Interest Groups 2.0 Fitz-AP Gov

Focus: What do you get out of joining a Facebook group? How many do you belong to?

People Groups

What Are Interest Groups? Interest Group (simple definition) organization of people with similar policy goals that tries to influence the political process Influence every branch and every level of government.

3 VIEWS ON GROUPS James Madison and Federalist #10 The open nature of the American government invites organized political participation.- Market of ideas

1. Pluralist theory Groups are good. Representation is equal.

1. Disadvantages to those who are not organized. 2. some interests have more power than others. 3. no room for consideration of transcendent national interests. Pluralism and its Critics

2. Hyperpluralist theory Too many groups getting too much of what they want

3. Elitist theory Only a few groups have power. Mainly the wealthy.

The Iron Triangle* Congressional Committees Interest GroupsGovernment Agencies

Gives electoral support to Gives campaign contributions to Supplies information to

Gives access to Passes friendly legislation for

Congressional support through lobbying

Low regulation, special favors, contracts

Gives funding and political support to

Carries out policy for Provides constituent services for

Why are large groups unsuccessful? Consumer group files lawsuit Former 24 Hour Fitness Members Benefit $20 for yours truly…for doing nothing

Olson says… The the group the further it will short of providing an optimal amount of a collective good

Free-rider problem Why join ? when everyone benefits from…

Selective or material benefits

Solidarity benefits

Purposeful benefits

What Do Interest Groups Do? A Lobbyists is someone whose task it is to influence legislation or policymaking. Lobbyists have to be: –Honest –Persuasive –Well-connected in order to be efficient

Interest Groups Techniques Direct Techniques: Lobbying –Private meetings –Testifying –Drafting Legislation –Social Occasions –Providing Political Info –Supplying Nomination suggestions Indirect techniques: Generating Public Pressure –Use Constituents as Lobbyists –Building Alliances with other groups

What Makes an Interest Group Successful? In general three factors tend to lead to interest group success: 1.Leaders 2.Patrons and Funding –Without money, it is hard to get your message out. 3.Members – a group must have members to be successful. Organizing members allows for strength in numbers and pooling of financial support.

Criticism Interest Groups Interest Groups have been criticized for Ignoring the wider interest of society Producing confusion and deadlock in Congress Generating so much emotion that they make reasoned discussion difficult Having too much influence

Important Points to Think About Interest Groups Promote interest in public affairs Provide useful information Serve as watchdogs Represent the interest of Citizens

Interest Groups 2.0 What is an interest group- Pluralist theoryHyperpluralist theory Elitist theoryOlson’s Law Free-rider problemSelective or material benefits Purposeful benefits What do interest groups do?Lobbying- Direct techniques-Indirect techniques- Recipe for success-Criticism of interest groups-