Interest Groups

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Interest Groups

• Organizations of people with similar policy goals
  who enter the political process to achieve those
  aims.
• Groups differ from political parties in that they
  are policy specialists and do not run candidates.
• Interest groups are active at all levels of
  government and in all of the various branches.

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Theories of Interest Groups Pluralism

• Groups are good for democracy.
• They serve as a link between the people and
  government
• Many groups exist and interest groups compete for
  power
• Due to competition, unlikely one group will
  dominate policy.
• Disturbance theory When a groups interests are
  threatened they mobilize. Few barriers to
  mobilization.

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Theories of Interest Groups Elite Theory

• Groups distort democracy in favor of the wealthy.
  
• Moneyed interests dominate the system
• Group influence not equal
• Power in the hands of a few, not many
• Groups are unequal in power, with businesses
  over-represented in Washington
• Group system hurts democracy, as the interests of
  a few dominate government decision making.

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Theories of Interest Groups Hyper-Pluralism

• There are too many groups in the system making
  demands on government groups are too strong.
• Policy makers try to satisfy all interests
• Leading to contradictory policy
• The number of groups are up 400 since 1950
• Government has responded by increasing in size
• Americans are joining groups at a greater rate
  today than ever before.

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Interest Groups and Policy Making

• Theory of Subgovernments, or Iron Triangles.
• Cozy policymaking relationships between interest
  groups (or clientele groups)
• congressional committees that oversee a
  particular policy
• and the agencies that implement a policy.
• They have similar self interests and work to
  protect these interests.
• Difficult to penetrate and change policy.

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What Makes Groups Powerful? Organization

• Small groups are distinctly advantaged, as they
  are easier to organize they can overcome
  free-rider problem.
• Potential group (the number of possible members)
  vs. Actual group (dues paying members of the
  group).
• The closer these numbers are, the more legitimate
  and better organized the group.
• Interest groups provide collective goods, which
  cannot be denied members of potential group.
• What incentive is there, then to join the group
  and work for collective good?

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What Makes Groups Powerful?

• Free-Rider or Collective Action dilemma, cont.
• And, since small group members receive a greater
  share of the collective good, incentive to join
  is greater.
• Interest groups provide selective benefits in
  order to overcome the free-rider problem.
• Group intensity is important in group power.
• Large potential groups can overcome free-rider
  problem through intensity. Particularly the case
  with single-issue groups.

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The Benefits of Membership in the AARP
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What Makes Groups Powerful?

• Financial Resources. Business groups are
  generally better represented in DC, due to money.
• Funds needed for lobbying, electioneering
  (contributing to campaigns through PACs)
  running ads.
• Membership size. Groups with a large number of
  actual members (e.g. the AARP, the NRA and the
  AFL-CIO) are quite powerful.
• The group considered more legitimate.
• Membership dues provide necessary cash.

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How Groups Affect Policy Lobbying

• A communication directed to a policy-maker with
  the hope of influencing the policy-makers
  decision.
• Lobbyists provide information to policymakers,
  source of ideas for laws/policies.
• They help devise legislative strategies and even
  write bills.
• Interest groups generally lobby their friends in
  DC.
• Attempt to activate friends on their behalf.

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How Groups Affect Policy

• Electioneering Donating to campaigns through
  PACs advertising in order to influence
  elections.
• Give money to incumbents majority party
• Give to their friends instead of fence-sitters
  and the opposition.
• Litigation Favorite strategy of out groups.
  Will argue on behalf of litigants in court cases
  that interest them.
• Going Public Persuade the public to support
  them on issues and improve the groups image. TV
  ads.