Interest Groups

AP UNIT 3 (CONTINUED)

interest group - organization of people with shared policy goals who get involved politically to accomplish these goals

3 Theories of Interest Groups

pluralism - many interest groups compete for the gov’t’s attention, but not one group dominates (groups counterbalance each other)

elitism - upper-class elite (particularly the wealthy and big corporations) hold the most gov’t power and influence and thus effectively run the gov’t (not various groups)

hyperpluralism - too many groups are competing for the gov’t’s attention and gov’t policies are weakened by trying to satisfy too many interests

Interest groups are one side of an iron triangle - subgovernments consisting of interest groups that advocate a policy, a congressional committee that handles that policy, and the bureaucratic agency in charge of enforcing that policy– Iron triangles have immense control in certain

policy areas

Small vs. Large Interest Groups Small interest groups are more effective than

large interest groups free-rider problem - nonmembers still

benefit from the work being done by the members of the interest group– the bigger the group, the less people participate– benefits are greater in a small group; in larger

group, benefits are too spread out– Smaller groups are more likely to work

collectively for policy change and be better organized than larger groups

selective benefits - only members of an interest group can enjoy certain benefits

single-issue group - a group that has a narrow interest in a subject/policy, works to accomplish that one goal, and does not favor compromise on the issue

Factors that affect interest group success:– size– intensity– financial resources

How Interest Groups Shape Public Policy Interest groups are another example of a

linkage institution (groups that influence which issues are put on the gov’t’s policy agenda)

Can affect public policymaking through:– lobbying– electioneering– litigation– gaining public support

1.) Lobbying

lobbying - interest groups try to influence policymakers to carry out their group’s goals

representatives of an interest group that do this influencing are called lobbyists

lobbyists can be paid full time by an organization or on a for-hire basis

Benefits of Lobbyists

Can be considered experts within their given field of policy --> are important sources of information about a policy (especially to members of Congress)– Generally focus on lobbying/supporting gov’t

officials who already think like them Can be called upon to be policy strategists to

get a particular policy passed Can be called upon for advice on how to

make a candidate appeal to a certain audience

Can be called upon for new ideas or approaches to policy issues

2.) Electioneering

electioneering - group involvement in the electoral process through campaign contributions (PACs), advocating for a particular candidate, and getting people out to vote for said candidate

PACs and Interest Groups

Interest groups often create/donate to PACs to support a candidate whose views align with the group’s goals

a candidate that wants to keep this funding must pursue the interest group’s or PAC’s goals while in office

PAC contributions are more likely to go to incumbents (officials currently in office) --> seen as a more effective investment with less risk

3.) Litigation

litigation - influencing the court system to hand down rulings favorable to an interest group’s goals

– filing amicus curiae briefs - written support in favor of one side of a court case (amicus curiae =“friend of the court”)

– Filing class-action lawsuits - a group of people with the same complaint file one suit together in court

4.) Public Support

Interest groups work to create a positive image of themselves to the American public

Use public opinion to their advantage to get their policies on the political agenda

Types of Interest Groups

Economic Interests– Labor/union groups - push for fair wages, work

hours, employee benefits, etc.– Business groups - push for conditions that

promote the creation and growth of businesses– Ex: NEA (National Education Association),

Teamsters Environmental Interests

– Push for protection of environmental resources, animal populations, and land preservation

– Ex: WWF (World Wildlife Fund), National Wildlife Federation

Equality Interests– push for equality for groups in all aspects

of society (pay, education, workplace, housing, etc.) --> especially African American and women groups

– Ex: NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) and NOW (National Organization for Women)

Public Interest Groups– Push for collective goods (benefits that

cannot be denied to anyone); benefits for all, not just members of their interest group

– Ex: consumer groups like Consumer Product Safety Commission (monitored/regulated safety of consumer products) or public interest groups like Common Cause (for a fair, open gov’t)