1. Interest Groups 11/21/2011

2. Clearly Communicated Learning Objectives in Written Form Upon completion of this course, students will be able to: – discuss and critically analyze political events in the United States government – students will be able to identify and explain the role of informal institutions and their effect on policy.

3. Office Hours and Readings Chapter 7 Office Hours – None on Thursday – Monday 8-10:30

4. "In no country of the world, has the principle of association been more successfully used or applied to a greater multitude of objects than in America“ Alexis de Tocqueville

5. The Interest Groups in the Constitution No specific mention Feared by the framers Lets pray that Madison is right

6. WHAT DO INTEREST GROUPS DO

7. All interest Groups Must: Share an interest Know the Interest Be Organized

8. Political Interest Groups Are private Non-Governmental Seek policy

9. What do they Do Link Members to Government Represent Members views Educate members and the publicpublic

10. WHY INTEREST GROUPS FORM

11. Constitutional Reasons Protected by the First Amendment The right to “peaceably assemble” Federalism

12. Diversity Our diverse society creates many differences which give rise to different interests and view on public issues – Issue Diversity – Ideological Diversity – Economic Diversity – Racial and Ethnic Diversity

13. Traditional Pluralist Theory Writings of David Truman (no relation to Harry) Groups will form naturally to press their views on government Even Unformed groups play a role

14. Disturbance Theory Groups will respond to other groups What will they do – Change the Status Quo – Return to the status quo – Go in a new Direction

15. THE LOGIC OF COLLECTIVE ACTION An Alternate theory of Group Formation

16. Collective Action The Writings of Mancur Olson Groups form if it is convenient Groups form for Benefits

17. Logistics of Group Formation Potential Membership – Big groups form more easily (fewer costs) – Small groups have to share less (more benefits) Geography (not as important today)

18. Direct Benefits Benefits that only members get Excludes Non-members Economic benefits are most lucrative

19. Collective benefits Benefits that the group works for.... Everyone gets No One is Denied

20. Groups that Provide Collective Benefits

21. Overcoming the Free-Rider Problem You have to offer people some incentive to join Appeal to our greed, or appeal to our ideology These are selective incentives

22. Selective Incentives Tangible Benefits Real benefits given to members by the group People outside of the group do not get the goodies The AARPAARP Ideological Benefits Moral incentives Appeals to one’s ideology Guilt-ing PeoplePeople

23. Groups that cannot offer any benefits will not be able to form

24. KINDS OF INTEREST GROUPS

25. Private Interest Groups Limit their Membership and their benefits Business Groups Labor Unions Labor

26. Public Interest Groups Concerned with that group’s perception of the general welfare of the population Anyone can join Everyone receives the benefits

27. Single Issue Groups Concerned with a single policy issue Ensures that members know what they do

28. Umbrella Groups Concerned with multiple issues within a larger policy area Potential for more resources Potential for in-fighting

29. Interest Groups Today Fragmentation Specialization Cannibalization – Greenpeace vs. Whale Wars Wars

30. COMPONENTS OF INTEREST GROUP POWER

31. Money and Size This is a recursive relationship There is a problem of being “too big”

32. Cohesion and Intensity Does the group stick together Are the members willing to fight for the interests of the group

33. Access The Number one goal of an interest group If no one hears your message, it is wasted