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Chapter 8 Interest Groups

Interest Groups
l lnLeresL Croups and ollLlcs
a WhaL are lnLeresL Croups?
l lnLeresL groups group of clLlzens who share a common lnLeresL and who Lry Lo
lnfluence publlc pollcy Lo beneflL Lhelr members
ll roacLlve group Croups LhaL form when an enLerprlslng lndlvldual sees an
openlng or opporLunlLy Lo creaLe Lhe group for soclal pollLlcal or economlc
purposes
1 Arlses when an enLerprlslng lndlvldual sees an openlng/opporLunlLy Lo
creaLe Lhe group
lll 8eacLlve group group LhaL forms Lo proLecL Lhe lnLeresL of Lhe members ln
response Lo a percelved LhreaL from anoLher group or Lo flghL anoLher pollcy
1 Members share common characLerlzes descrlbed as homogenous
2 Members varled background heLerogeneous
lv All lnLeresL groups based on ldea LhaL members [olnlng LogeLher ln a group can
secure a shared beneflL LhaL would noL be avallable Lo Lhem lf Lhey acLed alone
b 1he 8lghL Lo Assemble and Lo eLlLlon
l 8lghLs Lo assoclaLlon rlghL Lo freely assoclaLe wlLh oLhers and form groups
proLecLed by Lhe flrsL amendmenL
1 Lnforced by Lhe llrsL AmendmenL Lhe rlghL of people peaceably Lo
assemble"
ll Puman belngs naLurally seek Lhose slmllar Lo Lhem framers belleved
opporLunlLy Lo form groups was a fundamenLal rlghL LhaL Cov could noL Lake
away
1 AL same Llme fearful of such groups (lacLlons)
lll lacLlon deflned by Madlson as any group LhaL places lLs own lnLeresL above Lhe
aggregaLe lnLeresLs of socleLy
1 noL exacLly Lhe same as pollLlcal parLles whlch form expllclLly Lo wln
elecLlons
lv 8lll of 8lghLs held LhaL rlghLs of assoclaLlon and peLlLlon essenLlal for clLlzens Lo
hold governmenL accounLable ensure responslveness of elecLed offlclals and
parLlclpaLe equally ln governmenL
v 8lghL of eLlLlon 8lghL Lo ask Lhe governmenL for asslsLance /w a problem or
express opposlLlon Lo a governmenL pollcy
vl Lobbylng AcL of Lrylng Lo persuade elecLed offlclals Lo adopL a speclflc pollcy
change or malnLaln Lhe sLaLus quo
vll CrassrooL MovemenL Croups LhaL form ln response Lo an economlc or pollLlcal
evenL buL does noL focus on one lssue
vlll When groups lobby congress/sLaLe leglslaLure Lhey meeL wlLh sLaff alds Lo
members Lo make Lhe case for Lhelr pollcy goals
lx When groups lobby Lhe [udlclal branch lL Lakes form of lawsulLs agalnsL
governmenL pollcles LhaL lnLeresL groups see fundamenLally unconsLlLuLlonal or
LhaL go agalnsL Lhe orlglnal lnLenL of law
x lnLeresL groups can also submlL am|cus cur|ae br|efs LhaL record Lhelr oplnlon
even lf Lhey are noL Lhe prlmary legal parLlclpanLs ln a case
1 m|cus cur|ae br|efs 8rlefs fllled by ouLslde parLles who have an
lnLeresL ln Lhe ouLcome of a case
xl lnLeresL groups also lobby for/agalnsL [udlclal nomlnees
ll 1ypes of lnLeresL Croup
a Lconomlc lnLeresL groups groups formed Lo advance Lhe economlc sLaLus of lLs
members
l 1end Lo be excluslve ln membershlp purpose ls Lo secure Langlble economlc
beneflL for Lhemselves
ll 1rade and rofesslonal AssoclaLlons lnLeresL groups LhaL represenL flrms LhaL
share a common economlc perspecLlve
1 1rade AssoclaLlons lnLeresL groups LhaL represenL flrms LhaL share a
common economlc perspecLlve
a 1hese form because buslness owners ln areas belleve LhaL
collecLlvely Lhey have more lnfluence on pollcy Lhan lndlvldually
2 rofesslonal AssoclaLlons lnLeresL group LhaL represenLs lndlvlduals
who share slmllar [obs
