Ch. 7: Interest Groups &Political Parties

Interest groups

Goal: seek to influence decisions of govt

• Inspired by social movements• More factions in decentralized gov’t

• Federal Regulation Lobbying Act – register names; file financial reports

Benefits

Solidary

Material

Purposive

Public Interest

Types

Economic

Environmental

Public Interest

Special Interest

Foreign Govts

Strategies to achieve goal:

Jobs after leave – revolving door

Supply Info – lobbyists, lobbying, political parties, politicians, grassroots

PACs

-$5000 per candidate

-no limit on party campaign

?

People whose interests need to be

met the most don’t have the time

or energy to join interest groups.

Which group in society

has the time and energy?

Political Parties

Goal: to elect candidate & run the govt

Weak

Interest groups

Operations

National ConventionsNational CommitteesState & Local Parties

-pol. machine-ideology

-solidary groups-sponsored parties-personal following

Functions

• Recruit candidates

• Run elections

• Give unified choice

• Run gov’t

• Oppose “power party”; give alternate choice

Launch a candidate

Key items:positive or negativesimple or broadcome out swinging or build to crescendoTV, radiopol. party platform or on owncoattail effectfront-loading

2-party vs. multi-party system

• Electoral Laws– Single member districts– Winner take all– Electoral college– Presidency is the prize

• Minor Parties