November 19 2013 Objectives Students will be

November 19, 2013 § Objectives: Students will be able to identify and explain the purpose and types of interest groups. § Question: What is the importance of public opinion? § Agenda: Homework/Notes/Worksheet

Interest Groups Chapter 9

What is an Interest Group? § Private organization that tries to persuade public officials to respond to the shared attitudes of its members. § Sometimes called Pressure Groups.

What is their role? § Seek to influence public policy. § They function at all levels of government.

What is the difference between an Interest Group and a Political Party? § IG don’t make nominations to political offices. § IG primary focus is to INFLUENCE public policy, not make it. § IG tend to only concentrate on the issues that concern their members, not a whole range of public affairs.

Are they Good or Bad? § James Madison warned the new nation against “factions. ” § Said they could hurt the country as a whole. § Said they were inevitable and must moderate the extremism.

Are they Good or Bad? § Alexis de Tocqueville was impressed by the vast number of organizations in the U. S.

Valuable Functions of Interest Groups § Interest groups raise awareness of public affairs, or issues that concern the people at large. § Interest groups represent people who share attitudes rather than those who share geography.

Valuable Functions of Interest Groups § Interest groups provide specialized information to government agencies and legislators. § Interest groups are vehicles for political participation.

Valuable Functions of Interest Groups § Interest groups keep tabs on various public agencies and officials. § Interest groups compete.

Interest Group Problems: § Many push their own special interests without concerning themselves with the greater public good. § Some are more highly organized and betterfinanced than others=better access to gov. officials. § It’s sometimes hard not to tell just who or how many people a group really represents. § Many groups do not in fact represent the views of all of the people for whom they claim to speak for. § Some groups use tactics that could undermine the whole political system.

Groups based on Economic Interests: how people make their money Part One § Business § Examples § NAM: National Association of Manufacturers § Big business § Chamber of Commerce § Smaller businesses § Business Roundtable § 150 chief executive officers § Trade Associations § American trucking association, American Restaurant Association

Final 5 § Explain 2 purposes of interest groups

November 20, 2013 § Objectives: Students will be able to identify and explain the purpose and types of interest groups. § Students will be able to explain the jobs of a lobbyist. § Question: What is an example of an interest group and what is the issue that it supports/refutes?

Types of IG’s § Most are based on economic issues. § Labor Groups (write 2 examples) § AFL (American Federation of Labor) § Teamsters Union (Long Shoremen) § Fraternal Order of Police § Agricultural Groups (write 2 examples) § National Grange § American Farm Bureau Federation § National Farmers Union

Types of IG’s § Most are based on economic issues. § Professional Groups (write down 3 examples) § AMA (American Medical Assoc. ) for doctors. § ABA (American Bar Assoc. ) for lawyers. § NEA (Nat’l Education Assoc. ) for teachers. § Society of Civil Engineers § ALA (American Library Assoc. )

Types of IG’s § Groups that promote causes (write 3 examples & what they do) § ACLU (Am. Civil Liberties Union) § National Wildlife Federation § Sierra Club § National Right-to-Life Committee § Planned Parenthood § NRA (National Rifle Assoc. ) § Handgun Control, Inc. § With your partner discuss which you might support and the importance of the group to you

Types of IG’s § Groups that promote the welfare of certain groups. (Write 3 and what they do) § VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) § AARP (Am. Assoc. of Retired Persons) § NAACP (Nat’l Assoc. for the Advancement of Colored People) § Nat’l Assoc. of Arab Americans § With a partner Discuss the importance of these groups and what they do for their members

Types of IG’s § Religious Organizations (Write down 3) § Christian Coalition § National Council of Churches § Americans for the Separation of Church and State § Nat’l Catholic Welfare Council § American Jewish Congress § Anti-Defamation League

Types of IG’s § Public Interest Groups § Ralph Nader’s Public Citizen § Common Cause § League of Women Voters

Rank order most influential 1 Most -10 Least § National Association of Realtors § American Federation of Labor - Congress of Industrial Organizations AFL-CIO § American Israel Foreign Affairs Committee § American Association of Retired People-AARP- § National Federation of Independent Business § National Association of Manufacturers § Association of Trial Lawyers of America § Chamber of Commerce of the United States of America § National Beer Wholesalers of America § National Rifle Association

Answers § National Association of Realtors (No. 9) § American Federation of Labor- Congress of Industrial Organizations AFL-CIO (No. 6) American Israel Foreign Affairs Committee (No. 4) § American Association of Retired People-AARP- (No. 2) National Federation of Independent Business (No. 3) National Association of Manufacturers (No. 10) Association of Trial Lawyers of America (No. 5) Chamber of Commerce of the United States of America (No. 7) National Beer Wholesalers of America (No. 8) National Rifle Association (No. 1)

The following series of social issues have important roles in functioning societies. You must develop a list that orders each issue based on your evaluation of how important each issue is to creating the best society possible. What preference should be given to the sometimes competing aspects of citizenship and community? § § § § § Society Goals Controlling crime Giving citizens the opportunity to make a living Freedom of the media/ availability of information Equality of opportunity Safety net programs like Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid Being able to express yourself and make choices Having order and the rule of law Offering education and instruction to improve skills

Final 5 § Which issue did you list as the most important? Why?

