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Interest Groups

Interest Groups. Now Chapter 7. Value of Interest Groups. Organizations that seek to achieve their goals by influencing government decisions. James Madison believed interest groups were good. Social Capital: the ways in which our lives are improved by social connections

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Interest Groups

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  1. Interest Groups Now Chapter 7

  2. Value of Interest Groups • Organizations that seek to achieve their goals by influencing government decisions. • James Madison believed interest groups were good. • Social Capital: the ways in which our lives are improved by social connections • Robert Putman believes that social capital improves lives, communities and improves government. He also believes that social groups are in decline.

  3. Interest Groups and Civic Participation • Interest groups afford a way for people to band together to influence government as a collective force. • They encourage groups to communicate their views one on one with elected officials.

  4. Pluralist Theory • Pluralist: a theory that holds policy making is a competition among diverse interest groups that ensure the representation of individual interests. • Pluralist view it as a competition between groups to influence Congress, Executive branch, and the courts. • They believe interest groups are essential and that individuals rights can be protected through these diverse groups. • They also believe that interest groups provide structure and rules for participating in politics. • They believe that these groups form balance in the government by counter acting each other.

  5. Elite Theory • A theory that holds that a group of the wealthy, educated individuals wields most political power. • Even though a majority of people participate in interest groups only the elite hold the power over the U.S. government. • Elite only protect their interests. • Non elites can claim elite status through education. Thus this mobility allows anyone to move up in status.

  6. Key functions of Interest Groups • Educate the public about policy issues. • Provide average citizens with an avenue of access to activism. • Mobilize citizens and stimulate them to participate in political affairs • Perform electoral • Provide info and expertise to policy makers. • Can protect the common good • Are an integral part of the government system of checks and balances.

  7. Downside of Interest Groups • Appearance of corruption • Fund raise with (PAC) and make money a vital force in American Politics • PAC’s in turn make contributions to campaigns. • They strength incumbents. • Elites are strengthen by incumbents and non elites are left weak.

  8. Patterns of Membership • Interest Group Participation is related to three demographic characteristics: 1. Income 2. Social Class 3. Education

  9. Participation on Occupation • People with higher incomes tend to have a better occupation than most. Thus they have the means to spend money on interest groups. • Also some of these higher occupations interest group activity is useful. • Ex: Doctors (AMA) or Lawyers (ABA) • In 2008 the AMA started a campaign to get 47million Americans health care coverage. • Teachers and Tradesman are likely to be in Unions and tend to donate to the NEA.

  10. Interest groups and Social Class • People of lower social classes will tend not to participate in interest groups. • It also depends on if a person starts participating in them at a young age.

  11. Education and Interest Groups • Students in college 19-25 are more likely to join interest groups than their counterparts that are not in college. • Higher education tends to mean more knowledgeable about issues. • Internet groups have become more predominate

  12. Motivation for joining interest groups • For the benefits they receive • Certain causes • Meet new people

  13. Solidary Incentives • Motivation to join an interest group based on companionship and the satisfaction derived from socializing with others that it offers. • Ex: Joining Sierra Club because they enjoy hiking and protecting the wilderness. • NRA: Enjoys guns and shooting contest

  14. Purposive Incentives • Motivation to join an interest group based on the belief in the groups cause form an ideological or moral standpoint. • Ex: PETA because you strongly object to animal abuse and want to work with others animal cruelty. • NRLC because you believe in pro life.

  15. Economic Incentives • Motivation to join an interest group because the groups works for policies that provide their members material benefits. • Ex: NAPO provides bullet proof vests, overtime pay, ect

  16. Organizational Resources • The two resources that interest groups rely on are membership and financial resources. • Strength in numbers • Cohesion of the group • Intensity • Demographics • PAC – political action committee is a group that raises and spends money in order to influence the outcome of an election

  17. Organizational Environment • This is the setting in which interest groups attempt to achieve its goals. • Keys are leadership and presence or absence of opposition from groups. • Strong Leaders are the key • Opposition- If no opposition than people are more likely to believe the group.

  18. Economic Interest Groups • Corporate and Business- motion picture association of America (MPAA) • Umbrella Organization-interest groups that represent collective groups of industries or corporations • Labor- (AFL-CIO) • Agriculture- (AFBF) • Trade- (AH&LA)

  19. Public and Ideological Interest Groups • Collective Goods- outcomes shared by the general public • Free Rider Problem- the phenomenon of someone deriving benefit from others actions • Rational Choice Theory- the idea that from an economic perspective it is not rational for people to participate in collective action when they can secure the collective good without participating. • Consumer interests • Environmental interests and Religious issues

  20. Interest Group Strategies • Direct strategies involve actual contact between reps. of interest groups and policy makers. This is mostly used. • Indirect strategies use intermediaries to advocate cause. • Lobby-to communicate directly with policy makers on the interest groups behalf. • Issue networking – the fluid web of connections among those concerned about policy and those who create policy.

  21. Interest Group Strategies cont.. • Iron Triangle- the interaction of mutual interest among members of congress, executive agencies, and organized interest during policy making. • Litigation by interest groups- example RIAA and stealing songs. • Providing expert testimony- celebrates are brought in to help pass issues.

  22. Indirect Strategies • Public Outreach is done by climate control which is building favorable public opinion of the organization. Wal-Mart example • Electioneering- working to influence the elections of candidates who support the organizations issues. • This is done through PAC’s and endorsements. PACs are mainly Democratic.

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