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Published byCody Simon Modified over 7 years ago
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Interest Groups: Definitions An organization of people who enter the political process to try and achieve their shared goals (Herzog and Wood, 2009) A set of individuals who are organized to promote a shared political interest (Patterson, 2005)
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Types of Membership Institutional businesses, corporations, universities, foundations, governments Individual groups that represent individuals (NOW, NAACP, NRA, Christian Coalition)
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Interest Groups v. Political Parties Parties nominate candidates for office Parties focus on a broad range of issues Parties compete for control over legislative and executive branches; interest groups compete over influence over elected oficials
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PACs and 527s PACs (political action committees) fundraising portion of an individual interest group Increased significantly since the Campaign Reform Act of 1974 which limited individual contributions to candidates About 4000, most represent corporations or business interests 527s “tax-exempt organizations created primarily to influence the nomination, election, appointment, or defeat of candidates for public office”(Herzog and Wood, 2009, p. 103) Not regulated by the FEC
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Types of Interest Groups Economic Groups Business Groups Chamber of Commerce Labor Groups Agricultural Groups Professional Groups Advantages of Economic Groups Access to financial resources Material incentives (private goods) vs. purposive incentives (public goods)
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Types of Interest Groups Non-Economic Groups (Purposive Incentives) Public Interest Groups work for best interests of the public; consumer advocacy groups, League of Women Voters, Common Cause Single Issue Groups NRA, Sierra Club Ideological Groups broad agenda deriving from a philosophical or moral position(Equality and Justice Interests) NOW, NAACP, Christian Coalition
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Governments as Interest Groups Foreign governments hire lobbyists, but can’t contribute money to elections States (individual as well as Council of State Governments, National Governors Conference) Cities (individual as well as U.S. Conference of Mayors)
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Interest Group Funding Direct solicitations Federal grants and contracts Foundation grants (especially public interest groups)
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Tactics of Interest Groups Lobbying Electioneering Litigation Appealing to the Public The “ratings game”
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Interest Group Theory Madisonian Dilemma Elite Theory Pluralist Theory Hyperpluralism
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Regulation of Interest Groups Regulation of Lobbying Act 1946 Federal Election Campaign Act of 1974 Ethics in Government Act 1978 Federal Regulation of Lobbying Act of 1995 Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (2002) Honest Leadership and Open Government Act (2007)
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Characteristics of an Effective Interest Group Size Intensity Financial Resources
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Interest Group Influence Iron triangles Issue networks Revolving door
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Interest Group Proliferation Characteristics of American Government (more points of access) Characteristics of American Parties Characteristics of American Elections
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