Interest Groups at Work How they effect public policy Ch. 9, Sec. 3

Influencing Public Opinion Interest groups reach out to the public for these reasons: 1. To supply information in support of the group’s interests 2. To build a positive image for the group 3. To promote a particular public policy

Propaganda § Propaganda is a technique of persuasion aimed at influencing individual or group behaviors. § Its goal is to create a particular belief which may be true or false.

November 22, 2013 § Objectives: Students will be able to identify and explain the purpose of lobby groups. § Question: What amendment did you identify with the article yesterday on inmates rights? § Agenda: Notes/Videos/Discussion

Propaganda § Propaganda disregards information that does not support its conclusion. It is not objective. It presents only one side of an issue. § Propaganda often relies on namecalling and inflammatory labels.

Lobbying § All of the methods by which group pressures are brought to bear on all aspects of the public-policymaking process.

Lobbyists at Work Lobbyists use several techniques.

Lobbyists at Work § They bring “grassroots” pressures to bear through email, letters, or phone calls from constituents. § They rate candidates and publicize the ratings. § They make campaign contributions.

Interest Groups try to influence public opinion. § Supply the public with information to support their interests. §They bring “grass-roots” pressures to bear through email, letters, or phone calls from constituents.

Interest Groups try to influence public opinion. § Supply the public with information to support their interests. § Try to build positive reputation in society.

Interest Groups try to influence public opinion. § Supply the public with information to support their interests. § Try to build positive reputation in society. § Work to persuade the public to adopt their views on policy issues.

Interest groups help and make use of political parties. § Try to secure the support of one or both parties.

Interest groups help and make use of political parties. § Try to secure the support of one or both parties. § A lot of campaign money comes from IGs.

Interest groups help and make use of political parties. § Try to secure the support of one or both parties. § Much campaign money comes from IGs. § Single-interest groups often campaign hard against candidates who oppose their stand on an issue, or might campaign for candidates that favor their issues.

Lobbying effects all branches of government § Legislative § What types of legislation will be passed or defeated. Give Cg. info. on issue. § Most influential here.

Lobbying effects all branches of government § Legislative § What types of legislation will be passed or defeated. Give Cg. info. on issue. § Executive (includes reg. agencies) § How strictly a law is enforced &/or regulated. § What bills to sign or veto.

http: //cagle. com/news/SCHIP/4. asp

Lobbying effects all branches of government § Legislative § What types of legislation will be passed or defeated. Give Cg. info. on issue. § Executive (includes reg. agencies) § How strictly a law is enforced &/or regulated. § Judicial § How laws are interpreted in court cases. § File amicus curie (friend of the court) briefs. § Who gets nominated & confirmed to sit on the bench. § Less influential here because of independent federal courts.

Amicus Briefs in the Safford v. Redding (student strip search) case. § National School Boards Association, and the American Association of School Administrators in Support of Petitioner § United States of America in Support of Reversal § The Urban Justice Center, Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund, Advocates for Children of New York, and The National Youth Rights Association, in Support of Respondent § The National Association of Social Workers and Its Arizona Chapter, the National Education Association, the National Association of School Psychologists, the American Society for Adolescent Psychiatry, and the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children in Support of Respondent § The Rutherford Institute, Goldwater Institute and the CATO Institute in Support of Respondent www. scotusblog. com

Criticisms of Lobbying § They “buy” off candidates through campaign contributions, gifts, and travel.

Criticisms of Lobbying § They “buy” off candidates through campaign contributions, gifts, and travel. § They get all the access to lawmakers, unlike the average citizen.

Why doesn’t Congress reform the system and place bigger limits on contributions and access by lobbyists? § Would you cut off the hand that fed you?

You can’t break that IRON TRIANGLE! § “What the heck is the Iron Triangle”, you ask?

This is the “Iron Triangle”

An example: Cut funding for troops in Iraq. House & Senate Committees on Armed Services For: Americans Against Escalation in Iraq Against: Military Contractors U. S. Department of Defense

An example: Abolish the income tax House Ways & Means Committee For: Americans for a Fair Tax Against: Certified Public Accountants IRS

Clinton & healthcare reform in 1993 § There were 43 iron triangles to break through! =didn’t happen! § Will President Obama be able to truly reform the healthcare system? ? ? § What Interest Groups are lining up in support? In opposition?