Week 12: Interest Groups

what causes the different levels of influence by interest groups?

financial resources

how many Texas are represented by interest groups?

nearly all Texans

public interest groups

seek policy results that benefit the general public

private interest groups

seek to influence public policy not on behalf of the general public but for the benefit of members of a group with special interests

aka special interest groups

issue ads

political advertising that does not specifically call for the election or defeat of a named candidate but rather focuses on matters of public concern

sub-governments

well-defined networks of legislators, government bureaucrats, and private-sector interests tied together by specific policy matters with which they are all concerned and externally insulated to a significant degree from other actors

aka iron triangles

watchdog groups

a group that monitors gov activity and educates the public on various aspects of the political process, incl candidates compliance with campaign finance laws, policy proposals, and legislative voting behavior, and bureaucratic implementation of public policy

typical interest group tools and techniques for influencing public policy

• lobbying

• influencing political campaigns

• organizing public demonstrations

• carrying out media campaigns

• attending public meetings

• taking legal and illegal action

in-house lobbyists

permanent employees of an interest group or organization who present the group’s concerns and policy proposals to legislators, bureaucrats, and other government officials

contract lobbyists

temporary employees of an interest group or organization who are hired specifically to present the group’s concerns and proposals to legislators, bureaucrats, an other gov officials during a legislative session or for a contractually arranged period of time.

political action committees (PACs)

organizations established by individuals or private groups that spend money to elect or defeat candidates. regulated under state and federal law.

can interest groups campaign directly for a candidate

no

grassroots

a term implying that a group or organization originated from the efforts of significant #s of ordinary citizens or citizens leaders

loaded terms

a term that is likely to elicit an emotional response from the audience, either positive or negative

interest group

an organization made up of individuals that share common goals and seek to influence gov policy, but without directly sponsoring candidates for office

special interests

typically used negatively; implies that a group is advocating for a narrow set of beneficiaries rather than the public good

advocacy groups

somewhat more neutral; used for groups that publicly champion some kind of cause; more vague

pressure groups

emphasizes the lobbying or the persuasive efforts that a group might use to push gov officials towards a specific action, negative ring to it

Free Rider Problem

when a person or entity benefits from a resource, good, or service that they have not contributed to

selective benefit

a benefit provided only to those who contribute

lobbyist

professional advocate who uses direct communications with the legislative or executive branch of gov to influence legislation or policy

independent expenditure

an expenditure for a communication that expressly advocates the election or defeat at a clearly identified candidate

revolving door 

movement of individuals btwn public sector jobs — like elected officials and staff and gov officials — and jobs with interest groups as lobbyists or consultants

amicus curiae belief

“friend of the court”

legal document submitted by someone not a party to a case but a strong interest in the outcome. provides the court with additional info, arguments, or perspectives on legal issues, and the court may request or grant permission for its submission

needs of the legislature

• policy knowledge

• procedural knowledge

• institutional memory

• specialized labor

pluralism

the political theory that holds that in democracies power is (or should be) dispersed among a variety of groups who compete to influence gov without any group or groups having systematic advantage over others