GOVERNMENT INTEREST GROUPS Chapter 9

You will be able to … Describe the role of interest groups in influencing public policy Describe the role of interest groups in influencing public policy Compare and Contrast political parties and interest groups Compare and Contrast political parties and interest groups Describe the different types of interest groups Describe the different types of interest groups Explain how interest groups work Explain how interest groups work

What is an Interest Group? A group of individuals with common interests and seek to influence the government in some way (“Special Interests”) A group of individuals with common interests and seek to influence the government in some way (“Special Interests”) James Madison called them “factions” Did not like them, but felt they were inevitable to society. James Madison called them “factions” Did not like them, but felt they were inevitable to society.

How does an Interest Group begin? USUALLY begins as a social movement USUALLY begins as a social movement Examples-abolitionists, civil rights, women’s rights, animal rights, etc. Examples-abolitionists, civil rights, women’s rights, animal rights, etc.

Political Parties –vs- Interest Groups | Nominate Candidates Nominate Candidates Elections Elections Controlling Govt. Controlling Govt. Interested in the “who” of Interested in the “who” ofgovt. Accountable to the public Accountable to the public Focus on voters and their candidate Focus on voters and their candidate Influence policies of govt. Interested in the ”what” of govt. Private Organizations Focus on issues and what directly affects the interest of their members Political Parties Interest Groups Both are made up of people who unite for some political purpose

Types of Interest Groups Economic Economic Ideological/Single Issue Ideological/Single Issue Public Interest Public Interest Foreign Policy Foreign Policy Government Itself Government Itself Not all interest groups are mutually exclusive-some overlap into different types

Economic Interest Groups Businesses - large corporations to individual owners Businesses - large corporations to individual owners McD’s, Coke, AT&T, Microsoft, Amazon McD’s, Coke, AT&T, Microsoft, Amazon Trade & Other Associations- businesses with similar interest join together. Trade & Other Associations- businesses with similar interest join together. Chambers of Commerce Chambers of Commerce

Labor - workers associations or unions Labor - workers associations or unions Represent workers’ interestsRepresent workers’ interests Membership is low in the US compared to other industrialized countriesMembership is low in the US compared to other industrialized countries Examples-- Fraternal Order of Police, International Longshore, etc…Examples-- Fraternal Order of Police, International Longshore, etc…

Professional Associations- Professionals form of a union. Professional Associations- Professionals form of a union. Can be national or state or localCan be national or state or local American Bar Association, National Education Association, AMAAmerican Bar Association, National Education Association, AMA

IDEOLOGICAL/SINGLE ISSUE Ideological – set pattern of beliefs (conservative, liberal, libertarian…) Ideological – set pattern of beliefs (conservative, liberal, libertarian…) ACLU, Christian Coalition, Moral Majority ACLU, Christian Coalition, Moral Majority

Single Issue (more specific) Single Issue (more specific) Very adamant about position (right or left) and unwilling to compromise Very adamant about position (right or left) and unwilling to compromise NRA, Pro-Life, Pro-Choice NRA, Pro-Life, Pro-Choice

PUBLIC Interest Groups “for the public good” “for the public good” Focus on public policies that benefit all or most Americans Focus on public policies that benefit all or most Americans

FOREIGN POLICY Interest Groups To promote or oppose certain foreign policies To promote or oppose certain foreign policies Council on Foreign Relations, American-Israel Political Action Committee, National Association of Arab Americans Council on Foreign Relations, American-Israel Political Action Committee, National Association of Arab Americans

GOVERNMENT Interest Groups Government employees want to be organized and heard Government employees want to be organized and heard National Governors Association, National Education Association National Governors Association, National Education Association

How do Interest Groups Work?

Interest Groups have three goals Supply the public with information an organization thinks the people need Supply the public with information an organization thinks the people need Try to build a positive image for a group Try to build a positive image for a group To promote a particular public policy To promote a particular public policy

Propaganda Is a technique of persuasion aimed at influencing individual or group behavior Is a technique of persuasion aimed at influencing individual or group behavior Interest Groups use propaganda to create the public attitude they want Interest Groups use propaganda to create the public attitude they want Mass media encouraged the use of propaganda Mass media encouraged the use of propaganda

What do Lobbyists do? Helps provide money for members of Congress for their next campaign Helps provide money for members of Congress for their next campaign Provide two types of information: Political (who supports what) and Substantive (impact of proposed legislation) Provide two types of information: Political (who supports what) and Substantive (impact of proposed legislation)

What are Lobbyists? Employees of an association that try to influence policy decisions and positions in the government Employees of an association that try to influence policy decisions and positions in the government Revolving Door-moving from a government job to a lobbying job (common-good contacts already made) Revolving Door-moving from a government job to a lobbying job (common-good contacts already made) A former gov’t worker cannot directly lobby their former agency or office A former gov’t worker cannot directly lobby their former agency or office

Revolving Doors produce networks of people involved with certain issues. These networks are called IRON TRIANGLES. Revolving Doors produce networks of people involved with certain issues. These networks are called IRON TRIANGLES. Mutually supporting relationships among interest groups, congressional committees, and gov’t agenciesMutually supporting relationships among interest groups, congressional committees, and gov’t agencies

What are PACs? Political Action Committee is the political part of an interest group Political Action Committee is the political part of an interest group Can legally raise money for candidates or political parties from members, stockholders, or employees (of interest group) Can legally raise money for candidates or political parties from members, stockholders, or employees (of interest group)

The Growth of PACs 1970s number of PACs increased 1970s number of PACs increased About 4,000 today About 4,000 today

PAC LIMITS Federal Elections Campaign Act (1971) limits PACs to $5000 per election or $10,000 per election cycle (primary and general election) Federal Elections Campaign Act (1971) limits PACs to $5000 per election or $10,000 per election cycle (primary and general election) “Bundling” helps PACs get around the limits “Bundling” helps PACs get around the limits SOFT MONEY-PACs have no limits to contributions made to a political party for party-building purposes SOFT MONEY-PACs have no limits to contributions made to a political party for party-building purposes