What is an Interest Group

Interest Groups - Need to Know Interest Groups

Interest Groups? Political Parties? They’re all the same…right?
Interest groups do not nominate members to win elections & hold public office but, they do influence elections
IG’s represent specific interests, unlike PP’s that represent a whole range of public affairs/issues.

Birth of Interest Groups
Early Period - During the 1770s there were a number who agitated for American Independence
1830s-1860s - Anti-Slavery, Religious Associations
1900s on - NAACP, American Farm Bureau, Farmers’ unions, 1960s and 1970s were BOOM years

What explains the rise of interest groups?
Broad Economic Developments created new interests and redefined old ones
Governmental Policy - wars create veterans, veterans interest groups, people who can become a lawyer, doctor qualifications
Charismatic leaders that can gain a following for their interest

Interest Groups: Reason for their Growth
Definition: Group with common interest that seeks to influence government
Madison’s Dilemma: Wanting both liberty and order
Allowing people the liberty to form groups and express their views could destroy the hope for an orderly society
Political factions were inevitable ---Need to control their effects.

Interest Groups: Reason for their Growth
Pluralism: growth of interest groups prevents the concentration of excessive power in the hands of a few, and thus enhances democracy
DO YOU AGREE???????

Interest Groups: Reason for their Growth
Specific reasons for growth:
Tocqueville: Americans have a propensity to join groups
“The liberty of association has become a necessary guarantee against the tyranny of the majority…I am therefore led to conclude that the right of association is almost as inalienable as the right of personal liberty”
Economic developments (farmers forming the Grange)
Govt. agencies create entry point for interest groups
Diverse population
Diffusion of power
Local chapters lure members and raise money

Interest Groups: Reason for their Growth
Specific reasons for growth:
Weakness of political parties
1970s reforms opened up the government process
Interest groups spark the rise of other interest groups to counter them
Rise of public-interest lobbies since the 70s.
Technology
Conservative reaction to excessive liberalism of the 60s and 70s

Types of Interest Groups
Traditional
Nontraditional protest
Single Issue
Public Interest
Ideological

Types of Interest Groups
Traditional - (promote economic interests of its members)
Agriculture - (Am. Farm Bureau Federation - nation’s largest)
Labor - (AFL- CIO; Teamsters; Union membership on the decline)- on the decline
Business - (Chamber of Commerce)
Professional - (AMA)

Types of Interest Groups
Nontraditional protest - (protest the status of its members and to convince government to take remedial action)
NAACP
NOW

Types of Interest Groups
Single Issue - (get the govt. to take action on one overriding issue)
Right to Life league
National Abortion Rights league
NRA
MADD
Polarizing groups

Types of Interest Groups
Public Interest - (bring about good policy for society as a whole)
Nader Groups
League of Women’s Voters
Consumer’s Union
Sierra Club

Types of Interest Groups
Ideological - (convince govt. to implement policies that are consistent with their philosophies- based upon a coherent set of principles)
Christian Coalition
ACLU
“Think tanks” (Brookings Institution)

Outsider Strategy
Individualistic - Radio, fax machines, people can directly get in touch with officials
Insider Strategy
Work closely with a few key members of Congress to exchange information and favors

Lobbying
Attempt to influence government (most effective on narrow, technical issues that are not well publicized)
Function of Lobbyists
Influence govt.
Provide information to the govt.
Provide political cues on issues
Testify at hearings
Help write legislation
A “third house of Congress”

Lobbying
Regulations on Lobbying - 1964 Federal Regulation Lobbying Act
Provisions:
Defines lobbyist as one whose principal purpose is to influence government
Requires registration
Disclosure of lobbyist’s employer, finances and legislation to be influenced
Publication of disclosed information

Lobbying
Loopholes in Regulations
Principle purpose lang. is ambiguous
Disclosure stmts. are filed, not analyzed
No enforcement
Few check the publications
Only covers congressional lobby, not White House (executive branch lobby)

Lobbying
Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995
Expanded def. to include part-time lobbyists
Covered lobbyists of the executive branch
Sources of Lobbying funds today:
Foundation grants
Government grants
Direct-mail solicitations

Lobbying- good or bad?
Pros
Provide useful info to govt.
Means of participation
Representation based upon interest rather than geography
1st amendment protection
Madison in Fed 10- to rid us of factions would cause the loss of liberty
Cons
Rich and powerful interests over-represented
Average and poor people under-represented.
Safeguard liberty and sacrifice equality
Contribute to polarizations
Further diffusion of power
National interests sacrificed for narrow interests

Reasons for Joining
Solidary incentives (companionship)
Organized as small local units (LWV, NAACP, PTA)
Material Incentives (farm org.; AARP)
Purposive
Passion about goal (which groups might encourage this?)
Sense of civic duty
Minimal costs in joining