Chapter 9 Interest Groups Exam Essay

Essay 1. What are the four general types of economic groups? The four general types of economic groups are business groups, labor groups, farm groups, and professional groups. More than 50 percent of all groups registered to lobby Congress are business organizations. They concentrate their activities on public policies that affect business interests, such as regulation, taxes, and tariffs. Labor groups have diminished in size along with the number of unionized workers, but are still very active. The primary goal of labor groups is to promote policies that benefit workers in general and union members in particular. Farm organizations represent another large economic lobby. Farm groups and their members do not always agree on the issues. For example, some groups side with big agribusiness, while others represent the interests of smaller family farms. Most professions have professional groups, which seek to promote the interests of their members. 2. What are the types of citizens’ groups? Some citizens’ groups are organized around a social grouping and seek to advance its interests, such as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and the National Organization for Women (NOW). Single-issue groups are organized to influence public policy in just one area. Ideological groups have a broad agenda that is based on a philosophical or moral position. The lines between these groups are not clearly drawn, and it is very difficult to classify citizens’ groups. Some singleissue groups, for example, are highly ideological, while others are exceedingly pragmatic. 3. What are the targets of inside lobbying? The targets of inside lobbying are the officials of all three governmental branches. Lobbyists seek to influence members of Congress for obvious reasons. With the support of Congress, interest groups can obtain the legislative assistance that is required to achieve their policy objectives. At the same time, members of Congress benefit from inside lobbying. Members of Congress are confronted with a large volume of legislation every year. Lobbyists, particularly those that have developed close relationships with members of Congress, provide important information and assist the members in identifying bills that deserve their careful attention and support. As the scope of the national government has expanded in the last few decades, lobbying of the executive branch has increased in importance. Bureaucrats make key decisions and develop policy initiatives that Congress later makes into law. Lobbyists, by working with bureaucrats, can influence policy decisions at the implementation and initiation stages. In return, interest-group officials provide agency representatives with information and support when their programs are reviewed by Congress and the president. Finally, the broad reaching impact of federal judges has also made lobbyists realize that the judiciary can assist in achieving their goals. Interest groups routinely seek to influence the selection of federal judges. Group members also rely on lawsuits in their efforts to influence the courts. 9 4. Identify and explain two flaws in pluralist theory. Although pluralist theory is compelling by many standards, it is also subject to criticism from different perspectives. One perspective is delineated by Theodore Lowi, who utilizes the term interest-group liberalism to describe the tendency of political officials to support the policy demands of the interest groups that have a special stake in the policies in question. In his estimation, it is the group as much as the government that decides public policy, and the collective interests of society are not addressed. A second flaw in pluralist theory is the claim that the interest group system is representative of the general population. Pluralists realize that well organized interests have more influence than others, but contend that the interest group system is relatively open and that few interests are at a serious disadvantage. Yet organization is a political resource that is not distributed equally among interest groups. In particular, economic interest groups, especially those representing large corporations, have many resources that other groups lack. As a result, critics contend that the interest-group system is biased toward big business. 5. How do interest groups pose a Madisonian dilemma in American politics? James Madison clearly realized that interest groups would pose a dilemma in American politics. Although he was concerned that some groups would wield too much influence on the political process, he felt that a free society entailed the pursuit of self-interest on the part of its citizens. Ironically, his solution to the problem of factions has become part of the problem. The American system of government was designed to prevent a majority faction from becoming all-powerful at the expense of minority interests. This same system, however, makes it possible for minority factions to gain government support. By gaining the backing of a relatively small number of government officials, lobbyists representing a small sector of society can influence public policy, which in turn has broad implications for society as a whole. 10