POLS 115 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Grassroots Lobbying, Bob Dole, Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act
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Groups or organizations that try to influence public policy. What roles do they play in political system: representation. If you"re i(cid:374) a large group, your ideas (cid:449)ill (cid:271)e heard: participation. Making something a public issue: program monitoring. Monitor programs to make sure money is where it is supposed to be. Why are interest groups formed: economic interests. Protect jobs: reaction to social trends/issues/other group. Nimby (not in my backyard: reponses to government programs, reponses to government action. A long history of interest groups in usa pre-civil war: anti-slavery. What sort of resources can interest groups call upon: money (cid:894)(cid:862)(cid:272)he(cid:272)k(cid:271)ook (cid:373)e(cid:373)(cid:271)ership(cid:863)(cid:895, time (volunteerism, protest or other methods to influence legislators (cid:862)free rider(cid:863) problem. Tactics (to influence legislatures/government policy. : direct or inside lobbying. Hire people who have connections or know how to talk to people: grassroots lobbying or outside lobbying. Rallying up members of your group and influence them.
