1. Interest Groups
Linkage Institutions

2. How do interest groups link people to the government?
Linkage Institutions
Interest Groups
How do interest groups link people to the government?

3. Interest Groups vs Political Parties

4. Interest Groups vs. Parties Political Parties Interest Groups 100
WIN ELECTIONS
100
INFLUENCE POLICY
Control WHO the government is
Control WHAT the government does

5. Interest Groups vs. Parties Political Parties Interest Groups 100
Policy Generalists
100
Policy Specialists
Know a little bit about all policies
Know everything about only 1 policy

6. Interest Groups vs. Parties Political Parties Interest Groups 100
Are flexible on policy stances
100
Are based on a policy stance that does not change
They adopt policies because they are supported by voters
They support parties because they are likely to enact desired policy

7. Interest Groups vs. Parties Political Parties Interest Groups 100
Represent you in government based on where you live
100
Represent you in government based on what you believe
Its supporters are loyal to the party
Its supporters have temporary party loyalty because of their stances

8. Interest Groups vs. Parties Political Parties Interest Groups 100
Depend on appealing to as many people as possible
100
Focus on appealing to a narrow group of people
The bigger they are, the more successful they become
They tend to become less effective the bigger the group becomes

9. Interest Groups vs. Parties Political Parties Interest Groups 100
Are viewed as a necessary part of politics
100
Are often viewed negatively by the average voter
Everything they do is seen as playing the “game” of politics
What they do is often viewed as “corruption”

10. RUN CANDIDATES FOR OFFICE IN ELECTIONS
Interest Groups
vs. Parties
Political Parties
Interest Groups
RUN CANDIDATES FOR OFFICE IN ELECTIONS
100
DON’T DO THAT

11. Functions of Interest Groups

12. Interest Groups Functions Linkage Institution
They link the people to the government by allowing them to organize and advocate directly to policy members about their policy preferences.
They provide people with an alternative to political parties that can also communicate their wishes to the govt.
They allow people to participate in government by focusing only on the issues they actually care about

13. Interest Groups Functions Influence Policy Making
This is the main function of the interest group
Everything else they do is secondary to this goal.

14. Interest Groups Functions Control Policy
They want input in the policies that are passed by the government
They do not care WHO runs the government, just what laws they pass
They will suggest policies
They may even write the policies themselves

15. Interest Groups Functions Inform the Public
They work to get people to change their opinions about polices
They will advertise directly to people
The long term goal here is that the people who care will put pressure on policy makers to change the policy

16. Interest Groups Functions Inform the Policy Makers
Often called “lobbying” – they attempt to persuade lawmakers
They offer expertise to the policy makers since they are “policy specialists”
They may suggest actual policies
They may suggest effective ways to discuss policies publicly
They may suggest strategies for passing polciies

17. Interest Groups Functions Raise Funds
They raise money from their members to fund their activities
They will donate much of this money to political candidates they like.
In order to do so they must form a PAC and register so their members know where their money goes
These donations are a big source of influence over the policy makers.

18. They allow groups of individuals to advocate for what they want.
Interest Groups
Functions
Provide a Voice
They allow groups of individuals to advocate for what they want.
They amplify a persons freedom of speech by making them part of a group
They represent you in government based on WHAT you believe in, not based on where your address is.

19. Interest Groups Functions Control Public Opinion
They attempt to persuade the public
They focus on maintaining a positive image within the public
They want people to think of them as a good force in politics (in order to attract more members)

20. They organize people to participate in politics
Interest Groups
Functions
Mobilize People
They organize people to participate in politics
They may endorse a candidate to get the group to vote as a big block of voters
They may get people to rally in public as a way to show how much support their issue has and pressure lawmakers

21. Interest Groups in Society

22. If an individual has freedom of speech, doesn’t a group of them?
Interest Groups
Constitution
In the Constitution
Freedom of Speech
If an individual has freedom of speech, doesn’t a group of them?
Freedom of Assembly
People have the right to organize in groups and assemble together to advocate their wishes

23. Interest Groups Constitution Federalist 10
Interest Groups are a faction!
They want what’s best for their members – not what’s best for the country as a whole
They can’t be prevented but we can control their effects….
By having several other groups around to compete with them

24. Interest Groups Pluralism Pluralism
Society is a collection of groups, each pursuing their own interests.
Groups compete with one another to achieve their interests
Competing groups serve as a check on other groups, keeping them from becoming too powerful or getting all of their goals achieved
Some groups are stronger than others, but smaller groups can form coalitions

25. Interest Groups Pluralism Pluralism
Business groups are powerful and rich, and argue for deregulation
Environmental groups appeal to more people and have support among the public
Consumer protection groups are less visible, but effective in lobbying
Environmental groups & consumer protection groups can work together to keep business interests in check.

26. Interest Groups Pluralism Hyperpluralism
A more critical view of pluralism
Groups have all the power in government, the govt can get nothing done because of them.
Lawmaking grinds to a halt because the powerful groups prevent anything from passing that harms their interests
The government is ineffective because of the groups

27. Congress refuses to pass any laws that would limit gun rights
Interest Groups
Pluralism
Hyperpluralism
Following Sandy Hook school shooting, 90% of Americans support bans on semiautomatic weapons
Congress refuses to pass any laws that would limit gun rights
Many Congressmen get large donation from the NRA every election, and depend on these to keep winning
The govt cant do what the people want because the interest group has more sway over the lawmakers

28. Interest Groups Pluralism Hyperpluralism
The American health care system is a mess. Obama wants to change it.
Insurance companies don’t want any changes that hurts their profits
Pharmaceutical companies and the AMA don’t want any policies that lead to their members making less money
The govt makes policies that makes these groups happy and the voters are left with reform that they are not happy with.

29. Bigly Ideas
Beliefs & Behaviors

30. Effects of Third Parties
History
Wrap Up
Effects of Third Parties
Types of Third Parties
2000 Election
Third Party Elections
Focus on these things: