

10.5

Save the polar bear 10.5

Some interest groups use unconventional methods to get attention for their views and demands. The environmental activist group Greenpeace is well known for coming up with activities the media can hardly ignore.

Do these attention-grabbing tactics work to influence citizens to get elected officials to hear their demands?

Equality Interests Fourteenth Amendment guarantees

Minorities NAACP/Brown v. Board of Education (1954)

Desegregation of education Overruled “separate but equal”

Social welfare policies

Women National Organization for Women (NOW) Equal Rights Amendment (ERA)

Amendment three states short of ratification

10.5

Consumer and Other Public Interest Lobbies

Policies in the public interestCollective goods

What is the public interest? Each public interest group believes it knows

what’s in the public interest Ex. Religious groups believe they’re

acting in the public interest when they seek to impose their moral views on everyone

10.5

Video: Thinking Like a Political Scientist

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10.5

a. Economic groups

b. Environmental groups

c. Consumer groups

d. Women’s rights groups

10.510.5 Which interest groups are the best funded?

a. Economic groups

b. Environmental groups

c. Consumer groups

d. Women’s rights groups

10.510.5 Which interest groups are the best funded?

Understanding Interest Groups

Interest Groups and Democracy

Interest Groups and the Scope of Government

10.6

Interest Groups and Democracy

Does pluralism prevail? James Madison - opposing interests would counteract each other Growth in number of interest groups Less clout for any one group

Interest group corruption? Business PACs Wealthy groups dominate

Gridlock? Difficult to initiate major policy change due to the variety

of interests

10.6

Interest Groups and the Scope of Government

Individualistic and associational Interest groups channel political participation

and facilitate representation of individual interests

Difficult to reduce spending Everyone wants cuts, just don’t cut their

program

Vicious circle Groups lead to policy Policy prompts new groups to form

10.6

a. They do not see a problem with large numbers of groups

b. They think too many groups competing will lead to policy gridlock

c. They believe that a few groups will triumph over all the others

d. None of the above

10.610.6 What do hyperpluralists see as a problem with the proliferation of interest groups?

a. They do not see a problem with large numbers of groups

b. They think too many groups competing will lead to policy gridlock

c. They believe that a few groups will triumph over all the others

d. None of the above

10.610.6 What do hyperpluralists see as a problem with the proliferation of interest groups?

Discussion Question

What are the three main theories ofinterest group politics?

Which theory do you think provides the most accurate explanation for how interest groups interact with government in the U.S. today?

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Video: So What?

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Video Citation:"Harry and Louise" Health Care Advertisements. YouTube.com. 20 Jul 2009. CNN. Web. 28 Jul 2014. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwOX2P4s-Iw

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