Interest GroupsInterest Groups

History and Interest History and Interest Group FormationGroup Formation

Interest GroupsInterest GroupsAny organization that seeks to Any organization that seeks to

influence public policyinfluence public policyFound in many societiesFound in many societiesUnusually large number found Unusually large number found

in U.S.in U.S.

ProliferationProliferation1. Social cleavages1. Social cleavages2. U.S. constitutional 2. U.S. constitutional

systemsystem3. Decline of political 3. Decline of political

partiesparties

Social CleavagesSocial Cleavages

Number of social divisionsNumber of social divisions Income, occupational, religious, Income, occupational, religious,

racial, & cultural linesracial, & cultural lines

U.S. Constitutional U.S. Constitutional SystemSystem

Stimulates political activityStimulates political activity, , including interest group activityincluding interest group activity

Because of Because of federalismfederalism & & separation of powersseparation of powers, there , there exists many different important exists many different important centers in which impt decisions centers in which impt decisions are madeare made

U.S. Constitutional U.S. Constitutional SystemSystem

Many different interest groups Many different interest groups can exercise different powercan exercise different power

In Britain, interest groups are In Britain, interest groups are fewer infewer in number & larger in number & larger in scalescale to match centralized to match centralized govt structuregovt structure

Decline of Political PartiesDecline of Political Parties

Has made interest groups more Has made interest groups more needed & powerfulneeded & powerful

In European countries (with In European countries (with strong parties) interest groups—strong parties) interest groups—such as labor unions & such as labor unions & professional societies—professional societies—tendtend to to work throughwork through the partiesthe parties

Kinds of Interest GroupsKinds of Interest Groups

Institutional Institutional MembershipMembership

(1) Institutional Interest Groups(1) Institutional Interest Groups

Organizations representing Organizations representing other groupsother groups

Typical institutional interests Typical institutional interests are business, government, are business, government, foundations, & universitiesfoundations, & universities

(2) Membership Interest (2) Membership Interest GroupsGroups

Supported by the activities & Supported by the activities & contributions of individual contributions of individual citizenscitizens

Examples include: AARP, Examples include: AARP, NAACP, Christian Coalition, NAACP, Christian Coalition, Sierra ClubSierra Club

Birth of Interest GroupsBirth of Interest Groups

Since the Since the 1960s1960s the number of the number of interest groups has increased interest groups has increased rapidlyrapidly

There have been other historical There have been other historical eras of interest group proliferationeras of interest group proliferation

Historical Eras of Interest Historical Eras of Interest Group GrowthGroup Growth

1770s1770s (pro-independence groups) (pro-independence groups)1830s & 1840s1830s & 1840s (religious & (religious &

antislavery groups)antislavery groups)1860s1860s (trade unions, the Grange) (trade unions, the Grange)1880s & 1890s1880s & 1890s (business orgs) (business orgs)

Historical Eras of Interest Historical Eras of Interest Group GrowthGroup Growth

1900s & 1910s1900s & 1910s (a vast array of (a vast array of orgs)orgs)

1960s1960s (environmental, consumer, (environmental, consumer, and political reform orgs)and political reform orgs)

Interest GroupsInterest Groups

Do not arise spontaneously or Do not arise spontaneously or automaticallyautomatically

At least At least fourfour factors help explain factors help explain the rise of interest groupsthe rise of interest groups

Rise of Interest GroupsRise of Interest Groups

(1) Broad economic developments(1) Broad economic developments(2) Government policy(2) Government policy(3) Religious & moralistic (3) Religious & moralistic

movementsmovements(4) Expansion of government (4) Expansion of government

activitiesactivities

(1) Broad Economic (1) Broad Economic DevelopmentsDevelopments

Rise of mass production industry Rise of mass production industry encouraged the rise of mass-encouraged the rise of mass-membership labor unionsmembership labor unions

(2) Government Policy(2) Government Policy

Public programs create constituencies Public programs create constituencies with an incentive to organize to with an incentive to organize to maintain their benefitsmaintain their benefits

Veterans’ benefits create veterans’ Veterans’ benefits create veterans’ groupsgroups

Licensing of professionals by state gov Licensing of professionals by state gov gives societies of doctors & lawyers a gives societies of doctors & lawyers a strong reason to existstrong reason to exist

(2) Government Policy(2) Government Policy

Sometimes the gov supports the Sometimes the gov supports the formation of orgs (American Farm formation of orgs (American Farm Bureau) by providing benefits to its Bureau) by providing benefits to its membersmembers

Sometimes gov policies are designed Sometimes gov policies are designed to make private interest group to make private interest group formation easier (passage of laws in formation easier (passage of laws in 1930s to aid labor)1930s to aid labor)

(3) Religious & Moralistic (3) Religious & Moralistic MovementsMovements

Produce people, frequently Produce people, frequently youngyoung people, who are willing people, who are willing to form orgs, often at large to form orgs, often at large personal costpersonal cost

(3) Religious & Moralistic (3) Religious & Moralistic MovementsMovements

Religious revivals of the 1830s & Religious revivals of the 1830s & 1840s fed the 1840s fed the antislavery antislavery crusadecrusade

Civil Rts. & antiwar movementsCivil Rts. & antiwar movements of 1960s likewise produced an of 1960s likewise produced an org. explosionorg. explosion

(4) Expansion of Gov Activities(4) Expansion of Gov Activities

The more activities gov undertakes, The more activities gov undertakes, the more interest groups form as a the more interest groups form as a response to those activitiesresponse to those activities

Public interest lobbies have increased Public interest lobbies have increased since 1970, when gov became active since 1970, when gov became active in civil rts, social welfare, and in civil rts, social welfare, and consumer rts.consumer rts.