© 2010 Pearson Education

Chapter 7Interest Groups

• NRA– One of the most successful interest groups – Advocates the right to gun owners and opposes gun

control • Successful despite public opinion • Gallup

– 73%: 2nd Amendment gives the right to own a gun– 49%: favor stricter gun regulations– 38%: favor keeping gun control laws as they are.

Case Study: NRA

Types of Interest Groups• Many different types of interest groups

– Each with its own political goals and objectives• Business Groups

– Most numerous and probably the most influential of America’s interest groups – Interested in

• tax laws • interest rates• environmental regulations • trade policy • labor laws • government contracts

– Chambers of commerce are umbrella organizations representing the views of business in general.

• Labor Unions– While organized labor remains a powerful political force,

• its membership has been on the decline, and• its strength as well.

– Labor unions favor policies that benefit workers, i.e.,• such as wages, and• hour laws.

– They also join with business in supporting policies that increase jobs.

– The largest union federation in the nation is the American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO).

Types of Interest Groups

Types of Interest Groups• Professional Associations

– Professional associations (doctors, lawyers, realtors, etc.)

• Influential: high socioeconomic status of their membership • Concerned with public policies that affect their members

– American Medical Association (AMA)– American Bar Association (ABA)

Types of Interest Groups• Racial and Ethnic

Minority Groups– Today, these groups have great influence

• In general, they share certain goals: – equality before the law, – representation in elective and appointive office, – freedom from discrimination, and– economic equality.

– National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)

– League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC)– American Indian Movement (AIM).

Types of Interest Groups• Religious Groups

– Historically, these groups have been actively involved in the policy process.

• The “religious right” is the most active.– Among other concerns, conservative religious

organizations • oppose abortion and homosexuality, and • support prayer in public schools.

Types of Interest Groups

• Citizen, Advocacy, and Cause Groups– Citizen groups

• Support policies they believe will benefit the public at large

– Example: Common Cause, the Sierra Club, and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)

Types of Interest Groups– Advocacy groups

• Seek benefits for persons who are unable to represent their own interests

– Example: Children’s Defense Fund– Cause groups

• Care intensely about a single issue or small group of related issues

– Example: Right to Life Advocates, the National Abortion Rights Action League (NARAL), and the National Rifle Association (NRA)

Interest Group Tactics• Each interest group

– uses its own strategies and tactics to achieve objectives. • Electioneering• Lobbying • Public pressure • Protest demonstrations • Litigation• Political violence

Interest Group Tactics

• Groups often participate in the electoral process by giving money to candidates through their political action committees (PACs).

Interest Group Tactics

Interest Group Tactics

Interest Group Tactics

• The policymaking influence of interest groups depends on several factors.– Alliances with political parties:

• Interest groups have more policymaking influence when the party with which they are allied is successful.

– Alliances with members of Congress and executive branch officials:

• The policymaking influence of interest groups depends on their ability to cultivate relationships with key officials in the legislative and executive branches.

The Strength of Interest Groups

The Strength of Interest Groups

• The policymaking influence of interest groups depends on several factors (cont.)

• Public opinion: – Groups are more successful when their policy goals enjoy strong public

support.• Unity among groups representing the same cause:

– Groups have more influence when organizations representing the same or similar interests or points of view share goals and speak with one voice.

• Opposition from other groups: – The policy influence of groups depends on the extent of opposition from

other groups.

Conclusion: Interest Groups and Public Policy• Interest groups

– Shape every stage of the policymaking process – Provide an important

mechanism for linking the interests of citizens with their government