a lrequenLly responslble for seLLlng guldellnes for professlonal
conducL buslness pracLlces Lo personal eLhlcs and for
collecLlvely represenLlng Lhe members ln Lhe pollcy process
lll CorporaLlons
1 1ry Lo lnfluence pollcy on Lhelr own as well as [olnL Lrade assoclaLlons of
buslness wlLh slmllar goals
lv unlons Croup who share common employmenL and seek beLLer wages and
worklng condlLlon
1 Seek safer worklng condlLlons/beLLer wages for Lhelr members
2 1radlLlonally organlzed as local chapLers LhaL are aparL of a naLlonal
organlzaLlon
3 SLrengLh lles ln Lhe facL LhaL Lhey agree Lo allow Lhe unlon leaders Lo
bargaln collecLlvely /w employers over wages/worklng condlLlons
4 naLlonal Labor 8elaLlons AcL LsLabllshed a federal role ln monlLorlng
and proLecLlng worklng condlLlons and lnLervenlng ln dlspuLes beLween
workers and managemenL
a Cnly one unlon can be selecLed Lo represenL workers ln a
speclflc locaLlon and Lhe workers have Lo ablde by LhaL unlon's
declslons
ersuaslve powers of unlon lles ln Lhe ablllLy Lo call sLrlkes
6 8lggesL weakness ls when Lhe lndusLry Lhey represenL loses [obs unlon
membershlp shrlnks smaller unlon less power lL can exerL on
manufacLurers/elecLed offlclals
7 unlons are economlcally powerful and poLenLlally pollLlcally powerful
a ollLlcal power derlves from members Lo voLe for candldaLes
Lhey favor on lssues such as hlgher mlnlmum wage sLandard for
overLlme pay beLLer access Lo healLh care lnsurance worker
safeLy and lnLernaLlonal Lrade agreemenLs
b ldeologlcal and lssue CrlenLed Croups
l ldeologlcal lnLeresL Croups Croups LhaL form among clLlzens wlLh Lhe same
bellefs on speclflc lssue
1 Lconomlc beneflLs noL prlmary basls for exlsLence
2 ClLlzens' Croups Croups LhaL form Lo draw aLLenLlon Lo purely publlc
lssues LhaL affecL all clLlzens equally
a 1yplcally formed Lo draw aLLenLlon Lo publlc lssues LhaL affecL
all clLlzens equally
l Lx LnvlronmenL proLecLlon consumer producL safeLy
3 Slngle lssue groups groups LhaL form Lo presenL one vlew on a hlghly
sallenL lssue LhaL ls lnLensely lmporLanL Lo Lhelr members such as gun
conLrol
a lorm Lo presenL one vlew on a hlghly sa||ent lssue LhaL ls very
lmporLanL Lo members
4 CrassrooL movemenL groups as well
ll olarlzaLlon dlfferences beLween parLles LhaL spark dlsagreemenL fuellng
aLLacks and conLroversy
c lorelgn ollcy groups Croups founded Lo creaLe supporL for favorable uS pollcles
Loward one/several forelgn counLrles
lll WhaL lnLeresL Croups do
a 1hey collecL lnformaLlon abouL Lhe lmpllcaLlons of pollcy changes and convey LhaL
lnformaLlon Lo lawmakers and oLher pollcy makers
b 1helr lobbylng efforLs alm Lo consLrucL pollcles ln ways LhaL wlll mosL beneflL Lhelr
members
c lnform
l All lnLeresL groups provlde lnformaLlon Lo all
ll uo more Lhan reporL on currenL pollcy Lhey also provlde lnLerpreLaLlon of how
Lhese developmenLs wlll affecL Lhe group's mlsslons/goals
lll Work hard Lo lnform governmenL offlclals abouL lmpacL of speclflc publlc
pollcles
lv LeglslaLors/CovernmenL offlclals generally knowledgeable ln many areas buL
slze of federal/sLaLe governmenL makes lL dlfflculL Lo know lmpacL of pollcles on
every clLlzen
d Lobby
l AlmosL every klnd of group lobbles
ll LobbylsL for governmenL enLlLles vlslL /w members of sLaLe's congresslonal
delegaLlon Lo keep Lhem lnformed on how federal programs are operaLlng back
home and ask for leglslaLlon LhaL wlll beneflL Lhelr sLaLe
