Interest Groups
Initial Post:
By Friday:
Choose an interest group to focus on. Each student should choose a different group. I’ve included a list below to choose from.
Or you may select another group of your own choosing
. For a comprehensive listing of active groups in the U.S., see
http://www.opensecrets.org/influence/
Your post should include three (3) paragraphs:
- Using the group’s website for information, create a summary (IN YOUR OWN WORDS) of the group’s overall mission. Who does the group represent? What types of specific issues do they get involved in? Are they currently working on any projects to influence legislation?
- A paragraph relating your group’s activities to at least THREE concepts from your textbook Chapter 9.
- A paragraph discussing your own thoughts and reactions regarding Madison’s
Federalist 10. Relate what Madison said about interest groups to how you see your chosen group functioning in U.S. politics today.
Economic groups
U.S. Chamber of Commerce
National Association of Realtors
American Medical Association (doctors)
American Beverage Association
Organic Trade Association
American Gaming Association (gambling)
National Beer Wholesalers
Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA)
AFL-CIO (labor union umbrella organization)
United Auto Workers (Autoworkers Union)
National Education Association (teacher’s union)
American Hotel & Lodging Association
American Bar Association (lawyers)
National Florists Assocation
American Investment Council (investment banks & firms)
Citizens’ Groups
National Rifle Association
Everytown for Gun Safety (gun control)
NARAL (National Abortion Rights Action League)
AARP (American Association for Retired Persons)
Humane Society of the U.S.
AFL-CIO (combined labor unions)
Families USA (health care consumers)
NAACP (National Association for Advancement of Colored People – African American interest group)
Sierra Club (environment)
Nature Conservancy (environment)
American-Israel Political Action Committee (AIPAC – pro-Israel)
American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
Americans for Tax Reform (flat tax rate)
Christian Coalition
Response Post
post a reply to at least ONE fellow student who chose a DIFFERENT topic than yours.. In your reply, address the following questions:
- What are TWO ways that your interest groups are similar?
- What are TWO ways that your interest groups are different?
- What do you think of this student’s analysis of Madison? Do you agree or not? Why?
Reply to only one of the post below
Student A post
TheAmerican Beverage Association is comprised of America's top companies selling soft drinksandnon-alcoholic beverages acrossthe globe. It aims to represent the companies as well as consumers. Relating to the companies, TheAmerican Beverage Association provides a unifiedvoice for the companies to opposeunfair taxestargetting the companies. The ABA provides nearly 20 billion dollars in wages every year to hundreds of thousands of workers. The ABA also advocates for the communities in which their drinks are enjoyed. They strive to combat many problems such as obesity, pollution, and lifestyle issues. They have opposed and stopped more than 40 unjustified taxesthat would harm the consumer rather than help them. Finally, whilethe group provides unity, it does not the customers from a competitivemarket.
This group often uses constituencyadvocacy. When there is a detrimentaltax imposed, they quickly aim to convince their consumers of its injustice. For example: whenMayor Jim Kenneytaxed1.5 cents per ounce tax on beverages in Philadelphia, The ABA was able to gain massive support and disband the tax. While there may be some truth that "the tax has brought job loss, harm to local businesses and unfulfilled promises" it would have been undoubtedly in the beverage companies' best interest to disbandthe tax regardless of its outcome on the community.Secondly, there is an issue with size in The ABA. The group includes beverage providers of all kinds; health drinks are put in the same group as sugary sodas. Because of this, they often have conflictingissues. For example, soft drink providers are inclined to gain publicity for public health in attempts to combat the ideas associated with their products. On the other hand, bottled water providers would rather be seen as caring for the environment. Finally, it shows the effectiveness of Economicgroups. Even with a relativelyunimportant field such as Beverage dispensation and,these companies of varying interestsare able to band together to influence the public opinion of both their products as well as on issues relating to their interests.
It seems that Madison does not view factions or interest groups in the greatest of lights. However, he believesthem to be a byproductof ensuring citizens' liberty. I believe that it would not make sense to directly combat factions, but rather, we should Ensure that no faction becomes too powerful. For example, If The ABA grew too powerful, issues such as obesity and environmentallyharmful wastecould present a problem if the single faction was easily given whatever it desired. But with the establishment of many factions such as environmental and community health, The ABA would be kept in check. I believe that factions, while having the potential to cause harm, are safe and beneficialfor individuals to have their ideas expressed, so long as they are kept in check with conflicting interests.
Student B post
The stated mission of Nature Conservancy is to save and protect the land, water, and environment in which we all live and depend. And by doing this, they will provide food and water sustainability, tackle climate change, and build healthier cities. While many lobbying firms represent specific entities or groups of people, the Nature Conservancy works to represent and defend all land and water sources here on earth. The group works to protect water and land so that they can provide for future generations and to stop climate change from destroying the planet. One of the groups current projects was to buy 153,000 acres of Appalachian mountain land in western Virginia. The purchase is part of a larger plan to protect over 250,00 acres in three states. This newly acquired land will be used for some sustainable development.
The first topic from the chapter I selected was
ideology
or general belief on the role and purpose of government. I use this first because, without it, interest groups and lobbying would not exist. Ideology informs and helps us to decide what is important and how we should pursue our goals, and Nature Conservancy has a stated objective to protect land and water. They do this through private and public means of protection, whether working with the government to purchase and protect property or work with companies to design and build smarter buildings and materials.
Lobbyingwas my second choice because they would not be considered a lobbying group if they did not attempt to influence legislation and members of the legislative branch. My third pick waspolitical action committee
or the ways and financial means of raising money for political purpose and spending. The group does this to buy and protect land and waterways.
Madisons federalist #10 explains the dangers of interest groups promoting their interest and needs over the greater good of the nations. And while I do agree that if an interest group gains enough control, then they do become dangerous, but I believe that most groups are operating in good faith for the people they represent. An excellent example of this today would be the national rifle association or NRA and their attempted control over the republican and more moderate democratic members of congress into not creating common-sense gun control legislation as they state it would infringe on their members right to bear arms stated in the second amendment to the U.S constitution.