1. Interest group - defined Organization or association of people with common interests that engages in politics on behalf of its members

2. Positive and negative views of Interest Groups Positive vision: First Amendment protection, Supreme Court has uphold rights of groups to form Negative vision: Federalist #10, Today: argument that interest groups exert undue and harmful influence in American politics

3. Waves of interest group formation 1830s-1880s Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA), National Grange (farmers) 1890s-1920s National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), US Chamber of Commerce, Farm Bureau Federation 1960s-1980s National Organization for Women, Ralph Nader’s Consumer Union, Common Cause

4. Why do groups form? Economic, social, technological changes Why hard to form and maintain groups? Consider incentives to join groups (cost-benefit analysis as with voting: there are costs to joining and benefits) Different incentives/benefits groups use to attract members: Solidary Material Purposive

5. FREE RIDER PROBLEM Larger the group, bigger the problem is How to overcome? Coercion, Selective Incentives

6. How do groups influence government? Lobbying Direct Action Litigation Electioneering (mostly via PACs- political action committees = specialized organizations set up to raise and spend campaign funds)

7. TOP 10 PACs, 2006 (ranked by Washington insiders based on their perceived influence over Congress) National of North America, American Assocaition for Justice, Credit Union Association of Realtors, National Beer Wholesalers Association, National Association of Home Builders, National Auto Dealers, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, International Union of Operating Engineers, American Bankers PAC, Laborers International Union National Association (4 gave more to Ds, 4 gave more to Rs, 2 gave about the same to each party)

8. Do PACS buy votes? PAC money seems to buy “access” – mobilization of supporters and to lesser extent demobilization of opponents – money gets members of Congress to listen to and take into account the PAC’s concerns, attend committee hearings and speak up, mark up bill and add amendments, etc. (Hall and Wayman) Not just PAC money used to influence members of Congress – groups also sponsor trips (”junkets”) for members.