lll AL sLaLe level clLy mayors/counLy execuLlves aLLempL Lo lnfluence sLaLe
leglslaLors/governor by keeplng Lhem lnformed abouL how pollcles affecL Lhelr
consLlLuenLs
lv 1he LobbylsLs
1 Croups can elLher use Lhelr own employees as lobbylsLs or Lhey
conLracL flrms LhaL speclallze ln lobbylng
2 Lobbylng frequenLly sLereoLyped as represenLlng narrow lnLeresLs of
cllenLs however Lhey are Lyplcally people who have held publlc servlce
[obs
3 3 common paLhways Lo becomlng a WashlngLon LobbylsL
a Worklng on caplLol hlll
b Worklng ln Lhe LxecuLlve 8ranch
c Worklng on a ollLlcal Campalgn
4 ln 2007 congresslonal eLhlcs reform prohlblLed pald Lrlps and meals for
members and sLaff
Also aLLend congresslonal hearlngs execuLlve branch brleflngs and
even commlLLee markups where congress acLually wrlLes leglslaLlon on
lssues of lmporLance Lo Lhelr companles or cllenLs
v Lobbylng SLraLegles
1 lnslde lobbylng deallng dlrecLly wlLh leglslaLors and Lhelr sLaff asklng
speclflc pollcles or Lry Lo sLop a pollcy Lhey oppose
a keep pollcy requesL narrowly Lallored Lo groups needs
l More groups LhaL become lnvolved Lhe more
compllcaLed
2 lf several groups share same pollcy goals may form Lemporary coallLlon
worklng LogeLher Lo lmprove Lhelr chances of success
3 lnslde sLraLegy doesn'L work Lhen adopL more publlc or ouLslde
sLraLegy
a CeL press/Lhelr members more dlrecLly lnvolved
4 WaLchdog role of monlLorlng governmenL acLlons
a lnLeresLs Lry and use make use of press's ablllLy Lo waLchdog
Also promoLe CrassrooL lobbylng by encouraglng an acLlon among
members/publlc
6 lnLeresL groups can generaLe clLlzen lnvolvemenL Lhrough lnLerneL or
oLher means
a 8y dolng so groups dlrecLly glve Lhelr membershlp a sLronger
voLe ln Lhe pollcymaklng process
e Lngage ln Campalgn AcLlvlLles
l lnLeresL groups promoLe vlews ln campalgn acLlvlLles Lhough federal law
regulaLes Lhelr parLlclpaLlon
ll Croups wlLh Lax exempL sLaLus prohlblLed from engaglng ln any acLlvlLy on
behalf of candldaLe or parLy ln an elecLlon campalgn
1 8eferred Lo as %c)%)Crgan|zat|ons 1axLxempL groups LhaL are
prohlblLed from lobbylng or campalgnlng for a parLy/candldaLe
lll CannoL engage ln lobbylng ln any slgnlflcanL way buL can produce voLer
educaLlon guldes or oLher nonparLlsan educaLlon maLerlal LhaL explalns lssues
ralsed durlng a pollLlcal campalgn
lv Croups ouLslde Lhe LaxexempL caLegory are free Lo engage ln lobbylng and
campalgn acLlvlLles
1 1o seL boundarles beLween groups's core mlsslon/pollLlcs Lhey creaLe
parallel organlzaLlons LhaL make campalgn conLrlbuLlons Lo leglslaLors
a 9o||t|ca| ct|on Comm|ttees %9Cs) Croups formed Lo ralse and
conLrlbuLe funds Lo supporL elecLoral candldaLes sub[ecL Lo
campalgn flnance laws
l Serve as a gaLeway for expandlng lnLeresL groups'
pollLlcal lnfluence Lhrough flnanclal lnvolvemenL ln
campalgns
2 ACs begun growlng afLer 8uckley v valeo (1976)
a upheld congresslonal llmlLs on donaLlons Lo campalgns
v Croups reallzed expandlng ACs could galn Lhem more lnfluence over elecLed
offlclals Lhrough campalgn conLrlbuLlons
vl ACs expand Lhe reach of lnLeresL groups well beyond lobbylng Lo lnclude acLlve
engagemenL ln elecLoral area
vll Concern LhaL Lhelr money exerLs dlsproporLlonal lnfluence over leglslaLors
whlch creaLes lmbalance ln governmenL responslveness Loward some groups
and noL oLhers
vlll Campalgn flnance laws lmpose llmlLs on whaL lnLeresL groups can do ln Lerms of
