Unit III Module 1 Special Interest

GroupsAP GovMiller

Objectives

By the end of this module, SWBAT Identify the different types of and describe the

purpose of linkage groups in American politics Describe the political tools that interest groups to

affect public policy Describe how interest groups interact with other

linkage groups

Linked In

Americans reach out to institutions of public policy and vice versa via linkage groups Political Parties Special Interest Groups Mass Media

These three also regularly interact with each other during campaigns and elections

What’s an Interest Group?

Madison called them “factions”

De Tocqueville called them “voluntary associations”

Interest groups exist whenever group of people with a common interest begin to cooperate to push that group’s political agenda

Tools of the Trade

Interest groups are diverse so they can affect the policy process in many ways Voting blocs – if SIG (special interest group) has

many members, its voters can be used as leverage against politicians

Campaign finances – if SIG is wealthy, it can leverage these funds as either support for an incumbent (a politician already in office) or fund a new challenger via the actions of the PAC (political action committee)

Tools of the Trade

More tools Media spotlight – very active SIGs can use a variety of

media (TV, radio, Internet, billboards, newsprint, etc.) to either support or attack politicians and/or policies

Legal action – SIGs can sue government entities directly or support plaintiffs or defendants in court proceedings with either pro bono attorneys or amicus curiae briefs

Lobbying – consultants reach out to elected and appointed officials to try to persuade them to adopt the POV of the interest group

Types of SIGs

There are four main types of interest groups Corporate Public interest Single interest Government

Corporate IGs

Most powerful of the four

Preferred tools Campaign finances Lobbyists Legal action

Includes the following Trade associations (AMA),

labor unions (Teamsters), business associations (chambers of commerce)

Public Interest IGs

Broad objectives of stakeholders, broad policy objectives

Preferred tools Voting blocs Media Lobbying

Includes the following: AARP, taxpayers groups, NOW, NAACP

Single Interest IGs

Focused on single policy objective zealous membership

Preferred tools Media Legal action Lobbying

Includes the following: Greenpeace, NRA, WWF, VFW, church groups

Government IGs

Local, state government bodies attempting to influence federal government

Preferred tools Lobbying Media Voting blocs

Includes the following: regional associations, county associations, National Governors Association

SIGs and Political Parties

“Balloon Model” – political parties conglomeration of different SIGs like a bunch of balloons is simply made of individual balloons

Democrat sample “balloons” NOW, NAACP, SEIU, ACLU,

Urban League

Republican sample “balloons” NRA, NAM, AMA, chambers

of commerce, police associations, VFW

SIGs and Political Parties

SIGs with different aims can sometimes force elements of political parties apart

More difficult for politicians to keep coalitions together – coalitions must shift in support of another party or politician essence of Madison’s pluralism

If SIGs become too narrow in their agendas, won’t reach out to other SIGs to form coalitions, then gridlock is the result (hyperpluralism)

The Future of SIGs

In the late 20th, early 21st centuries, SIGs have grown more powerful at the expense of political parties

Supreme Court has given them more rights to Contribute to political campaigns both directly and

indirectly Run issue campaigns in parallel with national, state,

local elections

As a result they are spreading and growing in influence and financial strength

The Future of SIGs

Bureaucracy affected as well

Insidious sometimes problematic relationship between interest groups, Congress, and bureaucratic agencies called “iron triangles”

All these groups have “revolving doors” – individuals rotate jobs working for each of the three sides – develop a unique working relationship that can undermine other greater policy objectives

The Future of SIGs

Iron Triangle Example Lockheed Aircraft (SIG), Senate

Armed Forces Committee (Congress), US Air Force (bureaucracy)

Result – F-35 boondoggle (waste of public money)

Why it’s bad – Most military experts agree that the F-35 isn’t worth all of the money, not even a good airplane, but Lockheed needs the contract and uses its influence with the Air Force to push the funding through Congress anyway

Current damage – over 500 billion dollars