Chapter 9.1Chapter 9.1

The Nature of Interest GroupsThe Nature of Interest Groups

What is an interest group?What is an interest group?

Interest Group – A private organization Interest Group – A private organization that tries to persuade public officials to that tries to persuade public officials to respond to the shared attitudes of its respond to the shared attitudes of its members.members.

Public Policy – All those things that a Public Policy – All those things that a government attempts to do in order to government attempts to do in order to achieve certain goals.achieve certain goals.

Interest Group vs. Political PartyInterest Group vs. Political Party

Interest groups do not Interest groups do not nominate candidates for nominate candidates for officeofficeInterested in influencing Interested in influencing or controlling the policies or controlling the policies of governmentof governmentAlmost always Almost always concentrate on matters concentrate on matters that affect the interest of that affect the interest of their memberstheir membersThey are private They are private organizations – not organizations – not accountable to the accountable to the general publicgeneral public

Political parties nominate Political parties nominate candidates for officecandidates for officeChiefly interested in Chiefly interested in winning elections and winning elections and controlling governmentcontrolling governmentAre concerned with the Are concerned with the whole range of public whole range of public affairsaffairsThey are accountable to They are accountable to the general public – the general public – voters pass judgment on voters pass judgment on their performancetheir performance

Interest Groups: Good or Bad?Interest Groups: Good or Bad?

James Madison (1787): Warned against James Madison (1787): Warned against dangers of “factions.”dangers of “factions.”

A necessary evil – the price for freedom; A necessary evil – the price for freedom; inevitable in human societyinevitable in human society

Solution: Moderate violence of factions Solution: Moderate violence of factions with a republican remedy (division of with a republican remedy (division of power)power)

Functions of Interest GroupsFunctions of Interest Groups

They stimulate interest in public affairsThey stimulate interest in public affairsMembers are represented on basis of shared Members are represented on basis of shared attitudes rather than geographyattitudes rather than geographyThey provide useful information to government. They provide useful information to government. For example:For example:– Price levelsPrice levels– EmploymentEmployment– Home salesHome sales

Serve as vehicles for political participationServe as vehicles for political participationAdd to checks and balancesAdd to checks and balances

Criticisms of Interest GroupsCriticisms of Interest Groups

They are not always pushing for what’s They are not always pushing for what’s best for Americabest for AmericaHave an influence far out of proportion to Have an influence far out of proportion to their sizetheir sizeVery difficult to tell how many people a Very difficult to tell how many people a group really representsgroup really representsMany do not always represent the views of Many do not always represent the views of all their membersall their membersSometimes corrupt Sometimes corrupt