Chapter summary imageThe National Rifle Association (NRA) is one of the most successful interest groups in American politics.

Interest Groups and Public Policy

Agenda Building

  • Interest groups are prominent participants in the process that determines the issues that are part of the nation’s policy agenda. Much of American politics involves battles between groups on different sides of an issue trying to sell their perspective on the issue to the general public and government decision-makers. Whereas public health groups address the issue of government regulation of tobacco from a health perspective, tobacco companies attempt to frame the issue in terms of economics or government regulation.
  • Interest groups contribute to the polarization of American politics because groups tend to represent issue extremes rather than more moderate policy options. Consider the issue of abortion. NARAL and the National Right to Life Committee push policy alternatives on either extreme of the issue. People who believe that abortion should be legal but greatly restricted have no group to speak for them even though they represent the majority.

Policy Formulation and Adoption

  • Interest groups play a major role in policy formulation. Groups want government to address an issue from their perspective. Most public policies are the result of compromise among competing interests over the details of policy.
  • Interest groups try to affect policy adoption. By contributing money to candidates and making endorsements, groups attempt to influence the selection of officeholders. After the election is over, groups lobby for and against the adoption of particular policies.

Policy Implementation and Evaluation

  • Interest groups work to influence policy implementation. Groups that have been successful during the policy formulation and adoption stages try to ensure that the policies are implemented favorably, whereas groups who lost at earlier stages work to minimize the impact of a policy.
  • Finally, interest groups attempt to put their interpretation on a policy’s evaluation in hopes that government officials will change it to reflect their perspective. Environmental organizations blame the nation’s energy policy for global warming and rising gasoline prices, arguing that the nation needs to focus on conservation and the development of alternative fuels. In contrast, the oil and gas industry insists that the solution to high gasoline prices is more energy development, both in the ANWR and offshore.

Key Terms

527 Committees

organizations created by individuals and groups to influence the outcomes of elections by raising and spending money that candidates and political parties cannot legally raise

Access

the opportunity to communicate directly with legislators and other government officials in hopes of influencing the details of policy

Advocacy Groups

organizations created to seek benefits on behalf of groups of persons who are in some way incapacitated or otherwise unable to represent their own interests

Affirmative Action

steps taken by colleges, universities, and private employers to remedy the effects of past discrimination

Anti-Clericalism

a movement that opposes the institutional power of religion, and the involvement of the church in all aspects of public and political life

Cause Groups

organizations whose members care intensely about a single issue or small group of related issues

Chamber of Commerce

a business federation representing the interests of businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions

Citizen Groups

organizations created to support government policies that they believe will benefit the public at large

Free-Rider Barrier

the concept that individuals will have little incentive to join and contribute to a group if benefits go to members and nonmembers alike

Friendly Incumbent Rule

a policy whereby an interest group will back any incumbent who is generally supportive of the group’s policy preferences, without regard for the party or policy views of the challenger

Frostbelt

the Northeastern and Midwestern regions of the United States

Interest Group

an organization of people who join together voluntarily on the basis of some interest they share for the purpose of influencing policy

Lobbying

the communication of information by a representative of an interest group to a government official for the purpose of influencing a policy decision

Minimum Wage

the lowest hourly wage that an employer can legally pay covered workers

Political Action Committee (PAC)

an organization created to raise and distribute money in election campaigns

Religious Left

individuals who hold liberal views because of their religious beliefs

Religious Right

individuals who hold conservative views because of their religious beliefs

Right-To-Work Laws

statutes that prohibit union membership as a condition of employment

Sunbelt

the southern and western regions of the United States

Trade Associations

organizations representing the interests of firms and professionals in the same general field Voting Rights Act (VRA) a federal law designed to protect the voting rights of racial and ethnic minorities

Discussion Questions

1. Why are unions generally less influential than business groups? What are their policy goals?

2. How do interest groups attempt to influence election outcomes?

3. What impact do campaign contributions have on the actions of elected officials?

4. What approaches do lobbyists take to influence policymaking?

5. What factors affect the policymaking influence of interest groups?

Interactive Activity

Visual Literacy: Federal Election Rules, PACs, and the Money Trail

A Political Action Committee (PAC) is the arm of an interest group charged with contributing, and sometimes independently spending, money to help candidates win elective offices. In this visual literacy activity, you will examine charts and graphs to develop a deeper understanding of how campaign finance laws influence the ways in which money is spent and the role of PACs and 527s in campaigns. Why do PACs continue to be controversial? Who gives the most money to influence elections in America, and who benefits from that money?

View Visual Literacy Activity

“Talking About American Government” Podcasts

Author Neal Tannahill discusses the most important concepts in this chapter

Want more chapter summaries?
Pick a Chapter