I. What is an Interest Group?
II. Why do people Join Interest Groups?
III. Types of Interest Groups
IV. Interest Groups Incentives
V. Interest Group Strategists
VI. Regulating Lobbyists
I. Interest Group
Interest Group- An organized group of individuals having common goal and actively attempting to influence government policies.
Why have interest groups been so successful in the United States?
Variety of interest due to economic social cleavages among the members of the American society
Efficient Democracy
Accessible Government- Multiple points of access
Types of Interest Groups
Economic Interest Groups
1. Business
The US Chamber of Commerce
The Business Roundtable 2. Agriculture
The American Farm Bureau
National Farmer's Union
3. Labor
AFL- ClO 4. Public Employee
American Federation of State, Conty and Municipal Employees
American Federation of Teachers
National Education Association 5. Professional Organizations
American Bar Association (ABA)
American Medical Association (AMA)
Environmental Interest Groups
Sierra Club
National Wildlife Federation
Public Interest Groups
Nader Organizations
Common Cause
League of Women Voters
Special Interest Groups
NRA
National Abortion Rights Action League
Foreign Government
I. What makes an Interest Group powerful?
Size and Resources
Leadership
Cohesiveness (solidarity)
II. Incentives that IG's offer
Solidary Incentives- a reason or motive that follows from the desire to associate with others and to share with others particular interest or hobby
Material Incentives- a reason or motive based on the desire to enjoy a certain economic benefits or opportunities
Purposive Incentives-
III. Interest Group Strategies
Direct Techniques
Lobbying ( a private meetings, providing draft legislation, testifying before committees, social gatherings)
The ratings game
Campaign Assistance
Political Campaigns