Pol 140 interest_groups

1. POL 140
Fall 2014

4.  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

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

8.  Common Problem orThreat
 “There is a disturbance in the Force…”
 Example: Funding for Political Science Research!
 Resource Advantage
 Money, Membership Size, Leadership, Information
 Effective Leadership
 Importance of interest group entrepreneurs

9. Cesar Chavez
United FruitWorkers
Ralph Nader
Consumer
Protection
Candy Lightner
Mothers Against
Drunk Driving
(MADD)

11. “Nate’s Lighthouse Story”

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

23. Pat Robertson

24. James Dobson

29.  Foreign govts. lobby Congress to affect
positive policy change
 Domestic entities also lobby in DC:

31. 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 issue

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

33. John Kerry during his Vietnam War service