Interest Groups

1
Interest Groups

• Part I Theory

2
Constitutional roots

• Congress shall make no lawabridging the right
  of the people peaceably to assemble, and to
  petition the Government for a redress of
  grievances.
• --First Amendment

3
Interest Groups

• Definition groups that have organized to promote
  a political agenda.

4
Freewrite

• What are your impressions of interest groups?
  Where do those impressions come from?
• Do you think the system fair to all groups, or
  do some groups have a disproportionate say over
  public policy? Why do you think that is the case?

5
Examples of interest groups?

• American Civil Liberties Union
• The Christian Coalition
• National Rifle Association
• National Organization for Women
• The Sierra Club
• A.A.R.P. (American Association of Retired
  Persons)
• National Right to Life Committee
• National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action
  League
• The Concord Coalition
• The Federalist Society
• American Association of Manufacturers
• Pharmalogical Manufacturers Association of America

6
Groups a theoretical perspective

• Collective goods and free rider problems
• What makes it easier to form a group?
• Size, homogeneity, cost
• How do large groups form?

7
Selective incentives

• A selective incentive (either negative or
  positive) applies selectively to individuals
  depending on whether or not they contribute to
  the provision of the collective good.

8
Pluralism

• Groups can form freely
• Any potential group can form if its interests are
  at stake
• All groups interests will be fairly represented
• No one group will dominate all the time