Political Science Chapter 6 03 25 2014 Topic 5 Interest Groups I The General Nature of Interest Groups A Definition B Interest Group Goals II Interest Group Formation and Membership A Why are there Interest Groups B Why do people form and join Interest Groups C What is rational D Public Goods and the Free Rider Problem E Other Theories III Interest Group Activities A Lobbying B Targets of Interest Group Lobbying IV Power and Influence of Interest Groups in American Politics A Mostly a conservative force to preserve status quo B 2 way flow of communication between citizens and government C Groups regulate each other through countervailing power Topic 5 Interest Groups I The General Nature of Interest Groups A Definition 1 A formal organization of persons who a Share common attitudes or interest on some matter and b Make demands on others in society to promote or protect that matter 2 Not all groups are interest groups a Emphasis on shared attitude or interest b Engage in political action B Interest Group Goals 1 Pursue new benefits to promote group interests 2 Defend existing benefits to protect group interests 3 More effective on 2 conservative force a Why b Policy change requires success at multiple decision points c Change can be stopped at any of the decision points II Interest Group Formation and Membership A Why are there Interest Groups 1 First amendment freedoms of association and speech 2 A type of political participation 3 Most Americans belong to or are closely associated with some interest group 4 Figure 6 1 5 How many of you belong to an interest group B Why Do People Form and Join Interest Groups 1 Material benefits a Tangible benefits b Discounts on goods or services 2 Solidary benefits a Intangible benefits b Pleasure of socializing with like minded people 3 Purposive benefits a Transcend the individual and the group b Aimed at benefiting others 4 Based on a theoretical assumption that people engage in collective action because it is rational to do so C What is rational 1 Maximize benefits minimize costs 2 People form and join interest groups if benefits are greater than costs time money effort D Public Goods and the Free Rider Problem Mancur Olson 1965 1 Characteristics of Public Goods a Non excludability once provided cannot be withheld from anyone b Each individual s share is a trivial contribution to the total cost c One person s enjoyment does not prevent others from benefiting 2 Free Riders a Rational not to join a group to produce public goods i You get the benefits regardless and ii Your absence won t be noticed iii So its rational to minimize costs by free riding iv Applies even if benefits of the public good is greater than costs of participating b Why is free riding a problem i Supplying public goods requires collective action but ii If everyone is rational there won t be enough participants to produce the public good 3 Overcoming the Free Rider Problem a Selective benefits i Material and solidary benefits ii Available only to members who pay dues b Government Coercion i Force people to contribute to providing the public good ii Closed shop mandatory union membership iii Mandatory professional membership AMA ABA iv Student services fees c Social ostracism i Effective in small groups ii And Texas A M two percenter E Other Theories 1 Pluralist Theory a Latent unorganized interests spontaneously organize i To take advantage of an opportunity ii In response to threat b Can t explain how latent groups overcome the free rider problem 2 Exchange Theory a Similar to Mancur Olsen s theory but emphasizes leadership b Groups form as a result of a deal an exchange between i A group entrepreneur and an unorganized interest ii Individuals with common interest join in exchange for selective benefits 3 Niche Theory a Applies biological concepts to interest groups i Population ecology study of how animals interact with environment ii Carrying capacity ability to support various species that compete resources iii Partitioning environment into various niches increases carrying capacity iv Various species occupy a small niche to minimize competition from similar species b Explains the explosive growth of interest groups partitioning into small segments representing narrower and narrower interests III Interest Group Activities A Lobbying 1 Activities to influence public policy to promote or protect group interests 2 Direct Lobbying a Direct contact with policy maker b One on One meeting testify at committee hearing letters and emails 3 Indirect lobbying a Work thru intermediaries b Constituents influential people in the district c Bacardi Rum s Triple Bank Shot B Targets of Interest Group Lobbying 1 Their own membership united front 2 Other groups a Coalitions based on common overlapping interests b Logrolling i Coalition of uncommon interests ii you scratch my back I ll scratch yours 3 Political Parties 4 Public Opinion 5 Congress 6 President and Executive Branch 7 Courts a Test Cases b Amicus curiae briefs IV Power and Influence of Interest Groups in American Politics A Mostly a conservative force to preserve status quo 1 Seldom powerful enough to push through big changes 2 Often powerful enough to block change and preserve status quo a Multiple decision points b Big policy change requires winning at each point c Blocking change requires winning at only one point B 2 way flow of communication between citizens and government 1 Aggregate and communicate demands from citizens to government 2 Watch what government does and report back to members a Biased information b Useful to members who have the same ideas 3 Table 6 2 Interest Group Ratings of Some Members of Congress C Groups regulate each other through countervailing power 1 Scrutinize opponents and report negative information 2 Effective only if interests are organized on both sides a Some interests not organized b Most effective in getting small narrow benefits with no public attention