Types of Interest Groups
1. Economic Interest Groups: Interests groups formed to promote economic interests.
a. Business Interest Groups - Trade and business organizations that attempt to influence government policies. Some groups target a single regulatory unit, whereas others try to effect major policy changes. Examples include the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and the Business Roundtable.
b. Agricultural Interest Groups - American farmers and their workers represent about 2 percent of the U.S. population. In spite of this, farmers' influence on legislation beneficial to their interests has been enormous. Farmers have succeeded in their aims because they have very strong interest groups. They are geographically dispersed and therefore have many representatives and senators to speak for them. Examples include the American Farm Bureau Federation and the National Farmers' Association (NSU).
c. Labor Interest Groups - Interest groups that represent the labor movement, which is, generally, the full range of economic and political expression of workin-class interests; and, politically, the organization of working-class interests. An example includes the American Federation of Labor (AFL), which has joined forces with the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO).
d. Public Employee Interest Groups - The degree of unionization in the private sector has declined since 1965, but this has been offset partially by growth in the unionization of public employees. Originally, the public employee unions started out as social and professional organizations. Over the years, they have become quite militant and are often involved in strikes. Many of these strikes are illegal, because certain public employees do not have the right to strike and essentially sign a contract so stating. Examples include the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, the American Federation of Teachers, the Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization (PATCO), and the National Education Association (NEA).
e. Interests Groups of Professionals - Numerous professional Organizations exist. Some professional groups, such as lawyers and doctors, are more influential than others due to their social status. Lawyers have a unique advantage - a large number of members of Congress share their profession. Examples include the American Bar Association, the Association of General Contractors of America, the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, the Screen Actors Guild, and the American Medical Association (AMA).
2. Environmental Groups: Groups that advocate the protection of the environment in general or unique ecological niches. The National Audubon Society attempts to protect the snowy egret from the commercial demand for hat decorations. The National Wildlife Federation has an emphasis on education. The Nature Conservancy seeks members' contributions so the organization can buy up threatened natural areas and either give them to state or local governments or manage them itself. Other groups exist, such as the radical Greenpeace Society and Earth First.
3. Public Interest Groups: It is almost impossible for one particular public policy to benefit everybody, which makes it practically impossible to define the public interest. Nonetheless, over the past few decades, a variety of law and lobbying organizations have been formed "in the public interest." Public interest is defined as the best interests of the collective, overall community, or the national good, rather than the narrow interests of a self-serving group. Examples include the Nader Organizations, Common Cause, League of Women Voters, the Consumer Federation of America, and the American Civil Liberties Union.
4. Special Interest Groups: These groups, being narrowly focused, may be able to call more attention to their respective causes because they have simple and straightforward goals and because their members tend to care intensely about the issues. Thus, such groups can easily motivate their members to contact legislators or to organize demonstrations in support of their policy goals. A number of interest groups focus on just one issue, such as abortion or gun control. Other groups represent particular groups of Americans who share a common characteristic, such as age or ethnicity. Such interest groups lobby for legislation that may benefit their members in terms of rights or just represent a viewpoint. Examples include groups such as Right to Life, the National Abortion Rights Action League, the National Rifle Association, the Right to Work Committee, the Hudson Valley PAC, and the AARP.
5. Foreign Governments: Home-grown interests are not the sole players in the game. Washington, D.C., is also the center for lobbying by foreign governments as well as private foreign interests. Large research and lobbying staffs are maintained by governments of the largest U.S. trading partners, such as Japan, South Korea, Canada, and the European Union (EU) countires. Smaller nations as well engage lobbyists when vital legislation affecting their trade interests is considered. Frequently, these foreign interests hire former representatives or former senators to promote their positions on Capitol Hill.
a. Business Interest Groups - Trade and business organizations that attempt to influence government policies. Some groups target a single regulatory unit, whereas others try to effect major policy changes. Examples include the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and the Business Roundtable.
b. Agricultural Interest Groups - American farmers and their workers represent about 2 percent of the U.S. population. In spite of this, farmers' influence on legislation beneficial to their interests has been enormous. Farmers have succeeded in their aims because they have very strong interest groups. They are geographically dispersed and therefore have many representatives and senators to speak for them. Examples include the American Farm Bureau Federation and the National Farmers' Association (NSU).
c. Labor Interest Groups - Interest groups that represent the labor movement, which is, generally, the full range of economic and political expression of workin-class interests; and, politically, the organization of working-class interests. An example includes the American Federation of Labor (AFL), which has joined forces with the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO).
d. Public Employee Interest Groups - The degree of unionization in the private sector has declined since 1965, but this has been offset partially by growth in the unionization of public employees. Originally, the public employee unions started out as social and professional organizations. Over the years, they have become quite militant and are often involved in strikes. Many of these strikes are illegal, because certain public employees do not have the right to strike and essentially sign a contract so stating. Examples include the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, the American Federation of Teachers, the Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization (PATCO), and the National Education Association (NEA).
e. Interests Groups of Professionals - Numerous professional Organizations exist. Some professional groups, such as lawyers and doctors, are more influential than others due to their social status. Lawyers have a unique advantage - a large number of members of Congress share their profession. Examples include the American Bar Association, the Association of General Contractors of America, the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, the Screen Actors Guild, and the American Medical Association (AMA).
2. Environmental Groups: Groups that advocate the protection of the environment in general or unique ecological niches. The National Audubon Society attempts to protect the snowy egret from the commercial demand for hat decorations. The National Wildlife Federation has an emphasis on education. The Nature Conservancy seeks members' contributions so the organization can buy up threatened natural areas and either give them to state or local governments or manage them itself. Other groups exist, such as the radical Greenpeace Society and Earth First.
3. Public Interest Groups: It is almost impossible for one particular public policy to benefit everybody, which makes it practically impossible to define the public interest. Nonetheless, over the past few decades, a variety of law and lobbying organizations have been formed "in the public interest." Public interest is defined as the best interests of the collective, overall community, or the national good, rather than the narrow interests of a self-serving group. Examples include the Nader Organizations, Common Cause, League of Women Voters, the Consumer Federation of America, and the American Civil Liberties Union.
4. Special Interest Groups: These groups, being narrowly focused, may be able to call more attention to their respective causes because they have simple and straightforward goals and because their members tend to care intensely about the issues. Thus, such groups can easily motivate their members to contact legislators or to organize demonstrations in support of their policy goals. A number of interest groups focus on just one issue, such as abortion or gun control. Other groups represent particular groups of Americans who share a common characteristic, such as age or ethnicity. Such interest groups lobby for legislation that may benefit their members in terms of rights or just represent a viewpoint. Examples include groups such as Right to Life, the National Abortion Rights Action League, the National Rifle Association, the Right to Work Committee, the Hudson Valley PAC, and the AARP.
5. Foreign Governments: Home-grown interests are not the sole players in the game. Washington, D.C., is also the center for lobbying by foreign governments as well as private foreign interests. Large research and lobbying staffs are maintained by governments of the largest U.S. trading partners, such as Japan, South Korea, Canada, and the European Union (EU) countires. Smaller nations as well engage lobbyists when vital legislation affecting their trade interests is considered. Frequently, these foreign interests hire former representatives or former senators to promote their positions on Capitol Hill.
posted by Sanel at 7:04 AM
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