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Interest Groups

Interest Groups. 11/21/2011. Clearly Communicated Learning Objectives in Written Form. Upon completion of this course, students will be able to: discuss and critically analyze political events in the United States government

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Interest Groups

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  1. Interest Groups 11/21/2011

  2. Clearly Communicated Learning Objectives in Written Form • Upon completion of this course, students will be able to: • discuss and critically analyze political events in the United States government • students will be able to identify and explain the role of  informal institutions and their effect on policy. 

  3. Office Hours and Readings • Chapter 7 • Office Hours • None on Thursday • Monday 8-10:30

  4. "In no country of the world, has the principle of association been more successfully used or applied to a greater multitude of objects than in America“Alexis de Tocqueville

  5. The Interest Groups in the Constitution • No specific mention • Feared by the framers • Lets pray that Madison is right

  6. What do interest groups do

  7. All interest Groups Must: • Share an interest • Know the Interest • Be Organized

  8. Political Interest Groups • Are private • Non-Governmental • Seek policy

  9. What do they Do • Link Members to Government • Represent Members views • Educate members and the public

  10. Why Interest Groups Form

  11. Constitutional Reasons • Protected by the First Amendment • The right to “peaceably assemble” • Federalism

  12. Diversity • Our diverse society creates many differences which give rise to different interests and view on public issues • Issue Diversity • Ideological Diversity • Economic Diversity • Racial and Ethnic Diversity

  13. Traditional Pluralist Theory • Writings of David Truman (no relation to Harry) • Groups will form naturally to press their views on government • Even Unformed groups play a role

  14. Disturbance Theory • Groups will respond to other groups • What will they do • Change the Status Quo • Return to the status quo • Go in a new Direction

  15. An Alternate theory of Group Formation The logic of collective action

  16. Collective Action • The Writings of Mancur Olson • Groups form if it is convenient • Groups form for Benefits

  17. Logistics of Group Formation • Potential Membership • Big groups form more easily (fewer costs) • Small groups have to share less (more benefits) • Geography (not as important today)

  18. Direct Benefits • Benefits that only members get • Excludes Non-members • Economic benefits are most lucrative

  19. Collective benefits • Benefits that the group works for.... • Everyone gets • No One is Denied

  20. Groups that Provide Collective Benefits

  21. Overcoming the Free-Rider Problem • You have to offer people some incentive to join • Appeal to our greed, or appeal to our ideology • These are selective incentives

  22. Selective Incentives Tangible Benefits Ideological Benefits Moral incentives Appeals to one’s ideology Guilt-ingPeople • Real benefits given to members by the group • People outside of the group do not get the goodies • The AARP

  23. Groups that cannot offer any benefits will not be able to form

  24. Kinds of Interest Groups

  25. Private Interest Groups • Limit their Membership and their benefits • Business Groups • Labor Unions

  26. Public Interest Groups • Concerned with that group’s perception of the general welfare of the population • Anyone can join • Everyone receives the benefits

  27. Single Issue Groups • Concerned with a single policy issue • Ensures that members know what they do

  28. Umbrella Groups • Concerned with multiple issues within a larger policy area • Potential for more resources • Potential for in-fighting

  29. Interest Groups Today • Fragmentation • Specialization • Cannibalization • Greenpeace vs. Whale Wars

  30. Components of interest group power

  31. Money and Size • This is a recursive relationship • There is a problem of being “too big”

  32. Cohesion and Intensity • Does the group stick together • Are the members willing to fight for the interests of the group

  33. Access • The Number one goal of an interest group • If no one hears your message, it is wasted

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