unit iii module 1 special interest groups ap gov miller
TRANSCRIPT
Unit III Module 1 Special Interest
GroupsAP GovMiller
Objectives
By the end of this module, SWBAT Identify the different types of and describe the
purpose of linkage groups in American politics Describe the political tools that interest groups to
affect public policy Describe how interest groups interact with other
linkage groups
Linked In
Americans reach out to institutions of public policy and vice versa via linkage groups Political Parties Special Interest Groups Mass Media
These three also regularly interact with each other during campaigns and elections
What’s an Interest Group?
Madison called them “factions”
De Tocqueville called them “voluntary associations”
Interest groups exist whenever group of people with a common interest begin to cooperate to push that group’s political agenda
Tools of the Trade
Interest groups are diverse so they can affect the policy process in many ways Voting blocs – if SIG (special interest group) has
many members, its voters can be used as leverage against politicians
Campaign finances – if SIG is wealthy, it can leverage these funds as either support for an incumbent (a politician already in office) or fund a new challenger via the actions of the PAC (political action committee)
Tools of the Trade
More tools Media spotlight – very active SIGs can use a variety of
media (TV, radio, Internet, billboards, newsprint, etc.) to either support or attack politicians and/or policies
Legal action – SIGs can sue government entities directly or support plaintiffs or defendants in court proceedings with either pro bono attorneys or amicus curiae briefs
Lobbying – consultants reach out to elected and appointed officials to try to persuade them to adopt the POV of the interest group
Types of SIGs
There are four main types of interest groups Corporate Public interest Single interest Government
Corporate IGs
Most powerful of the four
Preferred tools Campaign finances Lobbyists Legal action
Includes the following Trade associations (AMA),
labor unions (Teamsters), business associations (chambers of commerce)
Public Interest IGs
Broad objectives of stakeholders, broad policy objectives
Preferred tools Voting blocs Media Lobbying
Includes the following: AARP, taxpayers groups, NOW, NAACP
Single Interest IGs
Focused on single policy objective zealous membership
Preferred tools Media Legal action Lobbying
Includes the following: Greenpeace, NRA, WWF, VFW, church groups
Government IGs
Local, state government bodies attempting to influence federal government
Preferred tools Lobbying Media Voting blocs
Includes the following: regional associations, county associations, National Governors Association
SIGs and Political Parties
“Balloon Model” – political parties conglomeration of different SIGs like a bunch of balloons is simply made of individual balloons
Democrat sample “balloons” NOW, NAACP, SEIU, ACLU,
Urban League
Republican sample “balloons” NRA, NAM, AMA, chambers
of commerce, police associations, VFW
SIGs and Political Parties
SIGs with different aims can sometimes force elements of political parties apart
More difficult for politicians to keep coalitions together – coalitions must shift in support of another party or politician essence of Madison’s pluralism
If SIGs become too narrow in their agendas, won’t reach out to other SIGs to form coalitions, then gridlock is the result (hyperpluralism)
The Future of SIGs
In the late 20th, early 21st centuries, SIGs have grown more powerful at the expense of political parties
Supreme Court has given them more rights to Contribute to political campaigns both directly and
indirectly Run issue campaigns in parallel with national, state,
local elections
As a result they are spreading and growing in influence and financial strength
The Future of SIGs
Bureaucracy affected as well
Insidious sometimes problematic relationship between interest groups, Congress, and bureaucratic agencies called “iron triangles”
All these groups have “revolving doors” – individuals rotate jobs working for each of the three sides – develop a unique working relationship that can undermine other greater policy objectives
The Future of SIGs
Iron Triangle Example Lockheed Aircraft (SIG), Senate
Armed Forces Committee (Congress), US Air Force (bureaucracy)
Result – F-35 boondoggle (waste of public money)
Why it’s bad – Most military experts agree that the F-35 isn’t worth all of the money, not even a good airplane, but Lockheed needs the contract and uses its influence with the Air Force to push the funding through Congress anyway
Current damage – over 500 billion dollars