Pol 140 interest_groups

1. POL 140
Fall 2014

5.  Pre-Civil War
 1880s and 1890s
 Progressive / New Deal Eras
 1960s and 1970s
 Present Day

7.  Interest groups are groups of citizens who:
 (1) Share common interest
 (2) Try to influence policy
 What are some types of interest groups?
 Proactive Interest Groups
 Reactive Interest Groups
 Homogeneous vs. Heterogeneous Groups

9.  Representation
 Participation
 Education
 Agenda Building
 Provision of Program Alternatives
 Program Monitoring

11.  Common Problem or Threat
 “There is a disturbance in the Force…”
 Example: NSF Funding for My Research!
 Resource Advantage
 Money, Membership Size, Leadership, Information
 Effective Leadership
 Importance of interest group entrepreneurs

12. Cesar Chavez
United Fruit Workers
Ralph Nader
Consumer
Protection
Candy Lightner
Mothers Against
Drunk Driving
(MADD)

14. “Nate’s Lighthouse Story”

15.  Two Characteristics:
 Non-Excludable
▪ Cannot include some while excluding others
 Non-Rival
▪ Consumption of collective good does not reduce the
units available for others

16.  Material Benefits
 Tangible rewards that members can actually use
 Most common benefit is information
 Solidary Benefits
 Derived from interaction and bonding with others
 Expressive Benefits
 Internal rewards; Being a part of worthy cause

26. Pat Robertson

27. James Dobson

32.  Foreign governments lobby Congress to
affect positive policy change
 Domestic entities also want to lobby in DC:
 National Governors Association
 National Conference of State Legislatures
 United States Conference of Mayors

34. DIRECT LOBBYING
 “Inside Lobbying”
 Interaction with
decision makers in
government
INDIRECT LOBBYING
 “Outside Lobbying”
 Mobilizes interest
group membership /
general public to
contact govt. officials
on given issue

35.  How is this done?
 Educating public through information / research
 Organizing peaceful protests
 Issue Advocacy Ads – Why should we care?
 527 Groups

36. John Kerry during his Vietnam War service