Chapter 15: Interest Groups
Roots of the American Interest Group System15.1 Trace the roots of the American interest group system, p. 455.
An organized interest if a collection of people or groups with shared attitudes who make claims on government. Political scientists approach the development of interest groups from a number of theoretical perspectives, including pluralist theory and the transactions approach. Interest groups can be classified in a variety of ways, based on their functions and membership. The Development of American Interest Groups15.2 Describe the historical development of American interest groups, p. 458.
Interest groups did not begin to emerge in the United States until the 1830s. From 1890 to 1920, the Progressive movement dominated. The 1960s saw the rise of a wide variety of liberal interest groups. During the 1970s and 1980s, legions of conservatives formed new groups to counteract those efforts. Business groups, corporations, and unions also established their presence in Washington, D.C., during this time. |
What Do Interest Groups Do?15.3 Identify several strategies and
tactics used by organized interests, p. 464 Interest groups often fill voids left by the major political parties and give Americans opportunities to make organized claims on government. The most common activity of interest groups is lobbying, which takes many forms. Groups routinely pressure members of Congress and their staffs, the president and the bureaucracy, and the courts; they use a variety of techniques to educate and stimulate the public to pressure key governmental decision makers. Interest groups also attempt to influence the outcome of elections; some run their own candidates for office. Others rate elected officials to inform their members how particular legislators stand on issues of importance to them. Political action committees (PACs), a way for some groups to contribute money to candidates for office, are another means of gaining support from elected officials and ensuring that supportive officials stay in the office. What Makes Interest Groups Successful?15.4 Analyze the factors that make an interest groups successful, p. 470.
Interest groups success can be measured in a variety of ways, including a group's ability to get its issues on the public agenda, winning key pieces of legislation in Congress or executive branch or judicial rulings, or backing successful candidates. Several factors contribute to interest group success, including leaders and patrons, funding, and committed members. Toward Reform: Regulating Interest Groups and Lobbyists15.5 Explain reform efforts geared toward regulating interest groups and lobbyists, p. 474.
Not until 1946 did Congress pass any laws regulating federal lobbying. Those laws were largely ineffective and were successfully challenged as violations of the First Amendment. In 1995, Congress passed the Lobbying Disclosure Act, which required lobbyists to register with both houses of Congress. By 2007, a rash of scandals resulted in sweeping reforms called the Honest Leadership and Open Government act, which dramatically limited what lobbyists can do. The executive branch is regulated by the 1978 Ethics in Government Act. Lobbying the judiciary is largely unregulated. |