Interest GroupsChapter 18

Purpose: Communicate “wants” to government leaders – influence public policy1.Share common goals and organize to influence government2.Address specific problems or issues in society3.Unite like-minded people from all over the country 4.Derive strength in numbers

• Government will respond better to large groups than individuals

• They have access to more money• Organization• http://thecolbertreport.cc.com/videos/2hdefm/better-know-a-lobby---american-meat-institute

Defining Interest GroupsDefining Interest Groups

Why Join? Why Join?

• Economic interests• Individual beliefs, values, or attitudes

(political ideology)•Non-political (social)

•Upper income levels•Who is looking out for the rest of us?

Who Joins? Who Joins?

Types of Interest GroupsTypes of Interest Groups• Business and Labor

• (AFL-CIO, National Association of Manufacturers, United Mine Workers)

• Agricultural Groups• (NFU – National Farmers’ Union)

• Others• Professional (ABA), Environmental (Sierra

Club, Greenpeace), Public Interest (Common Cause), Government

How does an Interest How does an Interest Group influence PolicyGroup influence Policy

• Generating Public Pressure – trying to influence the government by using public opinion on an issue

• Hiring professional Lobbyists• Using Constituents as Lobbyists (letter-

writing campaigns)• Media Campaign• Building Alliances – forming partnerships

with groups who share a policy goal

Limitations of Interest Limitations of Interest GroupsGroups

•Different groups have different, sometimes conflicting goals

• Larger Interest Groups have more diverse interests

• Smaller Interest Groups have more narrow goals

• Laws to avoid corruption

Interest Groups: Interest Groups: The The PositivePositive

• Individual citizens can influence government beyond just voting

• Increase the interest and participation of voters

• Gives minority groups access to all branches of the government

• Continued expansion of interest groups is expected

Interest Groups: Interest Groups: The The NegativeNegative

• Power of interest groups greater than ever before

• Raise and spend large sums of money to support candidates and parties, • This support buys access and the internet is

a great tool for rallying the troops• Also provide endorsements to candidates

during campaigns: ____________________• Open Secrets

Major Special Interest Major Special Interest GroupsGroups

• National Association for the Advancement of Colored People http://www.naacp.org

• American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organization http://www.aflcio.org

• American Medical Association

http://www.ama-assn.org/• National Education Association

http://www.nea.org/

Influencing Public PolicyInfluencing Public PolicyLobbyistsLobbyists

•What is lobbying?•Direct contact with lawmakers or

government leaders•What is a lobbyist?•Representative of an interest group•Therefore serves as direct influence by

an Interest Group• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBELC_vxqhI

Who is a Lobbyist?Who is a Lobbyist?• Individual paid by an interest

group• By law, must register with Congress• By law, must file reports to disclose

activities• By law, must estimate salary from the group

they represent

• Revolving Door: Many lobbyists are former government officials

What Does a Lobbyist What Does a Lobbyist Do?Do?• Meets with Congressmen and women

• Provide reports, statistics, and other relevant information

• Testify before congressional committees during hearings or investigations

• Help members of Congress draft bills

Stuff I forgot to explain• Cloture-means to bring an end to

floor debate. It is used to stop a filibuster in the Senate. (No cloture rule in the House) But cloture is rarely used because it takes a 3/5 vote of the Senate to invoke cloture, which is hard to get.