Interest Groups

How many people are estimated to belong to at least one interest group? (PG 300)

It is estimated that about four out of five citizens belong to at least one interest group.

Union Shop (PG 305)

The law that requires that employees in unionized workplaces either join the union or pay the equivalent of union dues to it after a set period of time.

Interest groups link people with government policies. (PG 295)

The linkage created by interest groups is constitutionally protected by the First Amendment.

Lobbying (PG 308)

The means by which interest groups attempt to influence government officials to make decisions favorable to their goals.

Material benefits (of group membership) (PG 300)

The specific, tangible benefits individuals receive from interest-group membership, such as economic concessions, discounts on products, and so forth. Example - National Education Association (NEA) = teachers

Majoritarianism (PG 295)

The theory that public policy is a product of which majorities of citizens prefer.

Pluralism (PG 295)

The theory that public policy largely results from a variety of interest groups competing with one another to promote laws that benefit members of their respective groups.

Political Action Committee (PACs) (PG 299)

The political arm of an interest group that promotes candidates in election campaigns primarily through financial contributions. Engage is "soft money" spending on advertising and other political work independent of candidates and parties.

Trade Association (PG 303)

A business association that focuses on one particular industry, with membership drawn exclusively from that industry. Example: American Society of Traven Agents (ASTA)

Increased in interest group activities (PG298-9)

- A better-educated mass public became concerned about political issues. This heighten concern about social and political issues fostered a significant amount of new interest-group activity. - Escalating cost of financing political campaigns. As cost have increased, interest groups have come to play a greater role in supporting political parties and the election of candidates.

Senior Citizens have a shared interest in securing cost of living adjustments (COLAs) in the social security system that disburses check to them each month. (PG 294)

- Might call his or her representative of Congress to try to influence the vote for a large COLA increase - Join and support AARP

Three key sets of actors interact to produce public policy (PG 299)

1) Congressional committees and subcommittees assigned to a specific policy area 2) executive agencies of government that have the authority to administer polices in a particular area 3) private interest groups that have an interest in influencing that policy area Together this network of actors dominates the development of public policy.

Political Parties differ from Interest Groups in two important ways (PG 296-7)

1) Parties today mainly focus on elections by endorsing candidates and working for their election to office. Most interest groups do not run candidates for office as parties do (although interest groups often endorse candidates). 2) Groups tend to focus narrowly on special issues or sets of issues (hence the term special interest), whereas major parties are generally all-encompassing and are guided by broader ideological approaches to governing, rather than by a specific policy position.

Three general characteristics of an interest group, which may have significant bearing on how powerful that group's influence will be in Washington (PG 301)

1) The size of the membership 2) Wealth of the members. 3) Dedication of members to the goals of the group

Social Movement (PG 297)

A large informal grouping of individuals and/or organizations focused on specific political or social issues. examples: civil rights, consumer safety, women's rights, and environmental movements of the 1960s/70s

Common Cause (PG 307)

A nonprofit, nonpartisan citizen's lobbying organization promoting open, honest and accountable government. Supported by the dues and contributions of over 200,000 members in every state across the nation, Common cause represents the unified voice of the people against corruption in government and big money special interests. Promotes reforming the political system in way that enhance the role of the average citizen. It supports laws limiting elected officials from taking gifts form special interests, banning large speaking honoraria for members of Congress, and reforming the presidential campaign finance system. Tries to limit the role interest groups play in the electoral process.

Iron Triangle (PG 299)

A three-sided network of policymaking that includes congressional committees (and subcommittees) in a specific policy area, executive agencies with authority over that area, and private interest groups focused on influencing that area.

Who is more likely to belong to an interest group? (PG 300)

Americans with higher incomes and greater resources, and those who are better educated and employed in professional occupation, are much more likely to belong to groups. Those with more financial resources tend to better appreciate the utility of group membership and interest groups' impact on the political process; wealthier individuals are also more likely to have the resources to support interest-group activities. Favor Upper middle class and Upper class of society.

Free Riders (PG 304)

An individual who does not join or contribute to an interest group that in representing his or her interests. More common in larger groups.

