I. Origins
A. U.S. Constitution
1. feared organized interests
2. knew they would thrive because of liberty
B. James Madison
1. feared “factions”
2. origins in human nature
3. necessary evil of politics
4. competition would create balance (Pluralism)
C. Alex de Tocqueville-1830’s
1. Americans were not civil minded until threatened.
2. “Volunteer associations”
II. Characteristics of Interests Groups
A. Why are they formed?
1. Economic Interests
2. Social Movements
3. Interest in Govt. benefits
4. Responding to Govt. regulations
*1990’s- 4000 groups, giving more than $230 million to the Rep./Dem.
B. Organized interests in D.C.
1. Business and Trade
2. Agriculture
3. Labor
4. Professional
5. Public Interests
6. Ideological Interests
7. Public-sector groups
8. Single-issue groups
9. Government lobbies
10. Foreign lobbies
C. Organization and Staff
1. Leadership
2. Money
3. An agency or office
4. Members
D. Free rider problem
1. Non-members are often eligible for benefits
2. Groups do not reduce efforts because of free riders.
E. Why join an interest group?
1. information benefits
2. material benefits
3. solidarity benefits
4. purposeful benefits
F. Example: AARP
1. founded in 1958 Ethel Percy Andrus
2. wanted affordable health insurance for retired teachers
3. Today-
$382 million- income
$ 86 million- federal grants
1,175 full time employees
G. Characteristics of Members
1. higher income, higher education, professional jobs
2. upper class bias
III. The Proliferation of Groups
A. Expansion of Government
B. Interest in issues
1. Piece of American pie
2. Health care reform
a. Clinton’s plan
b. Defeat by interest groups
C. New Politics movement
1. consists of professionals and intellectuals in the 60’s and 70’s
2. strengthened public interest groups (claim to promote general good)
a. Common Cause
b. Sierra Club
c. NOW
d. Consumer Activist
D. Conservative interest group
1. Christian Coalition
2. National Taxpayers Union
3. National Federation of Independent Businesses
4. Home School Legal Defense Association
5. NRA
E. Strategies
1. Lobbying
2. Gaining Access
3. Using the Courts
4. Going public
5. Electoral politics
a. Political Action Comm.
$1000 per candidate- individual gift
$5000 PAC to 5 different candidates in a year.
b. Campaign activism
-Going public
-Lobbying
-Access
-Litigation
-Partisan Politics