Interest/Pressure Interest/Pressure GroupsGroups

In the American Political SystemIn the American Political System

Interest Group - A DefinitionInterest Group - A Definition

An interest group is a private An interest group is a private organization of like-minded organization of like-minded people whose goal is to influence people whose goal is to influence and shape public policy.and shape public policy.

Interest groups are “extra-Interest groups are “extra-constitutional”.constitutional”.

Early DevelopmentEarly Development

Date back to the time of the Date back to the time of the “Founding Fathers”“Founding Fathers”

Seen as power-hungrySeen as power-hungry Believed to “promote Believed to “promote

instability, injustice, and instability, injustice, and confusion”confusion”

Types of Interest Groups Types of Interest Groups

EconomicEconomic Ideological or single-issueIdeological or single-issue Public interestPublic interest Foreign policyForeign policy GovernmentalGovernmental

Economic GroupsEconomic Groups

BusinessBusiness Trade AssociationsTrade Associations LaborLabor Professional AssociationsProfessional Associations

Ideological GroupsIdeological Groups

Motivated for or against a Motivated for or against a particular issue, such as gun particular issue, such as gun ownership and abortion rightsownership and abortion rights

Public Interest GroupsPublic Interest Groups

Motivated by such issues as the Motivated by such issues as the environment, safe energy, environment, safe energy, consumer protection, and good consumer protection, and good government.government.

Foreign Policy Interest GroupsForeign Policy Interest Groups

Concerned with the relationship Concerned with the relationship between the United States and between the United States and foreign nations. Examples foreign nations. Examples include the Council on Foreign include the Council on Foreign Relations, and AIPAC—the Relations, and AIPAC—the American-Israel Political Action American-Israel Political Action Committee.Committee.

Government Interest GroupsGovernment Interest Groups

Represent the interests of Represent the interests of government employees, as well government employees, as well as elected officials from state as elected officials from state and local governments.and local governments.

Characteristics and Power of Characteristics and Power of Interest GroupsInterest Groups

Size and resourcesSize and resources CohesivenessCohesiveness LeadershipLeadership TechniquesTechniques IntensityIntensity

Interest Group TechniquesInterest Group Techniques

Appeals to the public and mass Appeals to the public and mass mediamedia

Mass mailingsMass mailings Influence of rule makingInfluence of rule making LitigationLitigation Election Activities/electioneeringElection Activities/electioneering Forming a political partyForming a political party LobbyingLobbying

Growth of Interest GroupsGrowth of Interest Groups

0

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

1960 1970 1980 1990

Number

Interest Groups vs. Interest Groups vs. Political PartiesPolitical Parties

Interest groups…Interest groups… support candidates, support candidates,

but cannot but cannot nominate themnominate them

take a narrow focus take a narrow focus on most issueson most issues

compete for compete for influence over influence over elected officialselected officials

Interest Groups vs.Interest Groups vs.Political Parties (con’t.)Political Parties (con’t.)

Political parties…Political parties… can nominate can nominate

candidatescandidates focus on a broad focus on a broad

range of issues to range of issues to appeal to a broad appeal to a broad range of peoplerange of people

compete for compete for control of the control of the branches of govt. branches of govt. to control policy to control policy makingmaking

Proposals for ReformProposals for Reform

Increasing the number of groupsIncreasing the number of groups Full disclosureFull disclosure Increased federal and state Increased federal and state

regulationsregulations

ExamplesExamples

Check out this Check out this web site for web site for links to links to examples of examples of the most the most influential influential interest groups interest groups in the U.S.!in the U.S.!

http://www.smpcollege.com/SMP_GOVT/policy.html

Interest/Pressure Groups Interest/Pressure Groups

A necessary evil…A necessary evil…

what do you think?what do you think?