Business Groups Businessmen have often looked to the government to promote their interests Most form to protect their trade from being taxed or to encourage taxes on foreign competition United States Brewers’ Association Formed in 1862, it is the oldest organized interest group working in national politics Created in response to the first national tax on beer Nearly every segment of the business community now has its own trade association (i.e. American Bankers Association) Business groups do not always cooperate and often compete against each other

Labor Groups Labor unions are formed by workers who share the same type of job or work in the same industry Labor unions have dramatically declined in membership over time, but their strength in politics is as strong as ever At their peak in the 1940s, unions accounted for about 35% of all workers Unions represent less than 14% of all workers today Many unions work together as members of the American Federation of Labor – Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), but many unions work independently Free-rider Problem

Agricultural Groups Farming was once the leading occupation in the United States Today, fewer than 5 million people (less than 2% of all Americans) live on farms Farmers continue to exercise enormous influence through many different associations The American Farm Bureau Federation

Professional Groups Professions are those occupations that require extensive and specialized training Not as large or influential as the business, labor, or farm groups Three major professional groups American Medical Association (250,000 doctors are members) American Bar Association (400,000 lawyers are members) National Education Association (2.7 million teachers are members, not all of them willingly) Professional groups lobby the government for their professional interests (i.e. doctors attempting to limit damages in lawsuits, etc.)

Issue-Oriented Groups Hundreds of groups exist to promote a single cause or idea American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) Uses the court system to redefine civil and political rights Common Cause Promotes major reforms in the political process League of Women Voters Attempts to spread knowledge and interest in public affairs Other examples National Wildlife Federation National Right-to-Life Committee Planned Parenthood National Rifle Association

Groups that Promote a Certain Group/Demographic Veterans (i.e. American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars) Senior Citizens (i.e. AARP) Minorities (i.e. NAACP)

Religious Organizations Catholics – National Catholic Welfare Council Protestants – Christian Coalition, National Council of Churches Jews – Anti-Defamation League, American Jewish Congress

Public Interest Groups Whatever their priorities might be, many groups claim to be “public interest groups,” working for the good of all Works for the best interests of the overall community, rather than one segment Common Cause, League of Women Voters, Ralph Nader Public Citizen, Inc.

How Do Interest Groups Work? Direct Approach Indirect Approach Electioneering

1. Direct Approach Involves immediate, face-to-face contacts with policy makers Lobbying —bringing group pressures to bear directly on public policy makers Attempt to affect the decisions and actions of public officials Lobbyists are often former Congressman or other knowledgeable professionals Help to educate Congress through testimony and other means Most lobbyists are professionals; some are freelancers or “hired guns;” some are hired full-time

Lobbying Congress Congress is prime place for making public policy Most efforts aimed at standing committees of the House and Senate Lobbyists testify before congressional committees and regularly submit prepared statements that set out their organization’s views on proposed legislation Write speeches, draft legislation Credibility is important—thus information is typically very accurate

Lobbying Executive Branch More specific details of the laws enacted by Congress are left to the executive branch Most focus on senior aides in the White House (difficult to get access to President) Director of Public Liaison works to nurture good relationships with major interest groups

Lobbying and the Courts NAACP brought Brown v. Topeka BoE to Supreme Court ACLU regularly takes on unpopular cases Amicus curiae (“friend of the court”) brief Not a party in the case BUT has a stake in the outcome Written arguments presented to court in support of one side of an issue Try to influence selection of federal judges as it relates to a specific issue (abortion, gun rights)

2. Indirect Approach Grassroots efforts Shaping public opinion Propaganda

Grassroots efforts Grass roots means the average voters and “folks back home” – the Congressman’s constituents Average voters support lobbyists through letters, phone calls, s, etc. AARP uses grass-roots methods the most effectively (older population) Internet/Cyberspace increasingly affects indirect lobbying Blogs list Cost-effective

Shaping Public Opinion Media ads work to favorably advance the image of the organization Produce a flood of press releases, interviews, studies, hoping to attract media coverage

Propaganda Propaganda is a technique of persuasion that aims to influence individual or group behaviors The belief may be true or false, or somewhere in between People tend to think of propagandists as liars or deceivers, but that is not always the case The mass media in this country facilitate the dissemination of propaganda

Propaganda Techniques 1.Begin with a conclusion 2.Present all evidence in support of the conclusion 3.Ignore or diminish all evidence contrary to the conclusion 4.Make your message simple, interesting, and credible 5.Appeal to your audience through the use of positive symbols or celebrity testimonials 6.Always represent your side as representing the majority (“bandwagon approach”) or the common man (“plain folks approach”) 7.Use pejorative terms (name calling) to describe your opponents (i.e. That sounds like Hitler!)

3. Electioneering Interest groups helping candidates win office Once elected, the candidates can shape legislation and allocate money to meet the needs of the interest groups Political Action Committees Huge source of campaign funding for candidates—but contributions are limited by law Super PACs—PACs unaffiliated with any political party Cannot work directly with campaign Must reveal donors Can raise/spend unlimited amounts

What is a Sub-Government or Iron Triangle? Iron Triangle: An alliance between an interest group and some area of the economy, congressional committee, and an executive department or agency