# data[].attributes.body
congress, committee staffers, agency officials, lawyers, lobbyists, consultants, scholars, public relations specialists

# data[].attributes.body
increases scope of government as interest groups are asking more from the government
govt providing more for these groups (especially hyperpluralist theory) --> scope of govt increases as govt does more

many groups in DC just monitoring policy

creepy stalkers

# data[].attributes.body
pluralism: all the groups counter each other and create healthy competition

increase democracy

elitism: an open system leads to a few wealthy groups running everything

takes away from democracy

hyperpluralism: too many groups causes policy gridlock

decreases democracy

# data[].attributes.headline
consumer and other public interest groups

# data[].attributes.subject
consumer and other public interest groups

# data[].attributes.body
least funded
public interest lobbies

collective goods almost

a win for these groups is a win for all

legislative victories = Consumer Product and Safety Commission

interest groups who stand up for those who can't speak for themselves: the mentally ill, children
ex. Common Cause

religious interest groups: spread their idea of morals
ex. Christian Coalition

intergovernmental interest groups: bring govt employees together
ex. National Governors Association

professional association interest groups
ex. American Medical Association, American Bar Association

ideological and single-issue interest groups: narrow and special interest
ex. NRA, AARP

# data[].attributes.body
usually minorities and women fighting for civil rights
want equal protection under the law and want it enforced
NAACP, NOW
big issue for NAACP right now = affirmative action, social welfare issues
big issue for NOW right now = Equal Rights Amendment

# data[].attributes.body
quite new, grew from the '70s
goal: increase GREEN values
examples: World Wildlife Fund, Nature Conservancy, Sierra Club
oppose oil drilling in Alaska, nuclear plants...
have a GREAT influence over congress

have many supporters, groups have many members

use litigation often and WELL

# data[].attributes.body
LABOR
unions (AFL-CIO)
goal: better working conditions and increase wages

protect collective bargaining

want union shop and NOT right-to-work laws

Fight for right to unionize, minimum wage, workers comp, overtime issues, women’s rights - equal pay, closed/union shop = employers hire union workers

labor movement peaked in 1956 but has declined since (except in public sector!)

BUSINESS
the elite, the pops, the plastics...: banks, insurance co, multinational corp
these guys are well organized and well armed

most wealthy

dominate lobbying and PACs

*Chamber of Commerce*
usually support repubs (because biz, duh) --> will donate to whichever majority though
goal: profit

interests of each group differ but share common goal of making money

# data[].attributes.body
economic
environmental
equality
consumer/public interest

# data[].attributes.body
therefore groups will want a goodwill image to the public

# data[].attributes.body
public opinion shapes policy of policy makers!
groups will ask their members to reach out to the congressmen to voice their opinions

many people, strong support, many voices... congress will budge eventually

issue ads
groups have own public relations (PR) sector

# data[].attributes.headline
groups who use litigation often and WELL

# data[].attributes.subject
groups who use litigation often and WELL

# data[].attributes.body
environmental groups
civil rights groups (NAACP)

# data[].attributes.body
go to the courts to have laws passed or make sure laws are enforced

sue for enforcement; threat of lawsuits

amicus curiae briefs

info given in highly publicized environmental and emotional causes (ex. affirmative action cases)

class action lawsuits: combination of common grievances becomes stronger, single lawsuit

many ads and commercials for these (medication malfunctions)

# data[].attributes.body
recruit members to run for office
official group endorsements
volunteer labor in campaigns
send delegates to conventions to try to influence platforms

# data[].attributes.body
1. candidate is on committee important to group's interest
2. supportive of issues important to the group
3. from a state where the group facilitates
4. helping the group with executive and regulatory industries
5. in leadership position that can influence issues that affect the group

# data[].attributes.body
reinforcing by getting people into and staying in office

electioneering uses PACs

PACs form when business association or interest group wants to give $$$ to candidates who support groups' legislative favors

symbiosis between PAC and candidate

$ contributions traded for access to officeholders

issue ads

# data[].attributes.headline
lobbying is for activation and reinforcing ideas

# data[].attributes.subject
lobbying is for activation and reinforcing ideas

# data[].attributes.body
not gonna get people to switch sides!

# data[].attributes.headline
lobbyists are not paid for their services but who they know, how they strategize, and what info they can provide

