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Summary and Main Ideas

Summary

Interest groups afford people the opportunity to become more civically engaged. Socioeconomic status is an important predictor of who will likely join groups. The number and types of groups actively lobbying to get what they want from government have been increasing rapidly. Many business and public interest groups have arisen, and many new interests have developed due to technological advances, increased specialization of industry, and fragmentation of interests. Lobbying has also become more sophisticated in recent years, and many interests now hire lobbying firms to represent them.

Some scholars assume that groups will compete for access to decision-makers and that most groups have the potential to be heard. Critics suggest that some groups are advantaged by their access to economic resources. Yet others acknowledge these resource advantages but suggest that the political environment is equally important in determining who gets heard.

Practice Questions

  1. What does group participation provide to citizens?
  2. Why don’t lower-income groups participate more in the interest group system?
  3. What are some barriers to participation?

Sample Answer:

1. By joining interest groups, individuals can participate in ways that go beyond simple voting. They can interact with others with similar views. They can become civically engaged by becoming more connected to their communities, they can participate in protests and letter-writing campaigns, and they can inform others about the issues.

2. Numerous barriers prevent people from participating in politics. Some people lack time or other resources to participate. Lower-income individuals and groups may lack the necessary civic skills to participate effectively. Institutional barriers like voter identification laws may disproportionately affect some people more than others.

Glossary

astroturf movement: a political movement that resembles a grassroots movement but is often supported or facilitated by wealthy interests and/or elites

efficacy: the belief that you make a difference and that government cares about you and your views

elite critique: the proposition that wealthy and elite interests are advantaged over those without resources

fragmentation: the result when a large interest group develops diverging needs

grassroots movement: a political movement that often begins from the bottom up, inspired by average citizens concerned about a given issue

iron triangle: three-way relationship among congressional committees, interests groups, and the bureaucracy

issue network: a group of interest groups and people who work together to support a particular issue or policy

neopluralist: a person who suggests that all groups’ access and influence depend on the political environment

pluralist: a person who believes many groups healthily compete for access to decision-makers

This lesson is part of:

American Interest Groups and Lobbying

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