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Interest Groups

Video: The Big Picture 10

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Learning Objectives

Describe the role of interest groups in American politics

Compare and contrast the theories of pluralism, elitism, and hyperpluralism

10.1

10.2

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Learning Objectives

Analyze the factors that make some interest groups more successful than others in the political arena

Assess the four basic strategies that interest groups use to try to shape policy

10.3

10.4

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Learning Objectives

Identify the various types of interest groups and their policy concerns

Evaluate how well Madison’s ideas for controlling the influence of interest groups have worked in practice

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10.5

10.6

Video: The Basics

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Role of Interest Groups

Interest groups pursue policy goals

Different from political parties Do not run candidates Policy specialists, not generalists

25,000 interest groups

Technology aids lobbying

10.1

a. 5,000

b. 25,000

c. 100,000

d. 50,000

10.110.1 How many interest groups are there in the United States?

a. 5,000

b. 25,000

c. 100,000

d. 50,000

10.110.1 How many interest groups are there in the United States?

Video: In Context 10.1

http://media.pearsoncmg.com/ph/hss/SSA_SHARED_MEDIA_1/polisci/presidency/Seg3_InterestGroups_v2.html

Theories of Interest Group Politics

Pluralism

Elitism

Hyperpluralism

10.2

Pluralism

Group theory of politics Groups link people and government Groups compete No one group likely to become dominant Groups play by the rules of the game Groups weak in one resource can use another

Concessions Some groups stronger than others All interests do not get equal hearing

10.2

Elitism

Real power held by a few

78% of Americans share this view

Interlocking directorates

Multinational corporations

Lobbying benefits the few at the expense of the many

10.2

Video: In the Real World

http://media.pearsoncmg.com/ph/hss/SSA_SHARED_MEDIA_1/polisci/presidency/Seg5_InterestGroups_v2.html

10.2

Hyperpluralism

Interest group liberalism Groups out of control Government tries to appease all of them

Budgets, programs, regulations expand

Iron triangles

Contradictory and confusing policy results

10.2

a. Elitism

b. Hyperpluralism

c. Pluralism

d. None of the above

10.210.2 Which theory of interest group politics views interest groups positively?

a. Elitism

b. Hyperpluralism

c. Pluralism

d. None of the above

10.210.2 Which theory of interest group politics views interest groups positively?

What Makes an Interest Group Successful?

Surprising Ineffectiveness of Large Groups

Intensity

Financial Resources

10.3

Smaller groups have advantage Potential group Actual group Collective good Free-rider problem

Selective benefits

Surprising Ineffectiveness of Large Groups

10.3

Intensity

Psychological advantage

Single-issue groups On the rise Dislike compromise Abortion

10.3

Financial Resources

System is biased toward wealthy 2008 federal elections cost $5 billion Donations lead to access

But $$$ does not always lead to lobbying success Other side contributes, too

10.3

a. Other side can also make contributions

b. Campaign contributions are too restricted to make a significant difference

c. Most groups cannot afford to buy politicians

d. Most politicians refuse to accept interest group contributions

10.310.3 Why does money not always lead to lobbying success?

a. Other side can also make contributions

b. Campaign contributions are too restricted to make a significant difference

c. Most groups cannot afford to buy politicians

d. Most politicians refuse to accept interest group contributions

10.310.3 Why does money not always lead to lobbying success?

Assess the four basic strategies that interest groups use to try to shape policy

10.4

1. Make an interest group for a current social issue(5-7 people, get into your group)

2. Assign 4 people to serve as the chief strategists for the group for the 4 strategies employed by interest groups.

3. Chief Strategists will formulate a plan to execute their assigned strategy. Assign jobs to other members of group as needed.