|ssue advocacy
1 Issue dvocacy Sponsorlng adverLlsemenLs or dlsLrlbuLlng llLeraLure on
a pollcy lssue raLher Lhan a speclflc candldaLe
lx Supreme courL rule LhaL campalgn spendlng ls a form of speech and LhaL
congress musL show a compelllng lnLeresL" before laws can regulaLe lL
x McCalnlelngold 8lparLlsan Campalgn 8eform AcL (2002) resLrlcLed
corporaLlons and unlons from uslng 1v Cr radlo ads for elecLloneerlng
communlcaLlons" commerclals LhaL refer Lo a candldaLe by name wlLhln 30
days of a prlmary or 60 days of a general elecLlon
xl lLC v Wlsconsln 8lghL Lo llfe Supreme courL rule lf a campalgn adverLlsemenL
could be reasonably vlewed as lssue based lL was proLecLed under Lhe
guaranLee of free speech and could noL be prohlblLed by McCalnlelngold AcL
lv 1he lmpacL of lnLeresL Croups on uemocraLlc rocesses
a 8oLh 1ocquevllle and !ames Madlson assumed LhaL volunLary assoclaLlon or Lhe formlng
of facLlons was a naLural process of clLlzens lnLeracLlng ln a free socleLy
b naLural 8alance or ulsproporLlonaLe ower?
l uavld 1ruman agreed wlLh 1ocquevllle and Madlson descrlblng lnLeresL group
formaLlons as naLural
1 Cbserved LhaL when lndlvlduals share lnLeresLs ln common Lhey
naLurally gravlLaLe Loward each oLher and form a group
ll Mancur Clson
1 Argued merely havlng someLhlng ln common wlLh oLhers was noL
enough Lo glve a group llfe and keep lL golng as an effecLlve organlzaLlon
2 locused on Lhe cosLs of organlzlng and malnLalnlng a group noLed LhaL
cosL lncreases as group slze lncreases
3 1he cosLbeneflL sLrucLure LhaL underlles group formaLlon conLradlcLs
1ruman's clalms LhaL all groups naLurally form and susLaln Lhemselves
lll 1hls debaLe ralses Lhe lssue of wheLher lnLeresL groups are naLural and can
compeLe on an equal basls or arLlflclal because Lhey dlsLorL publlc pollcy ln
favor of some clLlzens over oLhers
lv 8oberL uahl argued LhaL ln a p|ura||st socleLy Lhe varled lnLeresL groups LhaL
emerge Lo represenL Lhelr members wlll ln baLLles over publlc pollcy produce a
consensus LhaL serves Lhe publlc's common lnLeresL
1 9|ura||st vlews of democraLlc socleLy ln whlch lnLeresL groups compleLe
over pollcy goals and elecLed offlclals are medlaLors of group confllcL
v 1heodore Lowl
1 Argued ln democracy some volces louder Lhan oLhers
2 CovernmenL ls more responslve Lo louder volces and wlll conslsLenLly
serve Lhose groups aL Lhe expense of Lhose who cannoL make Lhelr
volces heard
a 1hls form of pollcy accordlng Lo Lowl e||t|st and fundamenLally
anLldemocraLlc
l ||t|st vlews of democraLlc socleLy ln whlch only a
selecL few lnLeresL groups shape pollcles ln favor of a
small group of wealLhy or powerful clLlzens
vl LL SchaLLschnelder
1 lf groups are excluslve Lhey only acL ln besL lnLeresL of members even lf
nonmembers Lhereby loose ouL
2 1hls aspecL of lnLeresL groups acLual LhreaL Lo democracy
3 Argued lf lnLeresL groups are glven leglLlmacy slnce Lhey clalm Lo
represenL clLlzen's lnLeresLs buL ln facL only seek narrow beneflLs for
Lhelr members aL Lhe expense of nonmembers Lhen Lhere ls an
lnherenL unfalrness Lo Lhem
4 ClLlzens wlll be lulled lnLo a false sense of securlLy abouL llvlng ln a
lnLeresL group socleLy" slnce Lhey belleve LhaL every lnLeresL group has
equal opporLunlLy Lo be lnfluenLlal
vll 1he lnLeresL group sysLem provldes mulLlple gaLeways Lhrough whlch lndlvlduals
