1. Types of Interest Groups

2. Economic Interests – Labor – Agriculture – Business Environmental Interests Equality Interests Consumer and Public Interest Lobbies

3. Understanding Interest Groups Interest Groups and Democracy – James Madison’s solution to the problems posed by interest groups was to create a wide-open system in which groups compete. – Pluralists believe that the public interest would prevail from this competition. – Elite theorists point to the proliferation of business PACs as evidence of interest group corruption. – Hyperpluralists maintain that group influence has led to policy gridlock.

4. Understanding Interest Groups Interest Groups and the Scope of Government – Interest groups seek to maintain policies and programs that benefit them. – Interest groups continue to pressure government to do more things. – As the government does more, does this cause the formation of more groups?