INTERESTS GROUPS

==THEORIES==

  • PLURALISM: a theory of government and politics emphasizing that many groups compete and counterbalance one another in the political marketplace
  • LOBBYING: applying pressure to influence government
  • INTEREST GROUP: a collection of people who share common interests or attitudes and seek to influence government for specific ends.

==TYPES OF INTEREST GROUPS:==

  • ECONOMIC: groups concerned with issues focused on business and labor
  • IDEOLOGICAL OR SINGE-ISSUE: groups focused on either 1 issue or issues concerning specific ideologies
  • PUBLIC INTEREST: groups concerned with issues viewed as public interest (environment, civil rights, etc)
  • FOREIGN POLICY

==HOW THEY GET THINGS DONE:==

  • LOBBYING: applying pressure on an elected official
  • LITIGATION: pursuing legal action to achieve the goals of the interest group
  • ELECTIONEERING: Publicly prompting a candidate immediately before an election
  • LEGISLATION: contributing to the drafting of bills and obtaining support for a bill

==DRAWBACKS OF INTEREST GROUPS:==

  • Interest groups can become more focused on their goals than on more general interests in society
  • Groups with more power and resources are more likely to achieve their goals than groups with smaller memberships or more limited funding
  • Can lead to corruption: In 2009 tobacco industry was found guilty of defrauding the American public about the dangers of cancer, intentionally suppressing research showing the link between smoking and lung cancer.

==CORE VALUES==

  • INDIVIDUALISM: Belief in the fundamental importance of the individual
    • Rooted in the enlightenment philosophy of “inalienable rights” of individuals preceding the government
    • ISSUES: in tension with other core values such as respect for the common good.
  • EQUALITY OF OPPORTUNITY: Included in the Declaration of Independence
    • 14th amendment toward this value as a whole
  • FREE ENTERPRISE: Belief that a government should take laissez-faire  (let it be) approach toward the economy and an invisible hand guided by the interactions of producers and consumers would regulate over time.
    • Free market advocates.
  • RULE OF LAW: The principle of the government establishes laws that apply equally to all members of society and prevents the rule and whims of leaders who see themselves as above the law
  • LIMITED GOVERNMENT: A government kept under control by law and by checks and balances and the separation of powers.

POLITICAL SOCIALIZATION

The process in which people develop their political values, beliefs, attitudes, and ideology… Through the construction of beliefs (religious, economic, ethnic, etc) and participation in groups, individuals mature their own political values.