interest groups

insider

use special access, relationships ans connections

cause

focus on benefitting all of society

sectional

fight for the interests of a relatively small, distinct group in society

outsider

use protests, strikes, demonstrations and media attention to build public awareness

insider causal groups

methods	effectiveness
Lobbying Congress and executive agencies Providing policy expertise and research Strategic litigation through Supreme Court Working with sympathetic administrations Media campaigns to support policy change Examples: ACLU, Human Rights Campaign	Represent broad public interest → high moral legitimacy Cooperative relationship with government departments Provide expertise and public support for policy goals More likely to achieve incremental policy change Risk of co-option reduces radical impact

outsider causal groups

methods	effectiveness
Mass protest and civil disobedience Social media mobilisation and grassroots pressure Agenda-setting via national media Targeting elections and primaries Ballot initiatives at state level Examples: Black Lives Matter, Sunrise Movement	Use direct action and media to raise awareness Mobilise public opinion when excluded from access Effective at agenda-setting, not policy drafting Can force government response via reputational pressure Risk of marginalisation if tactics seen as extreme

insider sectional groups

methods	effectiveness
Clear, narrow interests → strong bargaining power Regular access through policy networks Influence via expertise, funding, and implementation role Effective at securing favourable regulation or exemptions Democratic concern: elitism and unequal access	Professional lobbying in Washington Campaign donations and Super PAC support Direct access to congressional committees Drafting legislation and regulatory influence Revolving door between group and government Examples: AIPAC, NRA, US Chamber of Commerce

outsider sectional groups

methods	effectiveness
Often excluded due to confrontational tactics Use strikes, legal action, or public campaigns Can gain concessions during crises or high salience issues Less consistent influence than insider sectional groups Effectiveness depends on economic leverage	Industrial action and strikes Court challenges and legal pressure Grassroots organising at state level Public campaigning to force concessions Use of referendums and ballot measures Examples: Amazon Labor Union, Fight for $15

AIPAC

• insider

  • direct access to congress during debates on US military aid to Israel- got additional $12bn on top of $4bn

• causal

• single-interest

• partisan but used to be bipartisan