Government Ch. 9

examples of positive functions of interest groups

- Awareness of public affairs Represent members based on shared attitudes, rather than geography - Provide useful, specialized, and detailed information to government - Enable people to participate in political process - Monitor public agencies and officials, ensuring accountability - Compete with each other to influence public policy

Examples of economic interest groups

- Business - Labor - Agriculture - Professions

Types of interest groups

- Economic interests - other interests - public-interest groups

Examples of other interest groups

- Issue-oriented - For specific communities - Religious

examples of negative functions of interest groups

- Push own special interests, which may not be in best interests of other Americans - Influence out of proportion to their size or importance to public good - Hard to tell who or how many people in the group - May not represent views of all people for whom they speak - Some use unethical tactics

interest group

A collection of people who share certain views on public matters and work to shape public policy to their benefit

What is a public-interest group, and how does it differ from other types of interest groups?

A public-interest group works for the best interests of the overall community, unlike other interest groups, which promote mainly the interests of their members.

labor union

An organization o workers who share the same type o job or who work in the same industry

Public-interest group

An organization that works or the best interests of the overall community, rather than the narrower interests of one segment. It seeks policies that benefit all or most people, whether or not they belong to or support the organization

What distinguishes an association or organization from an interest group?

Any group can become an interest group if it tries to influence the government to act in ways that promote the group s goals or interests.

At what levels of government does lobbying take place?

At any level that public policy is made

Do interest groups gain undue influence when celebrities back their causes?

Celebrities may give an interest group influence out of proportion to the group's size

amicus curiae brief

Consists of written arguments presented to a court in support of one side in a dispute

How do direct and indirect approaches to lobbying differ?

Direct approaches involve face-to-face contact with policymakers. Indirect approaches try to get the public to pressure policymakers

In what ways do interest groups attempt to influence government and public opinion?

Direct approaches involve face-to-face contact with policymakers. Lobbyists testify before committees, talk to White House aides, and try to influence appointments. They help provide information, draft legislation, and write speeches. They lobby the courts by bringing lawsuits and ling amicus curiae briefs. Indirect strategies include grass-roots pressure and demonstrations. Groups mold public opinion through advertising, celebrity promotions, and press releases. Some use propaganda techniques. Interest groups also electioneer.

How have economic changes in the United States transformed the nature and types of labor unions in the country?

Economic changes have eroded the sectors of the economy from which unions once drew their greatest strength.

What does it mean to say that joining interest groups is both practical and democratic?

Expressing views to government is part of the democratic process. Interest groups help people express shared views.

What might happen if nothing were done to limit the role of lobbyists on the government?

Government could become corrupt, with special interests influencing policymaking, perhaps through illegal means

Indirect approach interest groups

Grass-roots pressure Letters, postcards, phone calls, faxes, e-mails from local supporters Internet Web site, e-mail lists, blogging Fundraising for candidates Get-out-the-vote efforts Demonstrations and protest marches Publish ratings of members of Congress Mold public opinion Use of advertising Promotion by group members and celebrities News items in mass media press releases, interviews, studies Propaganda Electioneering PACs

What were James Madison's concerns about "factions" in The Federalist No. 10?

He believed factions were inevitable and, if unchecked, could dominate public decision making.

public policy

Includes all of the goals that a government pursues in the many areas of human affairs in which it is involved everything from seat belts, speed limits, and zoning to flood control, old-age pensions, and the use o military force in international affairs

What are interest groups and how do they attempt to shape public policy?

Interest groups are people who share views and work to shape public policy at any level of government where policy is made.

How do political parties and interest groups differ from one another?

Interest groups have no direct role in nominating candidates. They work to influence policy, not elections. They are narrowly focused on their own interests. Parties are concerned with the whole range of public affairs.

What roles do interest groups play in our political system?

Interest groups try to influence government in specific areas. They create awareness of public affairs, represent members, provide information to government, allow people to participate in politics, monitor public agencies and officials, and compete with each other to influence policy.

Why do you think that groups involved with economic interests are the most numerous type of interest group in the United States today?

Most people spend a majority of their time pursuing their economic security and so are keenly interested in how policies may affect their well being.

What is a lobbyist?

People who try to persuade public officials to do things that their interest groups want

grass-roots pressures

Pressures from members of an interest group or from the people at large, often beginning at a very basic level to bear on public officials

Why do interest groups value a positive public image?

Public opinion influences policy decisions

trade association

Segments of the business community also have their own interest groups, often called trade associations

Direct approach interest groups

Talk to government offcials at all levels Testify at congressional committee meetings Submit position statements on proposed legislation Provide useful information to Congress Make campaign contributions Write speeches Draft legislation Lobby senior White House aides and executive agencies Try to influence agency appointments Rely on networks of contacts in government Bring lawsuits File amicus curiae briefs Try to influence judicial appointments

What are the different types of interest groups at work in American society?

The largest number of groups have formed around economic interests, such as business, labor, agriculture, and certain professions. Other groups have organized around specific issues, communities, or religions. Public-interest groups work for the broader public good rather than for the narrow interests of a segment of the population.

lobbying

The process by which organized interests attempt to affect the decisions and actions of public officials

Summarize public attitudes about interest groups

There is wide suspicion of interest groups, yet most people belong to one or more.

How do interest groups use the media and propaganda to influence the public?

They publish ads and celebrity promotions. They try to attract media coverage with press releases, interviews, and studies. Many use propaganda techniques

public affairs

Those issues and events that concern the people at large

lobbyist

Those people who try to persuade public officials to do those things that interest groups want them to do

What are the later results of economic changes in the US?

Today, unions are drawing a growing share of their members from sectors such as government and service workers.

Do you think government should regulate lobbyists behavior?

Yes, to prevent special interests from undermining policymaking based on the greater good and to prevent use of illegal tactics

Do you think James Madison's concerns about "factions" in The Federalist No. 10 were justified?

Yes. Well-financed interest groups, such as drug company lobbies, can influence policy with huge donations to election campaigns.

How do interest groups raise awareness of public affairs?

by publicizing policies they favor or oppose and by encouraging civic participation

What is the role of interest groups in the American political system?

create public awareness, represent members, provide information to government, offer a way to participate in politics, monitor public agencies and officials, compete with each other to influence policy

Into what category do trade unions and trade associations fall?

economic interest groups