1. The Rise and Role of Interest Groups
Linkage Institutions #5

2. The Primary Goal of Interest Groups
An interest group is an organization of people sharing a common interest or goal that seeks to influence public policy
Organization: Interest Groups are organized. There is a structure with a heirarchy.
Common Interest: Interest Groups can have one narrow interest (NRA) or a broader range (Sierra Club).
Influence Public Policy: Interest Groups attempt to get the government to pass (or not pass) laws that impact their interests.

3. Factors That Promote Interest Groups
Size and Diversity of the Country
Decentralized Power
Number of Nonprofit Organizations
Increasing Weakness of Parties
Variety of Ethnic Groups
Diversity of Religious Groups
Separation of Powers
Federalism

4. Birth and Proliferation of Interest Groups
1770s: Independence Groups
1830s: Religious/Anti-Slave
1860s: Trade Unions, Grange Movement
1880s: Business Associations
1960s: Environmental, Consumer, Political Reform
1973s: Birth of PACs. By 1990s Six times as many PACs as in the 1970s

5. Why such growth?
Broad Economic Developments Create New Interests and Redefine Old Interests
Farmers became politically active
Mass-Production Industries lead to unions
Government Policy
Wars create Veterans who demand benefits
Strong Leaders in Social Movements
Religious Revival (1830s) Civil Rights (1960s)
Expanding Role of Government
Public Interest Lobbies as government involves itself in more areas.

6. Types of Interest Groups
Institutional Interests
Membership Interests
Individuals or Organizations representing other organizations
Business Firms: General Motors
Trade or Governmental Associations
Focus on issues of central concern to clients
Groups supported by the individual members
Americans are just as likely as the British to join social, business, professional, veterans, or charitable groups.
Less likely to join unions
More likely to join religious, political, or civic groups due to greater sense of political efficacy

7. Why Join Interest Groups (Incentives)
All interest groups deal with the Free Rider problem.
Free riders are persons in the general public who benefit from the efforts without joining the organization (no financial or membership effort)
Reasons
Solidary Incentives
Material Incentives
Purposive Incentives

8. Solidary Incentives
People join for the companionship, pleasure, or status benefits given by the group
Occurs when the national organization structure themselves as a coalition of the small local units
Facilitated by importance of local government

9. Material Incentives
People join to gain money, things, and services that are a benefit to its members
To increase benefits these groups try to influence how laws are administered

10. Purposive Incentives
People join based on the goals of the organization
Benefits usually enjoyed by non-members but people still join due to
Passion about goals of the organization
Strong sense of civic duty
Cost to join is minimal

11. Impact of Staff
The staff influences the group’s policy agenda if the solidary or material benefits are more important to the members than the purposive goals. Staff opinions may be quite different from members’ opinions (Teacher’s Unions?)

12. Social Movements/Interest Groups
Social Movement: A widely shared demand for change in the social or political order. Can be liberal or conservative.
Tea Party: Began as a focus on restraining government growth

13. The Environmental Movement
A social movement can increase the value some people attach to purposive incentives
The Environmental Movement highlights general lessons about social movemements
Movement can spawn numerous organizations
More extreme organizations will be smaller and more activist
More moderate organizations will be larger and less activist
Overtime the movement has been fragmented with differing approaches splitting the focus of the movement.

14. The Feminist Movement Highlights various types of Interest Groups
Solidary (LWV, Business and Professional Women’s Federation)
Middle-class educated women
Avoid issues that divide membership or limit access (partisanship, abortion)
Purposive (NOW, NARAL)
Highly activist organization that takes strong positions on divisive issues
Internal controversy is common
Local organizations independent from national group
Material (Women’s Equality Action League)
Addresses specific issues of material benefit (Equal Pay)

15. Funding for Interest Groups
Foundation Grants
Government Grants
Direct-mail solicitation of members
On-line appeals and donations

16. Parties and Interest Groups
Both are linkage institutions (links average citizen with government activities)
But differ in fundamental goals
Parties: Elect members to government
Interest Groups: Influence policy of government
Interest Groups can often work as a support system to help parties achieve their goals

17. Parties and Interest Groups
Interest Groups can support parties through…
Monetary Contributions
Mobilization of Voters
Media Campaigns
Providing Information
Independent Expenditures
Endorsement of Candidates