Overview: What is an Interest Group?

• An interest group is defined as an organization whose goal is to influence government. Clients such as corporations pay interest groups millions of dollars so these groups can lobby the government on their behalf so that lawmakers adopt policies beneficial to those corporations or individuals.
• A special interest is a pejorative term used to describe an interest group which one does not support.
• 200,000 interest groups are active in American politics.
• What is a lobbyist? A lobbyist is a paid professional who contacts government officials on behalf of a particular cause or issue.

Private Interest Groups: 3 Functions

1. Inform members about political developments. Your eyes and ears in Washington.
2. Communicate members views to gov’t officials.
3. Mobilize groups of people (the public) to act politically.

American Farm Bureau Federation is a private interest group. Why?

Public Interest Groups

• Public interest groups work for all Americans. Not just a specific subset like farmers.
• Public Interest lobbyist is a Rep of organization that seeks to benefit the population at large
• No specific client

Three ways Public Interest Groups facilitate Support:

1. Material Benefits: items distributed by groups to get you to sign up or remain a member.
2. Expressive Benefits: group represents values this its members share, such as social justice.
3. Solidary Benefits: The feeling of shared commitment and purpose.

The NRA is a public interest group. Why?

Discussion Instructions:

1. Now that you’ve learned what interest groups are and what they do you will discuss whether you think they are good or bad for democracy. Look at the three standard views below and discuss which view you take.
2. By Wednesday at 11:59 post 200 words or more on which view you hold and why?
3. By Friday respond to two classmates posts.

Interest Groups Affect On Democracy: 3 Views

1. Pluralists: gov’t policies will roughly correspond to public desires as long as system is open to a multitude of interests.
2. Hyperpluralists: because there are so many interest groups the entire system is being bogged down in a stalemate.
3. Power Elite Theory: the richest and most powerful interests have a dominating influence on policy.
   • 125 billion dollar bank bailout.
   • 1 million people lost their homes
   • Business lobby = 53% of groups and 72% of money spent.
   • Groups representing poor employ 2% of lobbyist

Stufent 1(Bao): Hello everybody, Personally, if I’m to take a view, I will stand by Pluralism. Pluralism is a political ideology holding that people of different backgrounds, beliefs, and lifestyles can co-occur in the same society and participate in the political process equally. Often, the community’s common good is assumed to be met because decision-makers hold negotiations for solutions. Pluralism is a critical element of democracy as pluralists accept and agree that several competing interest groups will be warranted to share power. Pluralism embraces the integration of minority groups through the formation of civil rights laws which are usually protected by legislation. Pluralism also is accepted and applied in areas of culture and religion. While their values are forever in conflict, they tend to remain correct. A society that embraces Pluralism tends to understand each other’s unique differences and ensure there is lower discrimination towards the minority. Pluralism provides there is equality between people with different beliefs and cultures. Pluralism discourages favoritism because all people are equal before the law, and fairness is encouraged. Pluralism encourages groups, whether large or small, to participate and safeguard their interest as they all have equal opportunities. Unique cultures, traditions, languages, and identities have been preserved in a pluralistic society. Political decisions, economics, and leadership are enacted through consensus among people, which promotes intellectual dualism.

Student 2(Fatima): Hi everyone! The view that resonates with me the most would be under the power elite theory. Nonetheless, I do not think that interest groups harm the US or its democracy. After all, interest groups are a way for the public to organize and fight for what they need or want in a more direct way [to Congress] than a simple series of protests (not that protests don’t serve an important purpose either). I couldn’t help to notice on one of the cartoons above in the instructions shows a member of congress reciting a popular line of “Santa Clause is Coming to Town” but in a political context; it read, “Makin’ a list, checkin’ it twice, gonna vote based on you payin’ me right”. This supports the ideas from the power elite theory and what I believe is the unfortunate truth of interest groups today. The groups or lobbyists that pay the most, whether it be in small gifts or food that they give members of Congress (somewhat bending the bribing rules that exist), will be the ones that end up being heard the most. The interest groups that represent the people, are not likely to have the same amount of money than those that consist of corporations or wealthy elites. It all goes back to the saying “money talks”. Those who have more money will have a stronger voice and ultimately more power.