Interest Groups Placing Demands on Government

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Cordelia Fitzgerald
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1 Interest Groups Placing Demands on Government By Any Other Name... People refer to interest groups with complimentary or derisive names depending on their view of that group Organized interest Advocacy group Pressure group Special interest Faction The Interest Group Universe The paradox of interests American skepticism Participation The advocacy explosion The role of government Diversification Why the U.S. has so many interest groups Individual businesses Many have representation in Washington The bulk of the universe Business and trade associations Peak associations Labor unions Larger labor unions maintain full-time staffs in state capitals and Washington, D.C. Membership advantages Public interest groups Seek public rather than selective goods Usually ideological (conservative vs. liberal) Single issue groups Governments as interest group Local governments converge on Austin State and local governments maintain offices in Washington, D.C. The federal and state bureaucracies

2 Interest Group Formation Disturbance theory Distribution of power Changes in society Read about the free rider problem on pages in Governing Texas. What is it, how does it make group survival difficult, and how can a group over come it? The Free Rider problem Disincentives to join groups Overcoming the free rider problem Collective benefits Selective benefits Motives for joining a group Material benefits Solidary benefits Purposive or expressive benefits Interest Group Activities Nonlobbying activities Maintenance Monitoring government Direct lobbying: the inside game Lobbying the legislature Lobbying the executive branch Watch this video on the iron triangle and issue networks: Who are the three actors in the iron triangle, and why do they have an incentive to work together? The iron triangle Lobbying the judicial branch

3 Interest Group Influence Our elitist history Policy was the province of the few The pluralist ideal What is pluralism in the context of political science? What role do organized interests play in pluralism? Here is a quick description: Competition among groups The pluralist fallacy The Marxian fallacy The first full sentence on page 14 of James Q. Wilson s Political Organizations describes two tempting fallacies in describing organized interests. Familiarize yourself with these: Read this summary of E.E Schattschneider s The Semisovereign People: What is meant by The flaw in the pluralist heaven is that the heavenly chorus sings with a strong upper class accent? What is Schattschneider trying to convey with the word semisovereign? When groups are successful There is little opposition The focus is on low visibility issues Elected officials are undecided Complete the No-Limits Lobbying Simulation Exercise in Canvas now.

4 Interest Groups in Texas The particularized universe Which of the Big Five types of organized interests have been historical weak in Texas? The report below makes it clear: Business and trade groups Organization and image What makes for a good business climate? What sorts of government policies (or lack thereof) to businesses prefer? How does Texas fare in its business climate? Good business climate In 2003, Texas voters approved a constitutional amendment to limit tort liability. Read the definition of torts below. Why would these be of great concern to the business community? How did the amendment change tort law? Tort reform Professional associations Labor unions Diminished power Common goals Public employee groups Organization and voting power Read the linked article about a San Antonio Police Officers Association endorsement: Given this example, how democratic do political organizations appear? Of which fallacy discussed above is this an example? Public effect of demands

5 Agricultural groups Racial and ethnic groups Religious groups

Chapter 12. Groups and Interests

Chapter 12. Groups and Interests Chapter 12 Groups and Interests Groups and Interests Interest groups: foundations and types Not all interest groups are the same. For example, not all are lobbyists, or even wealthy organizations. Proliferation