Topic 5 I The general nature of interest groups A Definition Of Interest Groups 1 Formal organization of persons who a Share common attitudes or interests on some matter and ex Scuba diver bubba drinks beer run over diver b Make demands on others in society to promote or protect that matter political ex One member of scuba divers wants to make law to strengthen safety laws of divers Shared interest not simply a common characteristic B Interest group goals 1 Pursue new benefits to promote group interests ex Wanting new safety laws diving 2 Defend existing benefits to protect group interests ex Wanna keep laws the same 3 More effective on 2 conservative force Like things way they already are built in advantage Making policy is multi step a Why b Policy change requires success at multiple decision points c Change can be stopped at any of the decision points Only takes a win at one of the points whereas 1 has to win every time A Why are there interest groups 1 First amendment freedoms of association and speech all interest groups protected by first amendment 2 A type of political participation 3 Most Americans belong to or are closely associated with some interest group Not all political but engage in political activity Use to refer to interest groups as pressure groups 4 Figure 6 1 5 How many of you belong to an interest group everyone II Interest group formation and membership B Why do people form and join interest groups 1 Material benefits a Tangible benefits ex Journals in pols club b Discount on goods or services ex AARP discount when staying in hotels 2 Solitary benefits good feelings hanging out and like same things you do a Intangible benefits b Pleasure of socializing with like minded people ex Making friends 3 Purposive benefits a Transcend the individual and the group b Aimed at benefiting others make world a better place 4 Based on a theoretical assumption that people engage in COLLECTIVE ACTION action in which a group of people work together for the provision of public goods because it s RATIONAL to do so Benefits from joining but there are costs money time effort etc C What is rational Use in same way as economists self interest benefits greater than costs 1 Maximize benefits minimize costs 2 People form and join interest group If benefits are greater than costs D Public goods and the free rider problem 1 Characteristics of public goods a Non excludability once provided cannot be withheld from anyone b Each individual s share a trivial of little value contribution to the total cost my amount I pay is small so no one will notice if I don t pay c One persons enjoyment doesn t prevent others from benefiting 2 Free riders not a value judgement Benefits most when comes to public goods Don t pay any of the costs a Rational NOT to join a group to produce public goods 1 You get the benefits regardless and 2 Your absence won t be noticed 3 So it s rational to minimize cost by free riding 4 Applies even if benefits of public goods is greater than costs of participating b Why is free riding a problem 1 Supplying public goods requires COLLECTIVE ACTION people working together but 2 If everyone is rational there won t be enough participants to produce the public good Likely to be underproduced rational not to do it 3 Overcoming the free rider problem How overcome this a Selective benefits 1 Material and solidary benefits 2 Available only to members who pay dues b Government coercion gov legit use of force coercion ex student fees 1 Force people to contribute to providing the public good 2 Closed shop mandatory Union membership prevent free ride 3 Mandatory professional membership AMA ABA 4 Student services fees c Social ostracism 1 Effective in small groups everyone knows everyone else if you don t pay fair share everyone notices 2 And Texas A M Aggie spirit former student association etc What s Aggie for free rider TWO PERCENTER III Interest group activities A Lobbying Activities to influence public policy promote protect group interests B Direct Lobbying Direct contact w policy maker One on one meeting testify at committee hearing letters e mail C Indirect lobbying Work intermediaries Constituents influential people in district Example Bacardi Rum s Triple Bank Shot D Targets of Interest Group Lobbying Their own membership united front Other groups coalition Coalitions based on common overlapping interests Logrolling exchange support uncommon interests you scratch my back I scratch yours Political parties Public opinion voter preference Congress President Exec Branch Courts Test case Brown v Board of Edu NAACP sponsored case Amicus curiae briefs friend of court asks permission file 3rd party brief occasionally quoted in final decision statement from Court Power Influence of Interest Groups in Amer Politics Mostly conservative force Seldom powerful enough push big changes Often powerful enough block change preserve status quo Multiple decision points Big policy change requires winning each point Blocking change requires winning only 1 point 2 way flow of communication b w citizens gov Aggregate communicate demands citizens gov Watch what gov does reports members Biased info Useful members w same bias Table 6 2 Interest Group Ratings Some Members of Congress Groups regulate each other through countervailing power Scrutinize opponents report negative info Effective only if interests organized on both sides Some interests not organized Most effective getting small narrow benefits w no public attention Topic 6 I The general nature of political parties Political Parties Definition Organization nominates runs candidates for office under party label win gov offices enact policies party favors Parties type of interest group NO Differences b w Political Parties Interest Groups Method of influence most important Parties nominate run candidates Interest groups don t Influence politics other ways lobbying Active during elections b w elections Breadth scope issue concerns Parties take positions on broad range of issues appeal voters Interest groups narrow range of issues of concern members Quasi public vs Private orgs Parties quasi public Not part of gov Can t prohibit citizens from participating in party activities B c party primaries select nominees for general election party action state action Smith v Allwright 1944 Interest groups private orgs set whatever requirements they want C Membership in political parties 1 No formal party membership in the US 2 Define political party as three