American CitizenshipAmerican CitizenshipChapter 9Chapter 9

Interest GroupsInterest Groups

Section 1Section 1

The Nature of Interest GroupsThe Nature of Interest Groups

The Role of Interest GroupsThe Role of Interest Groups

Seek to influence Seek to influence Public PolicyPublic Policy They Function at every level of They Function at every level of

governmentgovernment We are a pluralistic societyWe are a pluralistic society

Political Parties and Interest Political Parties and Interest GroupsGroups

Three major distinctions between Three major distinctions between political parties and interest groupspolitical parties and interest groups

Making of nominationsMaking of nominations Primary focusPrimary focus

Political parties are concerned about winning Political parties are concerned about winning elections, while interest groups are issue elections, while interest groups are issue orientedoriented

Scope of their interestsScope of their interests

Interest Groups: Good or Bad?Interest Groups: Good or Bad? Two Early ViewsTwo Early Views

Madison and Tocqueville disagreed on the importance Madison and Tocqueville disagreed on the importance of interest groupsof interest groups

Valuable Functions of Interest GroupsValuable Functions of Interest Groups Interest groups help stimulate interest in Interest groups help stimulate interest in public public

affairsaffairs those issues and events that concern the people at those issues and events that concern the people at

largelarge represent members on the basis of shared attitudesrepresent members on the basis of shared attitudes provide useful, specialized and detailed information to provide useful, specialized and detailed information to

governmentgovernment vehicles for political participationvehicles for political participation

watchdog participationwatchdog participation

Interest Groups: Good or Bad? Interest Groups: Good or Bad? (Con’t)(Con’t)

CriticismCriticism Sometimes more interested in their own Sometimes more interested in their own

agenda, as opposed to the interests of agenda, as opposed to the interests of AmericansAmericans

More organized and financed, the more say in More organized and financed, the more say in governmentgovernment

How many people truly support the interest How many people truly support the interest group?group?

Generally controlled by an active minorityGenerally controlled by an active minority Bribery and Threats sometimes usedBribery and Threats sometimes used

Section 2Section 2

Types of Interest GroupsTypes of Interest Groups

An American TraditionAn American Tradition

Interest groups have been in American Interest groups have been in American history from the beginning, in one form history from the beginning, in one form or anotheror another

Come in all shapes and sizesCome in all shapes and sizes On any issue, however predominantly civil On any issue, however predominantly civil

rights and economicsrights and economics Chamber of CommerceChamber of Commerce American LegionAmerican Legion PTAPTA MSTAMSTA ChurchChurch

Group Based on Economic Group Based on Economic InterestsInterests

Business GroupsBusiness Groups Business owners were strong proponents of the Business owners were strong proponents of the

constitutional convention in 1787constitutional convention in 1787 Trade AssociationsTrade Associations most common today most common today

interest groups within the business communityinterest groups within the business community

Labor GroupsLabor Groups

Labor UnionsLabor Unions an organization of workers who share the same an organization of workers who share the same

type of job or who work in the same industrytype of job or who work in the same industry Largest labor union today is the AFL-CIOLargest labor union today is the AFL-CIO

Membership in Labor UnionsMembership in Labor Unions

Chapter 9, Section 2Chapter 9, Section 23311

Group Based on Economic Group Based on Economic Interests (Con’t)Interests (Con’t)

Agricultural GroupsAgricultural Groups Today only 2% of the U.S. population lives Today only 2% of the U.S. population lives

on farmson farms American Farm Bureau one of the most American Farm Bureau one of the most

prominent Agricultural interest groupsprominent Agricultural interest groups

Professional GroupsProfessional Groups Specialized on certain professionsSpecialized on certain professions

such as the AMA, ABA, NEAsuch as the AMA, ABA, NEA

Other Interest GroupsOther Interest Groups Groups that promote causesGroups that promote causes

Exist to promote a cause or an ideaExist to promote a cause or an idea ExamplesExamples

ACLU, Planned Parenthood, NRA, Sierra Club, ACLU, Planned Parenthood, NRA, Sierra Club, National Right-to-life CommitteeNational Right-to-life Committee

Organizations that promote the welfare of Organizations that promote the welfare of certain groupscertain groups

American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Affairs, American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Affairs, AARP, NAACP, NAAAAARP, NAACP, NAAA

Religious GroupsReligious Groups Try to influence public policy in reference to church Try to influence public policy in reference to church

beliefsbeliefs National Council of ChurchesNational Council of Churches

Membership in Labor UnionsMembership in Labor Unions

Chapter 9, Section 2Chapter 9, Section 23311

Public-Interest GroupsPublic-Interest Groups

An interest group that seeks to institute An interest group that seeks to institute certain public policies of benefit to all or certain public policies of benefit to all or most people in this countrymost people in this country

Section 3Section 3

Interest Groups at WorkInterest Groups at Work

Influencing Public OpinionInfluencing Public Opinion

Interest Groups reach out in three waysInterest Groups reach out in three ways Supply the public with “accurate” informationSupply the public with “accurate” information Build a positive image for the groupBuild a positive image for the group Promote a particular public policyPromote a particular public policy

PropagandaPropaganda

A technique of persuasion aimed at A technique of persuasion aimed at influencing individual or group behaviorsinfluencing individual or group behaviors

Taking a conclusion, and finding information Taking a conclusion, and finding information to support that conclusionto support that conclusion

Greatly used through mass media, with Greatly used through mass media, with simple sloganssimple slogans

Influencing Parties and ElectionsInfluencing Parties and Elections

Interest Groups know and use political Interest Groups know and use political parties as allies to advance their parties as allies to advance their particular issuesparticular issues

PAC’s most common use of Interest PAC’s most common use of Interest Groups in the political processGroups in the political process

Single-interest groupsSingle-interest groups PACs that concentrate their efforts on one PACs that concentrate their efforts on one

issue, such as abortion, gun control, or issue, such as abortion, gun control, or health carehealth care

LobbyingLobbying Those activities by which group pressures are Those activities by which group pressures are

brought to bear on legislators and legislative brought to bear on legislators and legislative processprocess

Nearly all types of interest groups, have Nearly all types of interest groups, have lobbyist in Washington, D.C. in order to lobbyist in Washington, D.C. in order to influence legislative decisionsinfluence legislative decisions

Lobbyist at WorkLobbyist at Work They will write articles in papers, create They will write articles in papers, create

commercials, testify before committees, etc.commercials, testify before committees, etc. Grass rootsGrass roots pressure is brought up as well pressure is brought up as well

from the people, average votersfrom the people, average voters Lobby RegulationLobby Regulation

Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 requires all those Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 requires all those involved in lobbying to registerinvolved in lobbying to register