How Groups Try to Shape Policy

Lobbying

Electioneering

Litigation

Going Public

10.4

Lobbying

Two types of lobbyists Full-time employee Temporary employee Often former legislators

Why do Congressmen listen to lobbyists? Lobbyists provide specialized expertise Lobbyists help with political & campaign strategy Lobbyists provide ideas

10.4

FIGURE 10.1: Industries’ big spenders on lobbying, 2009-2011

10.4

NRA 10.4

Electioneering

Aiding candidates financially

Getting out the vote

PACs $5,000 limit in primary and general election Mainly support incumbents

Should PACs be eliminated?

10.4

Explore Interest Groups: Can Interest Groups Buy Public Policy?

http://media.pearsoncmg.com/long/long_edwards_mpslgia_16/pex/pex10.html

10.4

Litigation

Suing for enforcement Environmental regulations Civil rights groups – 1950s

Amicus curiae briefs

Class action lawsuits

10.4

Going Public

Public opinion influences policy makers

Mobilize public opinion

Public relations

10.4

Interest group ad 10.4

a. Lobbying

b. Litigation

c. Electioneering

d. Going public

10.410.4 On what tactic do interest groups rely to influence policy when Congress is unsympathetic?

a. Lobbying

b. Litigation

c. Electioneering

d. Going public

10.410.4 On what tactic do interest groups rely to influence policy when Congress is unsympathetic?

Explore the Simulation: You Are a Lobbyist

http://media.pearsoncmg.com/long/long_longman_media_1/2013_mpsl_sim/simulation.html?simulaURL=16

10.4

Types of Interest Groups

Economic interests

Environmental interests

Equality interests

Consumer and other public interest lobbies

10.5

Economic Interests

Labor Unions Closed shop versus “right-to-work”

10.5

Wisconsin collective bargaining fight 10.5

Economic Interests

Business Dominate lobbying and PACs

Business interests not monolithic Policy differences among industries

10.5

FIGURE 10.2: How corporate PACs have shifted toward the majority party

10.5

Environmental Interests

Sprang up since 1970 More than 10,000 groups with $2.9 billion revenue

Profound policy impact Influential due to numbers, not money

10.5

Save the polar bear 10.5

Equality Interests

Fourteenth Amendment guarantees

Minorities NAACP/Brown v. Board of Education (1954) Social welfare policies

Women National Organization for Women (NOW) Equal Rights Amendment (ERA)

10.5

Consumer and Other Public Interest Lobbies

Policies in the public interest Collective goods

What is the public interest?

10.5

Video: Thinking Like a Political Scientist

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10.5

a. Economic groups

b. Environmental groups

c. Consumer groups

d. Women’s rights groups

10.510.5 Which interest groups are the best funded?

a. Economic groups

b. Environmental groups

c. Consumer groups

d. Women’s rights groups

10.510.5 Which interest groups are the best funded?

Understanding Interest Groups

Interest Groups and Democracy

Interest Groups and the Scope of Government

10.6

Interest Groups and Democracy

Does pluralism prevail? Growth in number of interest groups Less clout for any one group

Interest group corruption? Business PACs Wealthy groups dominate

Gridlock?

10.6

Interest Groups and the Scope of Government

Individualistic and associational

Difficult to reduce spending

Vicious circle Groups lead to policy Policy prompts new groups to form

10.6

a. They do not see a problem with large numbers of groups

b. They think too many groups competing will lead to policy gridlock

c. They believe that a few groups will triumph over all the others

d. None of the above

10.610.6 What do hyperpluralists see as a problem with the proliferation of interest groups?

a. They do not see a problem with large numbers of groups

b. They think too many groups competing will lead to policy gridlock

c. They believe that a few groups will triumph over all the others

d. None of the above

10.610.6 What do hyperpluralists see as a problem with the proliferation of interest groups?

Discussion Question

What are the three main theories ofinterest group politics? Which theory do you think provides the most accurate explanation for how interest groups interact with government in the U.S. today?

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Video: So What?

http://media.pearsoncmg.com/ph/hss/SSA_SHARED_MEDIA_1/polisci/presidency/Edwards_Ch10_Interest_Groups_Seg6_v2.html

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Further Review: On MyPoliSciLab

Listen to the Chapter

Study and Review the Flashcards

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