# data[].attributes.subject
lobbyists are not paid for their services but who they know, how they strategize, and what info they can provide

# data[].attributes.body
**lobbyists act as important source of info: specialized expertise, information = power

**help w/ political strategy to legislation through: act as consultants, give proposals

**help w/ campaign strategy and getting members' support for reelection: appeal to members to support campaign

**source of ideas and innovations: get name recognition and political credit

# data[].attributes.body
lobbyists: political persuaders who represent organized groups

usually formal legislators --> revolving door

either...

regular paid employee of corporation/union/association --> holds titles

close to capital hill!!!

hired for temporary basis (by smaller groups) --> get specific legislation passed

# data[].attributes.headline
strategies used by groups to achieve policy goals

# data[].attributes.subject
strategies used by groups to achieve policy goals

# data[].attributes.body
1. lobbying
2. electioneering
3. litigation
4. appealing to public

# data[].attributes.headline
weak correlation between big money and lobbying success because

# data[].attributes.subject
weak correlation between big money and lobbying success because

# data[].attributes.body
1. once one big dog of one side mobilizes, so does the other big dog on the opposing side --> competitiveness
2. big interests face off against other big interests --> smaller interest do better
3. wealthy groups ally with poor groups because they share a common goal --> diversity

# data[].attributes.body
lobbying is biased toward wealthy !! shocking...
but policy outcomes DO NOT rely on:

PAC donations

lobbying expenditures

membership size

organizational budgets

# data[].attributes.body
single issue groups
the more opinionated and strongly emotional your supporters are on the interest of the group, the better off the group

most likely to be heard by congress

# data[].attributes.headline
collective goods from interest groups cause free rider problems

# data[].attributes.subject
collective goods from interest groups cause free rider problems

# data[].attributes.body
to solve this, they introduce selective benefits for members only... oooo fancy

# data[].attributes.body
interest groups want all of their potential group in their actual group
(easier for smaller interest groups)

# data[].attributes.body
small
intense
rich

# data[].attributes.body
pluralism: many groups competing and counteracting each other

good!

no one group too dominant, no one group always winning

groups play by the rules

elitism: government power held by few - the upper-class / wealthy

popular belief

key groups just looking out for themselves, unequal power between groups

multinational groups run the show

image below

hyperpluralism: too many groups that the government is weakened

interest group liberalism

no control and policy gridlock

increases the scope of government because the government is trying to appease everyone's wants

govt weak, groups powerful

iron triangles / issue networks

consist of: interest group leaders, government agency, members of congress...

protecting their self interests

# data[].attributes.headline
interest groups have increased recently because technology has increased

# data[].attributes.subject
interest groups have increased recently because technology has increased

# data[].attributes.body
communication is easier
simple to spread the word
social media --> simple to organize and mobilize

# data[].attributes.headline
interest groups and lobbying occur at all levels of government

# data[].attributes.subject
interest groups and lobbying occur at all levels of government

# data[].attributes.headline
interest groups are a thing because america has freedom of speech and press and RIGHT TO ORGANIZE

# data[].attributes.subject
interest groups are a thing because america has freedom of speech and press and RIGHT TO ORGANIZE

# data[].attributes.body
groups organize and give themselves a voice and lobby in order to make change

# data[].attributes.headline
de Tocqueville = interest groups HELP with democracy      Madison = interest groups HURT b/c they hold too much power

# data[].attributes.subject
de Tocqueville = interest groups HELP with democracy      Madison = interest groups HURT b/c they hold too much power

# data[].attributes.headline
big companies fought back against sugar tax by LOBBYING

# data[].attributes.subject
big companies fought back against sugar tax by LOBBYING

# data[].attributes.body
CocaCola
Pepsi Co
had a strong Latino support

# data[].attributes.body
Obamas backed it
-- prez liked it b/c it would help fund Obamacare
-- Michelle liked it b/c it would promote healthy lifestyles for her Let's Move initiative

# data[].attributes.body
appealing directly to lawmakers / legislatures

direct: professional level confrontations
indirect: conversation outside of political sphere

# data[].attributes.body
direct contact
direct mail
advertisements (issue ads)

# data[].attributes.body
https://quizlet.com/_2t2sa3

# data[].attributes.body
aka grassroots lobbying
appeal to public to urge their own lawmakers