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 problem1. 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, and2. 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) but2. 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 interestsB. Direct Lobbying-Direct contact w/ policy maker-One-on-one meeting; testify at committee hearing; letters/ e-mailC. Indirect lobbying- Work—> intermediaries-Constituents; influential people in district-Example: Bacardi Rum’s Triple Bank ShotD. 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 preferenceCongress-President/ Exec. BranchCourts-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 attentionTopic 6 I. The general nature of political partiesPolitical 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 GroupsMethod of influence (most important)Parties nominate/ run candidates Interest groups don’t Influence politics other ways- lobbyingActive during elections/ b/w electionsBreadth/ scope- issue concernsParties- take positions on broad range of issues- appeal- votersInterest groups- narrow range of issues of concern—> membersQuasi-public vs. Private orgs.Parties- quasi-publicNot part of govCan’t prohibit citizens from participating in party