1. CHAPTER 9 The Nature of Interest Groups

2. Interest Groups
Private organizations whose members share certain views and work to shape public policy.
“pressure groups”, “special interests”, “organized interests”
Found at all levels of government

3. Interest Group vs. Political Party
Does NOT nominate candidates.
Interested in controlling the policies of government.
Interested in only those issues directly affecting its members.
Private
Nominates candidates.
Interested in controlling gov’t by winning elections.
Interested in whole range of policy issues.
Accountable to public.

4. Valuable Functions of Interest Groups
Stimulate interest in public affairs.
Unite people in different geographical areas.
Provide useful, specialized, and detailed information to government.
Act as a vehicle for like-minded citizens to pool resources and channel energy.
Add another element to the checks and balances system.
Opposing groups keep issues balanced.

5. Criticisms of Interest Groups
Some groups have influence far out of proportion to their size or value to the public good.
Hard to tell just how many people each group represents.
Some groups represent only a small minority of their members.
Some use deceitful, even illegal tactics.

6. Types of Interest Groups
Business groups – trade associations
Labor groups – labor unions
Professional groups – AMA, ABA, NEA
Public Interest Groups
Seek to institute certain public policies of benefit to all or most people whether they belong to the group or not.

7. Propaganda
A technique of persuasion aimed at influencing individual or group behaviors to create a particular belief, regardless of its validity.
Interest groups use propaganda to create the public attitudes they want.

8. Political Action Committees - PACs
Interest groups use PACs to attempt to influence candidates, parties, and elections by raising and distributing money to candidates who will further their goals.
Single-interest groups (abortion, gun control, or health care) have grown most rapidly.

9. Lobbying
Those activities by which group pressures are brought to bear on legislators and the legislative process.
Lobbyist – A paid representative of an interest group.