Interest Group

An organization of people with shared goals that tries to influence public policy through a variety of activities. aka "pressure group" or "organized interest"

Noneconomic Groups (PG 306)

An organized group that advocates for reasons other than its member's commercial and financial interest. Three general categories of noneconomic interest groups are public-interest groups, issue or ideological groups, and government groups.

Economic Interest Groups (PG 303)

An organized group that exists to promote favorable economic conditions and economic opportunities for its members. Tend to be the largest and most powerful groups because members of such groups maintain a vested personal financial stake in having the group achieve its goals. Also best organized and most influential interest groups. Greater individual involvement, commitment, resources, and organization. Two out of every three interest groups in America are economic interest groups. Groups that focus primarily on advancing he economic goals of members: private businesses, labor unions, business and industry associations, and professional associations.

Issue and ideological groups (PG 307)

An organized group that focuses on specific issues and ideological perspectives. Examples: abortion, women's rights and environment are just a few of the policy issues that have produced interest groups such as the National Right to Life Committee (pro-life), Americans for Free Choice (pro-choice), the National Organization for Women (NOW; women's rights), and the Sierra Club and the Nature Conservancy (both environmental groups) Some groups have a broader focus than a particular issue or set policy issues, these are known as ideological groups, and they promote a more general ideological approach on how government should deal with a host of issues.

Public interest group ( PG 307)

An organized group that promotes the broad, collective good of citizens and consumers. Many see to promote political reforms that enhance the role of the public in the political process.

American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) (PG 301)

Boasts 4.7 million members and has proven especially effective at promoting policies that provide large subsidies and other benefits to American farmers.

Christian Coalition of America (CCA) (PG 301)

Christian political advocacy group that includes fundamentalists, evangelicals, Pentecostals, and many members of mainline Protestant churches as well. CCA attracts the attention of candidates as well as officeholders who plan on running for another term. Advantage in raising funds to support their activities.

Grassroots lobbying (PG 310)

Communications by interest groups with government officials through the mobilization of public opinion to exert influence on government action. AARP has successfully used grassroots methods of lobbying to put pressure on Congress to protect the Social Security and Medicare systems- two primary goals of the AARP.

Alexis de Tocqueville (PG 295)

Frenchman who toured the US in the early 1830s and observed the early workings of the US political system, was struck by the extent to which group association and activated dominated the American system. His 1825 Book - Democracy in America, he praised the extent to which group activity underpins American democracy. He found that Americans were particularly prone to organize in groups and use their associations to influence the political process.

League of Women Voters (PG 307)

Initially formed as an interest group that promoted women's suffrage, the League has become a leading advocate for improving turnout among all citizens in elections. It has also taken lead in promoting candidate engagement on issues of importance to the voters by sponsoring campaign debates.

Common interest groups?

Labor unions, professional associations (such as the 240,000 physicians and medical students who belong to the American Medical Association), and organizations such as the AARP to which many of the nation's senior citizens belong to. As many as 3 million businesses across the US belong to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Jack Abromoff

Lobbied on behalf of Native American tribes in their efforts to promote Indian-run casinos.

American Trail Lawyers Association (ATLA) (PG 301)

Made up of trial lawyers who, by virtue of their occupation, are quite wealthy when compared to average Americans. Only about 60,000 members, the wealth of its membership and the consequent level of financial contributions from members provide sufficient resources to make it an especially powerful interest group in Washington.

Persuasion Campaigns

Many interest groups run media campaigns to persuade the public to support their position on issues. Use "targeted mass mailings" Example American for Democratic Action (ADA)

National Right to Life Committee (NRLC) (PG 301)

Organized and began to solicit members and contributions in 1973, after the Roe v. Wade decision legalized abortion. Members tend to be dedicated to right-to-life positions and willing to contribute much time, effort, and resources to advance its pro-life agenda.

