Transcript IntGroupPP - Cobb Learning

Interest Groups
Chapter 18
Defining Interest Groups
Purpose: Communicate “wants” to
government leaders – influence public
policy
1. Share common goals and organize to
influence government
2. Address specific problems or issues in society
3. Unite like-minded people from all over the
country
4. Derive strength in numbers
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Government will respond better to large groups than
individuals
They have access to more money
Organization
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http://thecolbertreport.cc.com/videos/2hdefm/better-know-a-lobby---american-meat-institute
Why Join?
• Economic interests
• Individual beliefs, values, or attitudes
(political ideology)
• Non-political (social)
Who Joins?
• Upper income levels
• Who is looking out for the rest of us?
Types of Interest Groups
• Business and Labor
• (AFL-CIO, National Association of
Manufacturers, United Mine Workers)
• Agricultural Groups
• (NFU – National Farmers’ Union)
• Others
• Professional (ABA), Environmental (Sierra
Club, Greenpeace), Public Interest (Common
Cause), Government
How does an Interest Group
influence Policy
• Generating Public Pressure – trying to
influence the government by using public
opinion on an issue
• Hiring professional Lobbyists
• Using Constituents as Lobbyists (letterwriting campaigns)
• Media Campaign
• Building Alliances – forming partnerships
with groups who share a policy goal
Limitations of Interest Groups
• Different groups have different,
sometimes conflicting goals
• Larger Interest Groups have more
diverse interests
• Smaller Interest Groups have more
narrow goals
• Laws to avoid corruption
Interest Groups: The Positive
• Individual citizens can influence
government beyond just voting
• Increase the interest and participation of
voters
• Gives minority groups access to all
branches of the government
• Continued expansion of interest groups
is expected
Interest Groups: The Negative
• Power of interest groups greater than
ever before
• Raise and spend large sums of money to
support candidates and parties,
• This support buys access and the internet is
a great tool for rallying the troops
• Also provide endorsements to candidates
during campaigns: ____________________
• Open Secrets
Major Special Interest Groups
• National Association for the Advancement of
Colored People http://www.naacp.org
• American Federation of Labor-Congress of
Industrial Organization http://www.aflcio.org
• American Medical Association
http://www.ama-assn.org/
• National Education Association
http://www.nea.org/
Influencing Public Policy
Lobbyists
• What is lobbying?
• Direct contact with lawmakers or
government leaders
• What is a lobbyist?
• Representative of an interest group
• Therefore serves as direct influence by
an Interest Group
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBELC_vxqhI
Who is a Lobbyist?
• Individual paid by an interest
group
• By law, must register with Congress
• By law, must file reports to disclose
activities
• By law, must estimate salary from the group
they represent
• Revolving Door: Many lobbyists
are former government officials
What Does a Lobbyist Do?
• Meets with Congressmen and women
• Provide reports, statistics, and other
relevant information
• Testify before congressional committees
during hearings or investigations
• Help members of Congress draft bills
Stuff I forgot to explain
• Cloture-means to bring an end to
floor debate. It is used to stop a
filibuster in the Senate. (No cloture
rule in the House) But cloture is
rarely used because it takes a 3/5
vote of the Senate to invoke cloture,
which is hard to get.
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AARP – American Association of Retired
People*
Christian Coalition*
NARAL – National Abortion Rights Action
League*
ACLU – American Civil Liberties Union*
Club for Growth
NEA - National Education Association*
Council on American-Islamic Relations
National Resources Defense Council
ABA - American Bar Association*
Emily’s List
NOW – National Organization of Women*
American Conservative Union
Environmental Defense Fund
NRA – National Rifle Association
American Farm Bureau
Family Research Council
PETA – People for the Ethical Treatment of
Animals
AIPAC - American Israel Public Affairs
Committee
Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence previously known as
Handgun Control, Inc.
Public Citizen*
AMA - American Medical Association*
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Moveon.org
Sierra Club
ATLA - Association of Trial Lawyers of
America
NAACP – National Association of
Colored People*
US Chamber of Commerce
The Business Roundtable
AFL-CIO – American Federation of
Labor – Congress of Industrial
Organizations*
NAM - National Association of
Manufacturers*
Veterans of Foreign Wars*
Planned Parenthood
ASPCA – American Society for the
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
National Wildlife Federation
MADD – Mothers against Drunk Driving
American Association of People with
Disabilities
GLAD - Gay & Lesbian Advocates &
Defenders
League of Women Voters
National Immigration Forum
Lulac