Chapter 16 Interest Groups


Chapter 16Interest Groups


Chapter Outline and Learning Objectives

Roots of the American Interest Group System

LO 16.1: Trace the roots of the American interest group system.

The Development of American Interest Groups

LO 16.2: Describe the historical development of American interest groups.



What Do Interest Groups Do?LO 16.3: Identify several strategies and tactics used by organized interests.

What Makes Interest Groups Successful?

LO 16.4: Analyze the factors that make an interest group successful.



Toward Reform: Regulating Interest Groups and Lobbyists

LO 16.5: Explain reform efforts geared toward regulating interest groups and lobbyists.


Roots of the American Interest Group SystemLO 16.1: Trace the roots of the American interest group system.

• Groups build social capital and civic virtue.

• Their main goal is to influence public policy.

To Learning Objectives


Theories of Interest Group Formation

• Pluralist theory

– Disturbance theory

• Transactions theory

• Neopluralist theory

LO 16.1



Kinds of Organized Interests

• Types of interest groups– Public Interest Groups– Economic Interest Groups– Governmental Units– Political Action Committees– Multi-issue versus single-issue groups

• What are the characteristics of different types of interest groups?

LO 16.1



A “PAC” is an acronym for ____________.

A. Political Action CommitteeB. Politically Anonymous CompanyC. Public Action CeremonyD. People’s Ardent ContinuumE. Population American Committee

LO 16.1



The Development of American Interest GroupsLO 16.2: Describe the historical development of American interest groups.

• National Groups Emerge (1830-1889)– Business interests play larger role after Civil

War.– Groups begin to send lobbyists to Washington.

• The Progressive Era (1890-1920)– Explosion of interest groups.– Growth of labor, business organizations, and

trade associations.



The Rise of the Interest Group State

• Expansion of civil rights and groups in 1960s.

– NAACP and ACLU– Nader’s Unsafe at Any Speed Common

Cause and Public Citizen

• Rise of conservative/religious groups.

• Evolution of new business groups dedicated to lobbying.

• Declining power of organized labor.

LO 16.2



In 1965 _________ became a well known consumer rights advocate with the publishing of his book, “Unsafe at Any Speed.”

A. Jerry FalwellB. Ralph NaderC. Pat RobertsonD. Ronal ReaganE. John McCain

LO 16.2



What Do Interest Groups Do?LO 16.3: Identify several strategies and tactics used by organized interests.

• Some are non political.• Political interest groups

– increase representation and participation– increase public awareness about important issues– help frame the public agenda– monitor programs to guarantee effective

implementation– engage in lobbying and election activities



Lobbying

• Congress – through research, money, or testimony

• The executive branch• The courts

– through sponsorship or amicus briefs

• Grassroots lobbying, such as petitions

• Protests and radical activism

LO 16.3



Election Activities

• Candidate recruitment and endorsements

• Getting out the vote• Rating the candidates or office

holders• Campaign contributions

– PACs

LO 16.3



Interest groups participate in the electoral process in all of the following ways EXCEPT

A. nominating candidates for office.B. contributing money to political campaigns.C. getting out of the vote.D. rating office holders.E. Endorsing candidates who are running for

office.

LO 16.3



What Makes Interest Groups Successful?LO 16.4: Analyze the factors that make an interest group successful.

• Leaders• Funding and

patrons• Members: helps to

overcome the free rider problem, especially for collective goods



The phenomenon in which potential members fail to join an interest group because they can get the benefit without contributing the effort is known asA. transactions theory.B. disturbance theory.C. grassroots lobbying.D. the free rider problem.E. a common cause.

LO 16.4



Toward Reform: Regulating Interest Groups and LobbyistsLO 16.5: Explain reform efforts geared toward regulating interest groups and lobbyists.

• Regulating Congressional Lobbyists– The Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995– Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of

1927

• Regulating Executive Branch Lobbyists– The Ethics in Government Act of 1978



What law requires the president the source and amount of all earned income and any positions held in business, labor, or non-profit organization?

A. The Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995B. Honest Leadership and Open Government

Act of 1927C. The Ethics in Government Act of 1978D. Federal Election Campaign Act of 1974E. The Clayton Act of 1914

LO 16.6


What role do lobbyists play in Congress? This cartoon presents one popular, although not always correct, view of how legislation gets enacted on Capitol Hill.

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Table 16.1: What are the characteristics of selected interest groups?

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Table 16.2: What are the key provisions of the Ethics in Government Act?

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Chapter 16 Interest Groups

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Transcript of Chapter 16 Interest Groups