Interest Groups. The Role of Interest Groups Where do you stand on gun control? What about school...
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Transcript of Interest Groups. The Role of Interest Groups Where do you stand on gun control? What about school...
Interest Groups
The Role of Interest Groups
• Where do you stand on gun control? What about school prayer? Abortion?
• How would you increase your chances of influencing your position?
• Joining others with like views
Interest group other names
• – pressure groups, special interests, organized interests, and lobbies
• they call themselves – committees, clubs, associations, leagues
Interest Groups Goals
• Influence public policy-Fundamental Goal
• How ?• Media campaigns & organizing people• Support candidates – – Monetary contributions & endorsements
• Change laws- – Lobbying
• Influence government officials – Information
Why Join?
• Reasons Vary
• To be w/ like minded individuals
• Economic benefits
• Politically active
Political Action Committee(PACs)
• A federally registered fund-raising committee that represents an interest group in the political process through campaign donations
Super PAC
• Court Case - Citizens United
• Corporations and unions have 1st amendment (freedom of speech) rights
“super PAC”
• which is officially known as an "independent expenditure-only committee“
• The "superPAC" is like a traditional PAC without many of the restrictions. For instance, a "superPAC" can raise and spend unlimited amounts of money for the sole purpose of supporting or opposing political candidates.
• A "superPAC" can directly attack a political candidate. The only caveat is that a "superPAC" is not allowed to coordinate directly with candidates or political parties.
How do PACs challenge traditional party politics?
• Made it legal for corporations & unions to form PACs and make contributions
• Less influence on candidates from the party
• Super PACs ?
Types of Interest groups
• Economic Interest - Primary purpose of promoting the financial interests of its members
• Business & Trade
• Labor
• Professional
• Agriculture
• Public Interest- Organization that seeks a collective good that will not selectively and materially benefit the members of the group
• Groups that promote causes
• Groups that promote the welfare of certain groups
• Religious organizations
WHY INTEREST GROUPS ARE COMMON
• MANY CLEAVAGES
• CONSTITUTION–Many access points
• POLITICAL PARTIES ARE WEAK*
Interest Groups in Action
• Lobbying - attempts to assert their influence on the policy process
• Supplying credible information- gov’t officials
• Filing amicus curiae (friend of the court)
• try to influence nominations• litigation
• Election activities–Endorsements–rating candidates or officer
holders– Creating PAC’s and making
contributions
• Raising public support – Grassroots lobbying
• Employing former government officials
Table 9.4: How PACs Spent Their Money in 2000 (in millions of dollars)
Table 9.3: Spending by
Political Action Committees
(PACs), 2000
WHAT ARE INTEREST GROUPS?• A private organization of like-
minded people whose goal is to influence and shape public policy
Political Parties & Interest Groups
Fundamental Goals
Political Parties Goals
• Winning elections – Fundamental Goal
• How?
• Nominate candidates for public office
• Why?
• Control Government
What do they have in common?
• Made up of people who unite for some political purpose
• Both are political organizations