Chapter 11: Interest Groups

Factors of Interest Groups Broad Economic developments. Farmers They are a good example of this. They became politically active after they began producing cash crops.

Factors of Interest Groups Government Policy can occur when the government promotes action like the American Farm Bureau Federations creation, which would serve the needs of the farmers after the Civil War.

Factors of Interest Groups Social Circumstance can occur when someone exercises leadership at his or her own personal cost, like the Christian Gospel movement, which opposed Darwinism. Washington Gladden, one of the founders of the Social Gospel Movement.

Factors of Interest Groups More activities undertaken by the government leads to more organized groups.

Kinds of Organizations Interest groups are any organization that seeks to influence public policy. Institutional Interests are individuals or organizations representing other organizations.

Kinds of Organizations Incentives to Join Free Riders (people who benefit that don’t join) are problems to incentive groups.

Kinds of Organizations Incentives to Join Incentives Solidary occurs when people gain a sense of companionship from membership. Material ones are benefits (cash/goods/services) from joining. Purposive are ones that appeal to a person’s goals or beliefs (mainly achieved by ideological interest groups).

Kinds of Organizations Public-interest lobbies Commonly benefit nonmembers They also do best when the government is in the hands of a hostile administration. The most liberal public-interest groups are those associated with Ralph Nader.

Social Movements A social movement is defined a widely shared demand for change.

Social Movements Examples Environmental Feminist

Social Movements Examples Union In the U.S., there has been a shift away from industrial production. Government workers are the most important union members today in the U.S.

Funding for Interest Groups Foundation Grants Federal Grants and Contracts Direct Mail

Activities of Interest Groups Information They supply credible information. Identify political cues What is at stake in an issue? How it fits in a politicians agenda.

Activities of Interest Groups Earmarks are laws that can directly benefit a client without having to be reviewed by all of Congress. They can apply pressure to politicians.

Activities of Interest Groups They can create PACs (political action committees) that can raise money for politicians.