Advantages and Disadvantages of interest-group activity (PG 296):

PROS: - Interest groups provide all groups in society with an opportunity to win support for their ideas and positions. - Joining groups and working for their interests of the group is a natural inclination of citizens and should be encouraged as a method of representation in our democracy. - The right of association is a basic right protected implicitly by the First Amendment to the US Constitution, which affords individuals the right "peaceably to assemble". - May organize and attempt to influence government. The system is fair in that it gives all groups an equitable opportunity to compete. CONS: - Use of interest groups to make public policy is unfair because groups supported by the wealthy have far greater resources to promote their interests in the political system. - Large corporations exist to maximize profits; they dominate interested group system. The interest-group system thus promotes the advancement of interests that do not always strive for the common good. - The amount of interest-group activity is so great that it ahs made it difficult to get things done in government. Too many groups are operating, slowing down the policymaking process to a state of gridlock in many arenas. - Interest-group leaders are not elected, distinguishing them from many of the policymaking institutions that have been constitutionally ordained- such as Congress and the executive branch. Thus interest-group dominance of the political system is an affront to democracy. - Interest groups work to concentrate benefits for the few while distributing costs to the many.

"logic of collective action" (PG 303)

People with common interest working together in groups are more effective than the same number of people working independently.

Robert Dahl (PG 295)

Political Scientist and an architect of pluralist ideas; A Preface to Democratic Theory; suggested American people are represented in government primarily through interest group activity. "access points"

David B. Truman (PG 295)

Political Scientist; advanced the notion that group activity and mobilization are natural consequences of shared concerns. The free and open competition among groups advances the democratic system, just as a free and open marketplace of ideas promotes the adoption of the best ideas in society.

Pratt & whitney (PG 300)

Private contractor (an airplane engine manufacturer) employ the engineers and researchers to design superior systems and provide valuable information to the congressional committees and the defense department. Depended on for advance engine technologies, advice on aircrafts design, and the capacity to produce cutting-edge aircraft engines. They benefit from winning federal contracts to produce defense systems.

Closed Shop (PG 305)

The law that requires employees to become members of the union as a condition of employment in unionized workplace. since 1947 Taft-Harley Act has banned the closed shop.

Interest groups in electoral politics (PG 310-11)

Provide resources for candidates and parties that support the interest groups' goals. PACs are an important instrument through which interest groups provide financial support to candidates and political parties. Groups can play an important role in campaigns in other ways as well. Provided support by drafting speeches for candidates on policy matters or hosting rallies for office seekers. Business groups tend to support Republican candidates. Labor unions tend to support Democratic candidates.

Purposive benefits (of group membership) (PG 300)

Rewards that do not directly benefit the individual member, but benefit society as a whole. Example - Sierra Club

Solidary benefits (of group membership) (PG 301)

Satisfaction that individuals receive form interacting with like-minded individuals for a cause. Example - Union workers at labor rally

Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (1020) (PG 299)

Supreme Court ruled that corporations, like individuals, may make contributions to PACs, which has in 2012 facilitated the rise of the so-called "super-PACs".

Issue Networks (PG 300)

The broad array of actors (beyond just the iron triangle) that try to collectively influence a policy area in which they maintain a vested interest.

Professional Associations (PG 305-6)

Two larger and growing classes of professionals are lawyers and medical doctors, both of which have high-profile and powerful interest groups - the American Bar Association (ABA) for lawyers and the American Medical Association (AMA) for doctors. They are both regulated by state governments and the ABA and AMA have been successful in influencing the regulatory process. National Association of Realtors (NAR)

consumer protection movement (PG297)

driven by the activities of the group Public Citizen, formed by consumer activist Ralph Nader.

Ralph Nader (PG 307)

Unsafe at Any Speed: The Designed-in Dangers of the American Automobile. His book that forced the president of General motors to publicly admit to the US Senate that the company ignored automobile safey problems. Nader's Raiders

Interest groups and litigation (PG 311)

Use the court system as a means of achieving their goals. Groups regularly initiate lawsuits, request injunctions, defend members, and file briefs. Some groups focus primarily on the courts to achieve their goals. Example- ACLU; gender discrimination cases. One advantage of Interest group litigation is its capitalization of interest groups' financial resources' average citizens do not have sufficient resources to initiate so many lawsuits. Also they litigate more skillfully. Also use courts by filing of amicus curiae ("Friend of the Court") briefs, which are companion briefs supporting an argument or set of arguments in an existing Supreme Court case. Engage in lobbying activities to influence the appointment of judges. Pro-life and pro-choice groups are very active in supporting or opposing particular judicial nominees, based on the nominee's' position and past decision on abortion cases.

