How to Affect Public Policy Interest Groups How to Affect Public Policy

What are interest groups? An interest group is a collection of people who share certain views on public matters and works to shape public policy to their benefit

What do Interest Groups want? They don’t nominate candidates, but they do attempt to affect the outcomes of elections Political parties want to win elections, interest groups look to control the public policy of the gov’t (More concerned with WHAT than WHO) Only interested in what affects the members of their group

What do Interest Groups do? 1. Make the public aware and interested in public affairs that may affect them 2. Use specific information to inform the government of the needs and concern of its members 3. Represent members by shared attitudes instead of geography

What do Interest Groups do? (cont.) 4. Can act as a way for more people to get involved in the political process 5. Can act as a watchdog on what politicians or the government is up to 6. Compete with other interest groups for the limited time and money of the government

Economic Interest Groups Business groups: Look after the interests of business owners. Lower taxes, tariff issues, labor law. Trade associations usually focus on one industry Labor Unions: organization of workers who share the same type of job or work in the same industry. Most were industrial workers, but also trades, service industries, and public sector (gov’t workers) Often focus on Social Security, minimum wages, and unemployment. Unions have fought for 5 day work weeks and 8 hour work days.

Agricultural Groups: The Grange, The Farm Bureau, and National Farmers Union, but also specific farm products like cattle, milk, or wheat Professional Associations: Jobs that require extensive formal training and gov’t licensing: doctor, teachers, and lawyers

Other Interest Groups Issue-Oriented Groups: examples American Civil Liberties Union, League of Women, Sierra Club, National Right-to-Life Committee, Planned Parenthood, National Rifle Association Organizations for Specific Groups: NAACP, AARP, VFW, etc Religious Groups: Christian Coalition, National Council of Churches, Anti-Defamation League

Lobbying Lobbying: Organized interests try to affect the decisions and actions of public officials Wherever public policy is made, lobbyists can be found Most are professionals paid by their groups to push their agendas to politicians Often testify at committee hearings

In exchange for supporting their positions, lobbyists will often make campaign contributions, provide information, write speeches and even draft legislation for politicians Special interest groups often pay for ads/propaganda to sway public opinions around elections and proposed laws Help friendly politicians win re-election