1. Media & Interest Groups MIG # 1 What are Interest Groups?

2. IG’s vs. Parties Interest Groups (aka Special Interests ) – Private org designed to influence public policy (laws) NOT political parties: – Do not nominate candidates for office (but may support them) – Influence gov from the outside, not from within – Represent a small # of issues – IG often require dues / formal admission

3. Why do people join IG’s? Solidarity Incentive: Material Incentive: Purposive Incentive Free Rider Problem

4. Types of IG’s 1.Economic Groups – majority A.Businesses: represent the owners Chamber of Commerce B.Labor: represent the workers AFL-CIO – largest worker union http://www.aflcio.org/ C.Professional: represent pro. Groups American Medical Association NEA http://www.ama-assn.org/

5. Economic Groups A.Agricultural: represent farmers The National Grange http://www.nationalgrange.org/legislation/alerts_updates/2008/Actio nAlert18.htmhttp://www.nationalgrange.org/legislation/alerts_updates/2008/Actio nAlert18.htm B.Corporations: large businesses General Motors

6. 2.Public Interest Groups A.Causes i.ACLU ii.NRA iii.http://www.nra.org/home.aspxhttp://www.nra.org/home.aspx iv.Sierra Club B.Groups i.VFW ii.NOW

7. C. Religion Christian Coalition http://www.cc.org/ D.Common Cause / Collective Good League of Women Voters http://www.lwv.org/Election2008/index.html E.Single Issue – groups are growing in number NARAL Natl Right to Life

8. 3. Government – Mayors, Governors – EX: Governors are begging fed gov to give them stimulus $$

9. With so many groups competing for power, does any one group have a large influence on gov? Pluralism

10. IG Homework: pick 3 IGs 1.Name of IG and overall purpose. 2.What are 3 things you see on their homepage? 3.What do you have to do to join? Do you get anything for joining? 4.Is the incentive solidarity, material, or purposive? Explain. 5.Find one issue that the group is focusing on. What’s the issue and how are they trying to get it changed or resolved? How do they try to get you involved? 6.Would join one of these groups? Explain.

11. Other Groups MADD AARP NEA Rutherford Institute Am Bar Assoc Chamber of Commerce NCLR