cans see Lhelr vlews represenLed 1heoreLlcally because Lhere are ln facL so
many dlfferenL lnLeresL groups Lhey balance each oLher ln a democracy as
Madlson hoped Lhey would
vlll lf Clson ls rlghL and successful cosLbeneflL sLraLegles deLermlne lf a group can
survlve or noL Lhen groups led by lndlvlduals /w sufflclenL Llme/money sLand a
greaLer chance ln wlnnlng a pollcy flghL Lhan groups wlLhouL such resources ln
Lhls vlew lnLeresL become spec|a| |nterests
1 pec|a| |nterests seL of groups seeklng a parLlcular beneflL for
Lhemselves ln Lhe pollcy process
2 llnanclal advanLages creaLe an arLlflclal lmbalance on lnfluence LhaL acLs
as a gaLe agalnsL equallLy
c SelfServlce or ubllc Servlce
l lnLeresL groups do noL pass or lmplemenL laws Lhey Lry Lo lnfluence
sLaLe/federal governmenLs Lo enacL Lhelr pollcy goals for Lhem
1 uoes noL mean sLaLe/federal offlclals MuS1 do whaL Lhey ask regardless
of $
ll Croups LhaL conLesL over a slngle lssue frequenLly Lalk over each oLher maklng
compromlse dlfflculL Lo achleve
lll Cver Llme lnLeresL groups experlence wlns/losses ln pollcy sysLem Lhe
necessary condlLlon for a democracy ls LhaL every group has a chance Lo make
lLs case
d Cpen or closed 8ouLes of lnfluence
l lron Lrlangle lnsular and closed relaLlonshlp among lnLeresL groups members of
congress and federal agencles
1 uescrlbes relaLlonshlp among lnLeresL groups members of congress
and federal agencles
2 neLwork forged by members ln 3 caLegorles LhaL works Lo seal off
access Lo publlc pollcy maklng
3 LobbylsLs and lnLeresL groups wanL Lo maxlmlze Lhelr beneflLs from
federal programs
4 Members of Congress wanL Lo maxlmlze Lhelr power Lo shape programs
lederal bureaucraLs wanL Lo maxlmlze Lhelr longevlLy as admlnlsLraLors
of Lhese programs
ll CrlLlcs of lnfluence of lnLeresL descrlbe lron Lrlangle as unbreakable and LhaL
Lhey conLrlbuLe Lo Lhe lnefflclency of federal governmenL because Lhey susLaln
programs LhaL should be ellmlnaLed or enlarge problems beyond whaL ls
necessary Lo meeL Lhelr lnLended purposes
lll Pugh Peclo
1 lnLerconnecLlons of lnLeresL groups / governmenL more benlgn
suggesLlng that |ssue network ls beLLer Lhan lron Lrlangle Lo descrlbe
Lhe relaLlonshlp
2 Issue network vlews of Lhe relaLlonshlp among lnLeresL groups
members of congress and federal agencles as more fluld open and
LransparenL Lhan Lhe Lerm lron Lrlangle
3 Pe argued LhaL lnLeresL groups members of Congress and bureaucraLs
all share lnformaLlon conLlnually and LhaL Lhelr lnLeracLlons are acLually
qulLe open and LransparenL raLher Lhan closed
lv LobbylsLs members of Congress/Lhelr sLaff and members of Lhe LxecuLlve
branch all pass Lhrough a revo|v|ng door
v evo|v|ng door MovemenL of members of Congress lobbylsLs and execuLlve
branch employees lnLo pald poslLlons ln each oLher's organlzaLlons
1 Pas negaLlve connoLaLlon suggesLlng lron Lrlangle of lnfluence conslsLs
of Lhe same seL of people movlng from one branch of governmenL Lo
anoLher Lhen Lo Lhe prlvaLe secLor
2 Also suggesLs LhaL Lhe sysLem does noL sLop Lo lnclude ouLslders wlLh
new perspecLlves
a lL can acL as a gaLe agalnsL wlder pollLlcal parLlclpaLlon
v CharacLerlsLlcs of successful lnLeresL Croups
a Success can be measured ln 4 ways Leadershlp accounLablllLy membershlp sLablllLy
flnanclal sLablllLy and publlc lnfluence
b Leadershlp AccounLablllLy
l lnLeresL group enLrepreneur lndlvlduals who expend Lhelr own Llme energy
