U.S. Government and Civics / Unit 9: Political Parties, Elections and Interest Groups
9.6 Interest Groups
Notes
An interest group is an organization of people with shared goals that tries to influence policy. Unlike parties, interest groups do not run candidates.
- Types: economic (business groups, labor unions, professional associations), public interest (consumer or environmental groups), single-issue groups, and groups representing governments such as cities.
- Tactics: lobbying officials, testifying at hearings, filing lawsuits and amicus curiae briefs, forming PACs, endorsing candidates and grassroots campaigns urging members to contact officials.
- Free rider problem: people can enjoy a group's gains without joining, so groups offer member benefits to recruit.
- Revolving door: former officials becoming lobbyists, or the reverse. Federal law requires lobbyists to register and disclose their activities.
- Social movements, such as the civil rights and women's suffrage movements, use mass participation and protest to push for change.
Practice
A national group asks its members to call their senators about a bill. This tactic is called:
Grassroots campaigns mobilize ordinary members to pressure officials.
How do interest groups differ from political parties?
Parties try to win elections; interest groups try to shape policy.
Many people benefit from cleaner air won by an environmental group without paying dues. This is called the:
Free riders enjoy benefits without contributing.
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