Interest Groups Interest Groups

at Workat WorkGroups work to Groups work to Groups work to Groups work to Groups work to Groups work to Groups work to Groups work to

influence policy at all influence policy at all influence policy at all influence policy at all influence policy at all influence policy at all influence policy at all influence policy at all levels of government levels of government levels of government levels of government levels of government levels of government levels of government levels of government influence policy at all influence policy at all influence policy at all influence policy at all influence policy at all influence policy at all influence policy at all influence policy at all levels of government levels of government levels of government levels of government levels of government levels of government levels of government levels of government and in all and in all and in all and in all and in all and in all and in all and in all branches branches branches branches branches branches branches branches ––––––––before, during and before, during and before, during and before, during and before, during and before, during and before, during and before, during and after elections!after elections!after elections!after elections!after elections!after elections!after elections!after elections!

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3 3 Characteristics of Characteristics of

interest groups:interest groups:It must be organized with It must be organized with

leadership and structureleadership and structure

There must be common There must be common There must be common There must be common

ideas which hold the ideas which hold the

people togetherpeople together

It must take some action It must take some action

to influence the to influence the

government...government...

Influencing Public Influencing Public

OpinionOpinion

To supply the public To supply the public To supply the public To supply the public To supply the public To supply the public To supply the public To supply the public with informationwith informationwith informationwith informationwith informationwith informationwith informationwith information

To build a positive To build a positive To build a positive To build a positive To build a positive To build a positive To build a positive To build a positive image for the groupimage for the groupimage for the groupimage for the groupimage for the groupimage for the groupimage for the groupimage for the groupimage for the groupimage for the groupimage for the groupimage for the groupimage for the groupimage for the groupimage for the groupimage for the group

To promote a To promote a To promote a To promote a To promote a To promote a To promote a To promote a particular public particular public particular public particular public particular public particular public particular public particular public policypolicypolicypolicypolicypolicypolicypolicy

The Use of PropagandaThe Use of Propaganda

PropagandaPropagandaPropagandaPropagandaPropagandaPropagandaPropagandaPropaganda is a is a is a is a is a is a is a is a technique of technique of technique of technique of technique of technique of technique of technique of persuasion aimed at persuasion aimed at persuasion aimed at persuasion aimed at persuasion aimed at persuasion aimed at persuasion aimed at persuasion aimed at influencing individual influencing individual influencing individual influencing individual influencing individual influencing individual influencing individual influencing individual or group behaviors.or group behaviors.or group behaviors.or group behaviors.or group behaviors.or group behaviors.or group behaviors.or group behaviors.or group behaviors.or group behaviors.or group behaviors.or group behaviors.or group behaviors.or group behaviors.or group behaviors.or group behaviors.

The goal is to create The goal is to create The goal is to create The goal is to create The goal is to create The goal is to create The goal is to create The goal is to create a particular belief…a particular belief…a particular belief…a particular belief…a particular belief…a particular belief…a particular belief…a particular belief…

Propaganda does Propaganda does Propaganda does Propaganda does Propaganda does Propaganda does Propaganda does Propaganda does NOT use objective NOT use objective NOT use objective NOT use objective NOT use objective NOT use objective NOT use objective NOT use objective logiclogiclogiclogiclogiclogiclogiclogic

Influencing Parties and Influencing Parties and

ElectionsElections

Groups try to influence the behavior Groups try to influence the behavior of political parties of political parties –– keeping close ties.keeping close ties.

ElectioneeringElectioneeringElectioneeringElectioneeringElectioneeringElectioneeringElectioneeringElectioneering –– attempting to attempting to influence the outcome of elections.influence the outcome of elections.influence the outcome of elections.influence the outcome of elections.

Electioneering happens through PAC Electioneering happens through PAC donations, endorsements and donations, endorsements and encouraging voters.encouraging voters.

Interest groups are hoping to gain Interest groups are hoping to gain ACCESSACCESSACCESSACCESSACCESSACCESSACCESSACCESS after the election!after the election!

Criticism of Interest GroupsCriticism of Interest Groups

Speaks for the fewSpeaks for the fewFunding supports only the Funding supports only the “well off”“well off”Active minorities dictate Active minorities dictate Active minorities dictate Active minorities dictate groups decisionsgroups decisions“The wheel that squeaks the “The wheel that squeaks the loudest gets the grease”loudest gets the grease”Corrupt tacticsCorrupt tactics

Support for Interest Support for Interest

Groups:Groups:

Stimulate interest in public Stimulate interest in public affairsaffairsProvides Provides a link to officials to a link to officials to Provides Provides a link to officials to a link to officials to make make policypolicyStimulate Stimulate political participationpolitical participationContribute to political Contribute to political campaignscampaigns

Factors that determine the Factors that determine the

effectiveness of each group:effectiveness of each group:SizeSize –– obviously, groups that are larger (with more obviously, groups that are larger (with more members) will have greater influence members) will have greater influence Geographic DistributionGeographic Distribution –– local groups will not be as local groups will not be as influential as larger regional and national groupsinfluential as larger regional and national groupsFundingFunding –– groups that are well financed tend to have groups that are well financed tend to have more power than those that are notmore power than those that are notmore power than those that are notmore power than those that are notPrestigePrestige –– the respectability of who these groups the respectability of who these groups representrepresentCohesionCohesion –– the ability of the group to stick togetherthe ability of the group to stick togetherIntensity Intensity –– how strongly does the group feel about how strongly does the group feel about the issuethe issueAccessAccess –– these groups need to affect policy; the only these groups need to affect policy; the only way to do this is to have access to the officials who way to do this is to have access to the officials who make policy.make policy.