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America and Arizona Government for Elementary Teachers
Presentation 17: Interest Groups and Parties
Presentation Objectives
AEPA Objectives0006 Understand various governmental systems.
0013 Understand the development of political parties in the United States.
AZ Social Studies Standard, Strand 3Concept 4: Rights, Responsibilities, and Roles of Citizenship
What are Interest Groups?
Any organization that seeks to influence public policy.
Impact of Interest Groups
Pluralist – Competition between groups insures that no one group dominates
Elitist – pluralism doesn’t work because it is the monied interests which have the loudest voice
Hyper-pluralism – groups are so numerous and powerful that it is impossible to make a coherent public policy
Why are some groups powerful?
Small groups tend be more effective Small overhead Narrow focus Large groups have free
riders
Collective Action Matrix
Benefits
Concentrated Diffuse
Costs
Concentrated
Flood Insurance
User Fees
Toll Roads
Environmental regulations
Diffuse
Affirmative Action
Tariffs
Subsidized insurance
Amtrack
Govt. Studies
Social Security
National Defense
Collective Action Matrix
Benefits
Concentrated Diffuse
Costs
Concentrated
Flood Insurance
User Fees
Toll Roads
Environmental regulations
Safety regulations
(gun control)
Diffuse
Affirmative Action
Tariffs
Subsidized insurance
Amtrack
Govt. Studies
Social Security
National Defense
Interest groups that seek specific benefits or avoid specific costs are effective because members are willing to pay organizational costs
Oppositional groups have difficulty organizing
Collective Action Matrix
This means that a vocal, motivated minority will always have more influence on public policy than a complacent majority.
Lobbying
Provide information to policy makers to persuade them to enact favorable legislation
Electioneering
Help friendly politicians stay in office and defeat unfriendly politicians
Influence Public Opinion
Bypass the policy process to affect behavior directly
Also affects politicians, if they like their jobs
Litigation
Last ditch resort to block policy
Political Parties
What are Political Parties?
Act the same as Interest groups Lobbying
Provide information to policy makers to persuade them to enact favorable legislation
Electioneering Help friendly politicians stay in office and defeat unfriendly
politicians Influence Public Opinion
Bypass the policy process to affect behavior directly Also affects politicians, if they like their jobs
Litigation Last ditch resort blocking of policy
What are Political Parties?
One additional activity Lobbying
Provide information to policy makers to persuade them to enact favorable legislation
Electioneering Help friendly politicians stay in office and defeat unfriendly
politicians Influence Public Opinion
Bypass the policy process to affect behavior directly Also affects politicians, if they like their jobs
Litigation Last ditch resort blocking of policy
Select and Support Candidates for election
What do parties do?
Why have parties?
Aggregate Preferences
Like minded folks getting together to turn their preferences into policy.
Why have parties?
Give Candidates the Ability to govern
The party acts as a government in opposition, enables winning candidates to quickly fill positions.
2008 transition team for Missouri’s new governor
Why have parties?
Provide Information to Voters
They keep track of the minutia, educate the public on the important issues
Why have parties?
Provide a way to maintain the election machine between elections
Most important function, historic origin
What don’t they Do? Are they worth the trouble?
Build Consensus Good policy often requires
compromise Compromise takes
campaign issues away from parties and candidates
The party needs to stand FOR something and Against something
Expect gridlock in congress before an election
What don’t they Do? Are they worth the trouble?Have the national interest
paramount
Parties exist to further their fortunes
May or may not coincide with the national interest
What don’t they Do? Are they worth the trouble?Provide unbiased information
Parties are election machines, not educational institutions
What don’t they Do? Are they worth the trouble?Provide unbiased information
Parties are election machines, not educational institutions
Why Two parties?
System is set up to perpetuate itself Who makes election
rules?
3rd Party Barriers
Ballot rules
Winner-take-all system
Congressional rules
Co-optation
Parties co-opt successful movements to prevent losing ground to them
Leadership Issue position
Cross-Cutting Issue
Cross-cutting cleavage creates opportunity for 3rd party to gain followers.
Cross-Cutting CleavageEntitlement Reform
Reinforcing CleavageGun Control
Dem Dem
Rep RepCon
Pro
Con
Pro
Conclusion
This Presentation
This presentation is courtesy of Brian Dille, Professor of Political Science at Mesa Community College.
