Interest Groups Flashcards
What is an interest group?
An organised group of individuals who seek to influence government policy, usually in a certain area
Number of interest groups 1960 v 2022
1960- 5,000
2022- 30,000+
Interest group functions: Representation
Represent people before the government do otherwise citizens would only be able to make their opinion known every 4 years
Interest group functions: Participation
Provide mechanism through which citizens with a shared interest can work together and channel their resources
Interest group functions: Education
Through lobbying and campaigning activities such as environment you help to educate people on these issues
Interest group functions: Agenda setting
Brings new issues to the limelight
The campaign brings things onto the agenda
Interest group functions: Programme monitoring
May monitor the implementation of government programmes
What’s a public interest group?
Promotes issues of general public concern
Things such as pollution, women’s rights, protection for children etc.
What’s a private interest group
Tend to be more to with things that benefit immediate members i.e. financial or commercial activity
Examples include:
American Bar Associated
What’s a single issue interest group?
In interest group that focusses all energy on a certain issue
Mothers against drunk driving
What determines an interest group’s success?
Resources
Memberships make IGs more effective, larger membership means more power as these people are the electorate
IGs form PACs rather than contributing money directly
What is the US bureaucracy?
The US federal government’s bureaucracy is party of the executive branch
What is an iron triangle?
It’s the relationship between interest groups, congressional committees and the relevant department within the bureaucracy (executive)
They work together to advance its own agenda and act in its own interests
Whats a prime example of an iron triangle?
Defense
