Transcript Unit 2, Ch. 9 (Interest Groups)

Linkage Institutions
Political Parties
Interest Groups
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Chapter 9
Interest Groups
Guiding Question:
To what extent do interest groups advance or harm democracy?
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Please define the following terms in your own words:
Linkage Institutions
Interest Groups
Public Affairs
Public Policy
Citizens United v. FEC
Lobbying
Lobbyist
Entrance Ticket
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Interest Groups
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Learning Targets:
1. Be able to identify and describe the functions of interest
groups.
2. Be able to recognize the roles of different interest groups
(especially on your own lives).
3. Be able to describe how interest groups influence public
opinion.
Relevant Vocab and Ideas
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Linkage Institutions
Interest Groups
Public Affairs
Public Policy
Economic Interest Groups
Trade Associations
Labor Unions
Public Interest Groups
Citizens United v. FEC
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Lobbying
Lobbyist
Amicus Curiae brief
Grass Roots
Revolving Door
Interest groups are policy
specialists. Why?
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• NOTE:
• Parties are B r o a d;
• Interest Groups are narrow.
Interest Group Definition
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• Interest Groups - Groups of people who share the same views on public matters and work to
shape policy.
• They provide specialized and BIASED information on a specific topic/issue.
• The more interests there are in a nation the more interest groups are created.
• Interest Groups try to persuade people to respond to its members’ shared attitudes
Interest Groups - Historically
• Historically, one reason interest groups are so
common in the U.S. is that they can easily gain
access to government.
• WHY? (Superpacs = $$$$$$$$) (2:50)
• This lets them play a huge role in shaping “Public
Affairs” & “Public Policy”.
• Public Affairs – Issues and events that concern the people
at large.
• Public Policy – The laws or goals that government follows of
pursues.
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Interest Group – Basic Functions
• Positive
• Negative
• Provide ways to participate in
public life.
• Push their own special
interests
• Inform and raise interest in
public matters.
• Focus on important member
issues.
• Represent a small part of the
population.
• Sometimes use unethical
practices.
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Interest Groups – Types
Types:
• Economic Interest Groups - Lobby on behalf of consumers
• Trade Associations – interest groups within the business
community
• Labor Unions – A group of workers who join together to
advance their wages, benefits, and safety.
• Public Interest Groups – An interest group that works for the
benefit of everyone.
• Note: One way ALL interest groups become involved in the
election process is by providing campaign funds. They DO NOT
nominate candidates.
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This is who we are this is what we do…
Information & Protection
• The most important and effective commodity at the command
of interest groups is
INFORMATION.
• WHY: Because legislators cannot be experts on all issues, and they rely
on lobbyists for information.
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• Legal protection for interest groups is provided by the 1
Amendment.
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Topics of Interest Groups
• Unlike the major political parties, interest groups are interested in
the what of government rather than the who.
• Gun Control/2nd Amendment Rights
• Climate Change
• Creationism vs. Evolution
• Health Insurance
• Abortion
• Labor Relations
• Citizens United v. FEC – USSC rules that Corporations have
the same right of freedom and spending as citizens.
Therefore they can not be limited in their ability to donate
to political campaigns etc.
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Particular Interest Groups
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NRA
AFL-CIO-Labor Unions
AARP
ACLU
Christian Coalition
National Farmers Union
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These are real
• The U.S. Association of Reptile Keepers
• The National Association of Ordnance/Explosive
Waste
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The Balloon Council
Sports Fan Coalition
American Pyrotechnics Association
The American Dehydrated Onion and Garlic
Association
http://www.usnews.com/news/blogs/washington-whispers/2013/01/28/10-strange-lobbying-groups-that-weswear-are-real
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Propaganda – How its created
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Propaganda is BIASED by definition.
Start with a conclusion- explain why it is right
Stack the deck-only offer one side
Label the other•
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Ultraliberal
Ultraconservative
Wing Nut
Fascist
Communist
• Talking points- American, sound, fair, balanced, just, common sense
• HOWEVER: Lobbyists are restrained from misrepresenting facts or
misleading legislators by the fear of losing legislators’ trust and confidence.
Examples of Interest Group Propaganda
What elements of these clips are Examples of Bias?
•New NRA Anti-Obama Ad (0:44)
•Boston Teachers Union (0:32)
•After A Government Health Care
•America Is At Stake (1:18)
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(0:30)
Lobbying & Lobbiests
• Lobbying – Trying to influence members of
a law making group.
• Lobbyist – A person who tries to influence
members of a law making group.
• About 30,000 lobbyists
• Roughly 2 billion spent annually
• “These folks are gooooooood.”
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Lobbying Congress (the legislative branch)
• Submit prepared statements
• Testify before congressional hearings-may be true, may be false,
or misleading
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Provide information and ideas to members of Congress
Campaign contributions
Write speeches
Draft legislation
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Lobbying the Executive Branch
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Try to influence President’s appointments
Laws written in broad terms-lobbyists try to influence
Provide campaign contributions
Contact a bureaucrat on how you’d like to see policy implemented
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Lobbying the Courts (the Judicial Branch)
• Brown v. Topeka Board of Education
• NAACP (interest group)
• ACLU takes on unpopular causes-represents fringe groups
• Gone Too Far: Our Kids in Handcuffs (3:13)
• Why the respect of teachers is worth cultivating…
• Amicus curiae brief- written arguments presented to a court in
support of one side in a dispute
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Indirect Lobbying
• Nationally:
• AARP-something affects retirees, you are sure to hear about it
• Grass roots- Average Voters applying pressure “at large”  low
level
• Vote or Die (7:28)
• HIP HOP P. Diddy's "Vote or Die
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The Revolving Door
The term revolving door refers to departing a government official joining a
lobbying firm with which they had been doing business.
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ACTIVITY
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DESIGNING A SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP
1. Working with a partner please begin working on the special interest group activity.
2. Work creatively and neatly.
3. This will be collected, reviewed, returned, and presented on the day of the test.
Linkage Institutions - Overview and
Homework
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Cram for the exam (4:00) – Political Parties
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Cram for the Exam (4:00) – Interest Groups
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Please study for the test of 9 (Interest Groups) and 5 (Political Parties)
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