Chapter 9 Interest Groups ZThe Nature of Interest Groups ZPrivate organizations Ztry to persuade public officials to respond to their members ZUnlike political parties Zdo not nominate candidates, focus on winning elections ZStimulate people to be involved in public affairs and to participate in politics ZProblem Zinfluence disproportionate to size and occasionally use unethical tactics

Role of Interest Groups Z1st Amendment Z“the right of the people to peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances” ZAllows for creation of interest groups ZGun control? ZPrayer in public school? ZIncrease in minimum wage? ZAbortion? ZGay rights?

Political Parties and Interest Groups ZBoth consist of people who unite for a purpose… ZOverlap ZImportant differences ZNominations ZPolitical parties pick ZInterest groups influence ZPrimary focus ZPolitical parties who, noun ZInterest groups what, issue ZScope ZRange of public affairs

Interest Groups… Good or Bad ZJames Madison ZThought factions were bad ZUndo influence of the few over the many ZHow stop? ZEliminate factions, eliminate freedom ZBalance, many factions ZNecessary evil

Positive attributes ZStimulate interest in public affairs ZWhy is this interest important? ZRepresent based on shared ideas not geography ZTeachers ZFarmers ZProvide the gov’t with info ZEmployment, price levels, ZVehicles for political participation ZOne mom vs MADD ZChecks and Balances ZKeep tabs on public agencies ZCompete ZLimit power of each other ZClean air act? ZAuto industry -vs- environmental

Negative Attributes ZInfluence ZProportion to size? ZDependant on how organized and financed not size… ZRepresentation ZWho and how many? ZThe world will never know ZViews ZNot all ways represent views of all their members ZNormally driven by a small active few ZTactics ZBribery, threats, violence Zabortion

Shapes and Sizes ZMembership ZThousands, millions, hand full ZFoundation ZEconomic interest ZBusiness Zlabor ZIdeas ZGay rights ZWelfare ZProtections of certain groups ZVeterans, seniors, homeless ZMultiple ZCan belong to many groups

Groups based on Economic Interests: how people make their money Part One ZBusiness ZExamples ZNAM: National Association of Manufacturers ZBig business ZChamber of Commerce ZSmaller businesses ZBusiness Roundtable Z150 chief executive officers ZTrade Associations ZAmerican trucking association, American Restaurant Association

Groups based on Economic Interests: how people make their money Part Two ZLabor ZExamples ZAFL: American Federation of Labor ZFOP: Fraternal Order of Police ZChapters in each state ZNot always see eye to eye with National chapter

Groups based on Economic Interests: how people make their money Part Three ZAgriculture ZExamples ZNational Grange ZOldest, Most conservative ZFocus on welfare of families ZNorth east and Mid Atlantic States ZAmerican Farm Bureau ZLargest, Most powerful ZMidwest Zopposing gov’t regulation Z“Let us do our job” ZNational Farmers Union ZStrength from smaller less fortunate farmers ZDirty Farmers ZUpper Mid West and West

Groups based on Economic Interests: how people make their money Part Four ZCertain professions ZRequire extensive training and specialization ZMedicine, law, teaching ZExamples ZAMA: American Medical Association ZDoctors ZABA: American Bar Association ZLawyers ZNEA: National Education Association ZTeachers ZTrue impact ZWhy would these organizations have influence upon public policies disproportionate to their size?

Groups based on Economic Interests: how people make their money Part Five ZPromote Causes ZWelfare of Certain Groups ZAmerican Legion: vets (police action) ZVeterans of Foreign Wars: Vets ZNAACP: National Association for the Advancement of Colored People ZReligious organizations ZNCC: National Council of Churches Zprotestants ZADL: Anti-Defamation League ZJews ZPublic Interest Groups ZUnlike other groups focus on benefiting all Americans ZPublic Good, health

It is that time again…. ZObjectives ZAs you read pages answer the following questions ZExplain the three major goals that Interests Groups have in influencing public opinion. ZDescribe how interest groups use propaganda to persuade people to their point of view. ZAnalyze how interest groups try to influence political parties and elections. ZExamine how lobbying brings group pressures to bear on the process of making public policy.

Group Work  Casey, Kyle and Ryckewaert, Rickallen  Chang Fatt, Amanda and Bonhomme, Stanley  Cintron, Melanie and Cordero, Briana  Cuevas, Rachel and Urrutia, Mayori  Dundov, Nikolas and Vega-Ramirez, Alicia  Elias, Anthony and Smith, Kyle  Fernandez, Alexis and Greenberg, Kelsey  Hughes, Jonathan and Candelaria, Jose  Jean Pierre, Shirley and Kitt, Nicklette  Johnson, Jelincie and Masten, Lequan  Luciano, Angela and Rivera, Jordan  Monaco, Sabrina and Ramkalawan, Rishi  Mondestin, Velande and Speid, Stephen  Shelton, Aaron and Murphy, Dustyn  St Fort, Melinda and Holyfield, Frederick  Maharaj, Joey and Mr. Frank

Each group will create a presentation on the following four points, two per student Key Point: focus on the rubric that I provide you ZExplain the three major goals that Interests Groups have in influencing public opinion. ZDescribe how interest groups use propaganda to persuade people to their point of view. ZAnalyze how interest groups try to influence political parties and elections. ZExamine how lobbying brings group pressures to bear on the process of making public policy.