Interest Groups and Political Action Committee
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Transcript Interest Groups and Political Action Committee
Interest Groups
Chapter 11
What is an Interest Group?
An Interest Group is—
Interest Groups
Political Parties
Nominating and
electing
candidates
Controlling
government
Concerned with
wide range
___________
Interest Groups
Don’t choose
candidates—create and
influence ___________
Influencing and controlling
policy
Concerned with interest of
__________
*Same in that they want
to influence public
policy and give a voice
to citizens
The Birth of Interest Groups
Why do we have so many?
1.
2.
3.
History
Since 1960 ---70% of Interest Groups have establish DC as
home base
1770’s—
1830’s-- 1860’s- 1880’s—
1900-1920—
1960’s—
Rise of Interest Groups
Economic Developments
New ________defined
Government Policy
________
ex: mass production and labor unions
Creates veterans associations etc.
Social Movements
Strong leaders….
1960’s anti-war movements—college enrollment
Types of Interest Groups
Institutional—
Business groups—General Motors---AMA (American Medical Association)
Bread and butter issues
Membership—organization representing a group of people
social , business, professional, veteran, charitable
Labor Groups—ex. AFLCIO
Agricultural groups—ex. American Farmers Bureau
Professional groups—ex. American Bankers Association
Citizen’s groups—ex. Public Citizen, Inc. Ralph Nader Consumer safety
group
Environmental groups—ex.Sierra Club
Religious groups
Foreign groups
* Creates a sense of political efficacy
Why do we Join?
Solidarity Incentives—
Small local units
Often facilitated by the Gov’t
Ex—NAACP, LOWV, PTA
Material Incentives—
May influence policy that effect members services
EX—Farm organizations, AARP
Purposive Incentives—
Benefits both members and non-members
Influenced by the mood of Gov’t ; may prosper if gov’t is hostile to their
agenda
Sense of passion about the goal
.
Minimal cost to join
Ideological- Public—
Civil---
Roles of Interest Groups
Represent—
Participation/grassroots—
Education/propaganda—
Agenda Building—
Program Building—
Interest Groups Influence Public Policy
Interest groups use a variety of methods to
influence public policy
Lobbying
Lobbyists are ______ by interest groups to
represent them, because they know the political
system and who has the power to change policy
There are 6,000 lobbyists registered with Congress
and they represent more than ________________
Lobbyists are usually ______ government officials.
Some are lawyers or are in public relations. They
are often called “political persuaders”.
Interest Groups Influence Public Policy
Media Campaigns-
Court-
Letter Writing Campaign-
Pac's-
Interest Groups and Public Opinion
Lobbyist—approach legislators directly to persuade
them to vote for their position. Sometimes are called
“political persuaders”.
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.
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Interest Groups
Lobbyist provide legislators with
information through pamphlets, reports,
and statistics (This information may be
bias. If it is not accurate, the lobbyist will
lose credibility with his contacts)
Lobbyist and other members of interest
groups have also helped legislators draft
bills
Interest Groups
Interest groups support candidates who will support their policies
Threaten to withhold campaign funds
Other interest groups may contribute more funds to get a
candidate elected
Contributions do not automatically guarantee that a lawmaker
will support their cause, but it does assure access to the
officials
The larger the group, the more diverse the interest of its
members. These groups can not usually adopt broad-based
policy goals
Although most large interest groups have a lot of financial
support, they only have a small staff
Lobbyist do not usually approach members that are committed to
the opposite view, but cultivate relations with those legislators
they know will support their issues
Interest Groups and Social
Movements
Social Movement–
The Environment
1890’s—conservation issues, Sierra Club, 1930’s
WWF
1960’s formal legislation—Environmental Defense
Fund and Environmental Action founded
Movement spawned both extreme and moderate
sub groups
Interest Groups and Social
Movements
Feminist
Solidarity--Purposive –
Material—
Unions
Many unions were formed as the result of social movements
dying out
Membership is difficult to ___________
Economic changes do not work to unions benefit—individual
bargaining
Public approval has declined
Do offer members benefits ex---National Educational
Association
Where do they get the $$
Foundation Grants
Federal Grants (projects)
1/3 of their money comes from larger
_____________
Federal gov’t gives money to IG’s to support
___________________
Direct Mail
Use of _________has expanded their ability
to easily raise individual funds