Chapter NineInterest Groups

American Government and Politics: Deliberation, Democracy, and Citizenship

Chapter Nine: Learning Objectives

• Define what interest groups are

• Explain different ways by which they take form and sustain themselves

• Distinguish economic and policy groups, and discuss their role in deliberative democracy

Chapter Nine: Learning Objectives

• Identify ways in which interest groups attempt to influence public policy

• Analyze potential tensions between citizenship and interest group politics

Introduction

Are there differences between special interests and interest groups?

What roles do interest groups play in a deliberative democracy?

Creating and Sustaining Interest Groups

Why do interest groups form?

• Economic changes

• Social changes

• Political changes

Creating and Sustaining Interest Groups

The free rider problem is one barrier to group formation. One way groups overcome the free rider problem is by offering selective incentives.

What are some selective incentives groups may offer to gain members?

Myths and Misinformation

Lincoln and special interests

Both conservative and liberal interest groups have claimed Abraham Lincoln would have supported their causes based on quotes mistakenly attributed to Lincoln.

Economic Interests

Types of economic groups

1. Business firms

2. Trade and professional associations

3. Organized labor

International Perspectives

Union membership

The labor movement has been weaker in the United States as compared to other developed nations.

Why do you believe the labor movement has been weak in America?

Policy Groups

Policy groups are different than economic groups. They are sometimes called ideological interest groups or public interest groups.

How are policy groups different from economic groups?

Policy Groups

Types of policy groups

1. 501 (c)(3) groups

2. Political action committees

3. Section 527 groups

Membership and Funding

Interest groups have, in the past, focused on grassroots organization in order to grow, but group formation is changing.

Today, many groups have formed through soliciting money from foundations or individuals.

Policy Groups and Political Controversies

Some of the most well-known policy groups focus on controversial issues such as firearms policy, abortion policy, civil rights, and civil liberties.

Policy and economic groups are just one way citizens may participate in deliberation.

Methods of Influence

How do interest groups try to achieve their political goals?

Do the techniques of influence used by interest groups contribute to deliberative democracy? How?

Methods of Influence

Methods of influence

1. Direct lobbying

2. Grassroots, air wars and grasstops

3. Campaign finance

Methods of Influence

Methods of influence

4. Campaign finance

5. Philanthropy

6. Legal action

Methods of Influence

Methods of influence

7. Protest

Courtesy of Students for a Free Tibet; www.studentsforafreetibet.org

Methods of Influence: Direct Lobbying

Direct lobbying

• What are the differences between in-house and contract lobbyists?

• Explain the revolving door concept

Pledges and Promises

Code of ethics

The American League of Lobbyists adopted a code of ethics in 2003.

Do you believe it is important for lobbyists to abide by the code? Why?

Methods of Influence: Grassroots, Air Wars, and Grasstops

Grassroots, air wars, and grasstops

• What are the differences between grassroots and grasstops lobbying?

• What are air wars?

Methods of Influence: Campaign Finance

Campaign finance

• What are the differences between a connected PAC and a nonconnected PAC?

• Explain bundling and why groups do it

• What were problems with soft money?

Methods of Influence: Philanthropy and Legal Action

Philanthropy

• Why would an interest group participate in philanthropic activities?

Legal action

• What are amicus curiae briefs?

Methods of Influence: Protest

Protest

• Do protests contribute to deliberative democracy in a positive or negative way? Explain.

Joe Raedle/Getty Images News/Getty Images

Interest Groups and Deliberative Democracy

Foreign governments have hired lobbyists to influence American policy.

Does lobbying by foreign governments undermine the idea that a purpose of deliberative democracy is to serve the common interests of Americans?

Interest Groups and Deliberative Democracy

What do critics of interest groups have to say about interest group activity and deliberative democracy?

What do supporters of interest groups have to say about interest group activity and deliberative democracy?

Deliberation, Citizenship, and You

Students as interest groups

Students are affected by many policy issues and have been involved in interest group activity, especially related to education policy.

Summary

• Interest groups try to influence policy

• Two categories of groups – economic and policy

• Groups use many techniques of influence

• Debates continue about role of groups in a deliberative democracy