and resources Lo form an lnLeresL group
ll 8oberL Sallsbury
1 Lxchange Lheory of lnLeresL groups"
2 Pe argued LhaL no one would raLlonally expend Lhe energy and Llme Lo
sLarL a group lf he or she could noL Lake a promlnenL role ln dlrecLlng lL
lll 1ransparency abouL Lhe group's pollLlcal and flnanclal acLlvlLles ln pursulL of
Lhelr goals ls an lmporLanL democraLlc elemenL of lnLeresL groups
lv lron law of ollgarchy A Lheory LhaL ln any organlzaLlon Lhe leaders evenLually
behave ln Lhelr own selflnLeresL even aL Lhe expense of Lhe rankandflle
members Lhe larger Lhe organlzaLlon Lhe greaLer Lhe llkellhood LhaL Lhe leader
wlll behave Lhls way
1 8oberL Mlchael colned Lhls phrase
2 Argued larger lnLeresL groups were especlally suscepLlble Lo
unresponslve or abuslve leadershlp
v 1he larger Lhe organlzaLlon Lhe more dlfflculL lL ls for members Lo be sure Lhey
are belng represenLed acLlvely and honesLly
c Membershlp SLablllLy
l SelecLlve 8eneflLs 8eneflLs offered excluslvely Lo members of an lnLeresL group
1 MaLerlal beneflLs 1anglble beneflLs avallable only Lo members of a
group such as dlscounLs and monLhly magazlnes
a Lx ulscounLs on Lravel or prescrlpLlons
2 SolldarlLy 8eneflLs beneflLs LhaL are lnLanglble buL come from
lnLeracLlng wlLh people who share slmllar professlonal or personal
lnLeresLs
a 8ange from slmple pleasure of belng /w people /w slmllar
lnLeresLs and perspecLlves Lo acLual neLworklng beneflLs LhaL
come from lnLeracLlng /w people
b Less Langlble
3 Lxpresslve beneflLs beneflLs provlded by Lhe governmenL from whlch
everyone beneflLs and from whlch no one can be excluded
a 1he leasL Langlble ln LhaL Lhey conslsL of havlng a speclflc
oplnlon expressed ln Lhe larger soclal/pollLlcal sphere
ll 1he lree 8lder roblem roblem faced by lnLeresL groups when a collecLlve
beneflL Lhey provlde ls so wldespread and dlffuse LhaL members and
nonmembers allke recelve lL reduclng Lhe lncenLlve for [olnlng Lhe group
1 ubllc goods Coods or beneflLs provlded by governmenL from whlch
everyone beneflLs and from whlch no one can be excluded
a 1yplcally Lhe splllover effecL from publlc pollcles LhaL affecL all
clLlzens
2 Clson addressed Lhls collecLlve acLlon dllemma and deflned Lhe lree
8lder problem
lll 1anglble beneflLs
1 8egardless of where a group sLands as lL grows larger and Lhe publlc
beneflLs lL seeks become more wldespread lL Lurns Lo provldlng
Langlble beneflLs as a necessary parL of orlglnazlLlonal malnLenance
lv Lconomlc and ollLlcal Change
1 Changes ln boLh economy and pollLlcal envlronmenL can affecL sLablllLy
of a group's membershlp
2 Croups can succeed" Lhelr way ouL of exlsLence
a lf a group ls lmmensely successful Lo Lhe polnL where Lhey seem
less urgenLly needed Lhan lL was ln Lhe pasL Lhelr lnfluence
drops
d llnanclal SLablllLy
l Croups always need money low dues for more people hlgh dues for excluslve
ll Croups flnd ways Lo make money by creaLlng noLforproflL buslnesses wlLhln
Lhe organlzaLlons
lll AA8 ls among Lhe mosL successful largescale lnLeresL group ln Amerlcan
hlsLory
lv Challenge for groups ls Lo keep operaLlng cosLs ln llne wlLh Lhelr expecLed
lncome
e lnfluence ln Lhe publlc Sphere
l 1he exLenL an lnLeresL group appears Lo lnfluence publlc debaLe on an lssue of
concern Lo lLs members ls anoLher characLerlsLlc of success
vl lnLeresL Croups and ubllc ollcy lmmlgraLlon
