1. Chap 11 Day 2- Aim: How do Interest Groups effect American politics?
Do Now- PAIR/SHARE 1) What is the cartoonists’ attitude toward Citizens United?
2) Why would s/he feel this way?

2. Buckley v. Valeo, (1976)
A case in which the Supreme Court of the United States upheld a federal law which set limits on campaign contributions, but
Ruled that spending money to influence elections is a form of constitutionally protected free speech
Struck down portions of the law.
The court also ruled candidates can give unlimited amounts of money to their own campaigns.

3. Theories of Interest Group Politics - Hyperpluralism
Definition:
Groups are so strong that government is weakened. Extreme, exaggerated form of pluralism.
Subgovernments consist of a network of groups that exercise a great deal of control over specific policy areas.
Interest groups have become too powerful as the government tries to serve every interest.

4. Theories of Interest Group Politics - Hyperpluralism
The many subgovernments (iron triangles) aggravate the process.
When the government tries to please all the groups, the policies become confusing and contradictory.
With more interest groups getting involved, these subgovernments may be dissolving.

5. What Makes an Interest Group Successful? Effect on Government???

6. What Makes an Interest Group Successful?
The Surprising Ineffectiveness of Large Groups
Potential group: All the people who might be interest group members because they share a common interest.
Actual group: The part of the potential group consisting of members who actually join.
Collective good: Something of value that cannot be withheld from a group member

7. What Makes an Interest Group Successful?
Free-Rider problem: Some people don’t join interest groups because they benefit from the group’s activities without officially joining.
Examples???
The bigger the group, the larger the free-rider problem. (Olson’s law of large groups)
Why???
Large groups are difficult to keep organized.
Why?

8. What Makes an Interest Group Successful?
Small groups are better organized and more focused on the group’s goals.
Consumer groups have a difficult time getting significant policy gains – WHY?
the benefits are spread over the entire population.
Groups that can provide selective benefits can overcome this problem.

9. What Makes an Interest Group Successful
What Makes an Interest Group Successful? The Benefits of Membership in the AARP

10. Assessment
Create a multiple choice question based on previous material
Exchange your question/answer with neighbor
Share question/answer with class
The efforts of interest group representatives to influence policy-makers face-to-face are called
A. "electioneering."
B. "campaigning."
C. "co-opting."
D. "lobbying."
E. none of the above.