1886, the American Federation of Labor (AFL) was formed as the first broad-based national labor union.(PG 298)

Was originally established to advocate the rights of craft unions and ensure the terms of union contracts. It was organized and led by Samuel Gompers for 40 years, and attracted many members and raised funds to promote laws benefiting organized labor. it was the principal advocate for establishing a cabinet department, the U.S. Department of Labor, to administer labor programs. It continues to serves as one of the largest executive departments in the nation. 1950s, the AFL merged with the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) to create the AFL-CIO, an interest group still very active in promoting the labor agenda.

James Madison, Federalist No. 10 (PG 294)

admonished that "the latent causes of faction are thus sown in the nature of man". He was referring to what we now term interest groups. He was concerned about the potential influence of factions on the government. Expected that if enough interest groups vied to influence policy, they would cancel each other out.

American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) (PG 307)

an Interest group that advocates for the civil rights and liberties of American citizens. Supports the rights of the accused, free speech rights, free press rights, religious liberty rights, and many other liberties guaranteed by the Bill of Rights. Also become a strong advocate for students' rights, the rights of workers, lesbian/gay rights, and immigrant rights.

Americans for Democratic Action (ADA) (PG 307)

an group that promotes government policies with a liberal orientation. Supports candidates for office whose votes on key issues score a high "liberal quotient".

Christian Coalition of America (CCA) (PG 307)

another ideological group that has become a lobbying powerhouse in recent decades; it offers a vehicle to become involved in influencing public policy. The CCAs agenda advocates pro-life positions, promotes the role of religion as a part of what the government does, favors reducing tax burdens on families, and supports victims rights.

Intergovernmental lobbies (PG 308)

any interest group that represents the collective interests of states, cities, and other governments. Example: -National League of Cities- advocates for the bread interest of local governments. -U.S. Conference of Mayors- advancing the cause of the nation's cities -The Council of State Governments and the National Governors Association lobby on behalf of the states' interest.

The influence of interest groups is (PG 299)

buoyed by the process in which public policy is created and modified.

Sons of Liberty (PG 298)

colonial period group, gathered members, collected donations, and organized protest to achieve the goal of the American freedom from British taxation. They were successful because they tied their actions to the economic interest of their members.

Two basic types of interest groups (PG 303)

economic groups and noneconomic groups

New Deal Programs of the 1930s and the Great Society programs of the 1960s (PG 298)

led to tremendous growth in the federal government and huge increases in the federal budget. Government began to assume a more active role not only in promoting its economic policies but in promoting social policies as well. In response, a vast number of interest groups formed.

National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) (PG 298)

organized in 1885 for the purpose of advancing the interests of the manufacturing businesses. Setting protective tariffs was its core objective, the NAM also became a primary opponent of the AFL and other labor interest groups.

1988 Indian Gaming Regulatory Act

permitted casinos on tribal lands

Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (PG 299)

placed limits on individual and corporate contributions to political campaigns.

Theodore Lowi (PG 299)

political scientist; noted, although these parties may not always agree on particular positions, they all seek to promote policies favorable to their interests, and they come to depend on one another for support and influence.

Movements have been: (PG 297)

political, economic, and social

Labor Unions (PG 304)

promote interest of American workers. Initially, labor unions emerged from the expansion of the U.S. economy in the late 1800s and early 1900s. -Industrial Revolution- Workers organized into unions, using the threat of a strike to improve their conditions. 1940s an many as 35% of workers in America were union members. It's declined. Today only 13% of workers belong to a union. Important reason for this decline relates to changes in the type of jobs that Americans hold. Largest union in the US today is a teachers' union, the National Education Association.

Most natural and influential form of public input into government arrives by way of (PG 294)

the activities of interest groups.

Open Shop (PG 305)

the law that allows employees the option of joining or not joining the certified union at a unionized workplace. without "paying the price", another form of the "free rider" problem.

Lobbyist (PG 308)

the professionals who do the lobbying. -provide information to public officials -perform a valuable function to public officials by providing not only information and perspectives on issues, but expertise as well. -communicate with public officials in many different ways, including: formal presentations, written memos and policy papers, informal e-mails or notes, face-to-face meetings , and informal discussions over a meal or drink. The most effective lobbyist are those who provide valuable, truthful information on policy issues and who make persuasive arguments. Lobbyist gift-giving and bribery of public officials is illegal in most states and can be prosecuted. Its a common depiction.