Which of the following is the most powerful Voters Government Agencies Bureaucracy Elected Officials Political Parties Special Interest Groups SIGs Average American is represented by interest groups SIGs influence all of these ID: 368208
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Slide1
SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS (SIG’S) Slide2
Which of the following is the most powerful?
Voters
Government Agencies (Bureaucracy)
Elected Officials
Political PartiesSpecial Interest Groups (SIG’s)(Average American is represented by interest groups - SIG’s influence all of these)Slide3
INTEREST GROUPS
An interest group is a group of like-minded individuals who encourage or prevent changes in public policy without trying to be elected.Slide4
How do Interest Groups differ from political parties?
Venn Diagram:
Political Party
Interest Group
Similarites
http://www.ushistory.org/gov/5c.aspSlide5
What is a Political Party?
A group of individuals outside of government who organize to win elections, to operate the government, and determine public policy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lt-f3QQ7-ASlide6
What Political Parties Do:
Select Candidates:
Inform the Public:
Coordinate Policy Making:
Balance Interests within the Party:Run Campaigns:
Raise Money:Slide7
How do Interest Groups differ from political parties?
Venn Diagram:
Political Party
Interest Group
Similarites
Elites
Pluralists – many share power
(or perhaps hyperpluralists – so many influences gov’t can’t function)
“make” policy
“influence” policy
Goal: Win elections/control an office in Gov’t (Pres, Congress,etc)
Members share common interests/
political ideas
Need $ to operate
Goal: Inform and persuade those in gov’t
$ Campaign funds
$
PACSSlide8
INTEREST GROUPS
Interest groups exist to
shape and influence public policy.
Functions
:Stimulate interest in public policy.
Represent members
based on interests / attitudes (not geography – like elected officials).
3
. Provide information
to the government (Lobbyists contact politicians)
4. Act as a
vehicle for political participation
.
5. Act as a
check and balance
for politics.
6.
Competitively balance each other
. (Environment vs. Business)Slide9
Amassing Public Support
Special Interest groups (SIGs):
Political parties (Elites) goal is to “make” policy vs. SIGs are pluralists (or perhaps hyper pluralists) venting (“influence” policy)
1. Characteristics:
a. Membership. b. Financial resources. c. Leadership. d. Organizational structure.
2. Types:
a. Business and industry. b. Trade associations.
c. Organized labor. d. Agriculture. e. Professional.
f. Public interest. g. Government h. Cultural, religious, ethnic.
i. Equality interest.Slide10
SIGs Strategies
1.
Provide data to politicians
and government agencies. SIGS are policy specialists whereas political parties are policy generalists.
2. Draft legislation via the Iron Triangle: Slide11
SIGs Strategies (continued)
3.
Lawsuits
.
4. Education. **information = #1 influence5. Watchdogs of government.
6.
Lobbyists:
hired political persuaders (14,000+ in D.C) whose job is to promote the SIGs interests (via pressure, votes, and $).Slide12
Lobbyists “Influence peddlers” – Can they be good?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2DUM6jVasw
3 min.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTbtKRdYbYo
3 min.
Does Lobbying need reform? Slide13
Successful SIG’s
1. Have a relatively small size:
a. Potential groups (or large groups) suffer from “free-rider status.”
b. Actual groups reap what they sow and therefore work harder. One can make potential groups more powerful by providing “selective benefits” (AARP). Solidary incentive = sense of companionship when members meet.
2. Have intensity: Single issue groups - NRA, NOW, abortion.
3. Go public: influence public opinion.
4. Diversify: over 23,000 exist today, and 90% are headquartered in Washington D.C.
Interest group participation is the culmination of political participatory actionsSlide14
Investigate a successful Interest Group:
Go to the AARP website –
www.
aarp
.org
With a partner, answer the following questions:
Type of Organization?
Institutional or Membership
Who are their subscribers? (not names, but in general)
Benefits to joining?
Issues of concern?