a lmmlgraLlon laws serve slmulLaneously as gaLes Lo enLry lnLo Lhe unlLed SLaLes and
gaLeways Lo evenLual clLlzenshlp
b 1he Legal lmmlgraLlon rocess
l 1he process
1 Apply for vlsas whlch are granLed by deparLmenL of sLaLe
2 Cnce arrlve ln uS Lhelr [ourney Lowards clLlzenshlp overseen by Lhe uS
clLlzenshlp and lmmlgraLlon Servlces (uSClS)
3 1o sLay on a permanenL basls lndlvlduals can apply for a general
lmmlgraLlon vlsa a famlly relaLlons vlsa or an employmenL vlsa
4 1o become a naLurallzed clLlzen an lmmlgranL musL apply Lo be a legal
permanenL resldenL of Lhe uS a sLep known as geLLlng a Green Card
a Creen card ermanenL resldenL card lssued Lo Lhose
lmmlgranLs who are ellglble
l lndlvldual musL secure sponsor who wlll aLLesL LhaL Lhe
lndlvldual has some means of flnanclal supporL
ll MusL Lake a medlcal exam and secure proof of
employmenL
lll MusL reslde ln Lhe uS for aL leaLsL years be able Lo
read wrlLe and speak Lngllsh pass a clLlzenshlp LesL on
Lhe hlsLory and governmenL of Lhe unlLed SLaLes and
pledge supporL for Lhe unlLed SLaLes
ln any baLLle over legal lmmlgraLlon pollcy each group Lrles Lo consLrucL
grassrooLs lobbylng campalgns LhaL mlghL glve lL an edge ln lnfluence
6 unlLed sLaLes does noL have Lhe naLural resources Lo susLaln lncreased
domesLlc populaLlon growLh and lncreased lmmlgraLlon
c 1he lllegal lmmlgraLlon uebaLe
l urlve Lo reform lmmlgraLlon laws sLems from Lhe # lndlvlduals who enLer our
counLry lllegally
ll 1986 lmmlgraLlon 8eform and ConLrol AcL CranLed amnesLy Lo almosL 28
mllllon lndlvlduals who enLered Lhe counLry lllegally and wlshed Lo sLay as legal
resldenLs
lll Cne poslLlon Lowards lmmlgraLlon reform holds lndlvlduals who broke law Lo
enLer uS musL noL be allowed Lo sLay and musL be forced Lo reLurn Lo Lhelr
counLry of orlgln and apply for legal lmmlgraLlon sLaLus
lv AnoLher poslLlon argues LhaL lndlvlduals who arrlved lllegally buL have slnce
esLabllshed producLlve llves should be legally lncorporaLed lnLo socleLy and have
Lhe opporLunlLy Lo be full and acLlve clLlzens
v WlLhouL amnesLy famllles would be Lorn aparL as parenLs forced Lo leave Lhe uS
may leave chlldren behlnd who were born ln Lhe uS and are Lherefore clLlzens
vl CpponenLs of lmmlgraLlon reform argue LhaL prevlous amnesLy program
encouraged more people Lo enLer Lhe uS lllegally and a new blll would do Lhe
same
1 Also sLaLe lllegal lmmlgranLs Lake [obs from legal resldenL slnce Lhey wlll
work for lower wages and noL pay securlLy Lax on Lhelr earnlngs
vll 8egardless of poslLlon acLlons by each group lllusLraLe how CrassrooL
movemenLs enable lndlvlduals Lo geL Lhelr oplnlons heard ln Lhe pollcy process
d 8efugees and ollLlcal Asylum
l Speclal lmmlgraLlon sLaLus Lo lndlvlduals whose llves are aL greaL rlsks ln Lhelr
homeland ln 2 caLegorles 8efugee and ollLlcal Asylum
1 8efugee sLaLus granLed when uS deLermlnes lndlvldual aL rlsk because
of race rellglon pollLlcal vlews or soclal eLhnlc or Lrlbal group
a Apply from Lhelr home counLrles or anoLher forelgn naLlon
2 ollLlcal Asylum ls more narrow and granLed Lo lndlvlduals who already
ln uS and would face persecuLlon lf Lhey reLurn
a Cnce granLed pollLlcal asylum Lhey are LreaLed as someone wlLh
refugee sLaLus
vll lnLeresL Croups and uemocracy
a lnLeresL groups powerful because Lhey crysLallze Lhe oplnlons and lnLeresL of average
clLlzens and presenL Lhe vlews Lo elecLed offlclals durlng pollcy maklng
b 1hls power of lnfluence ls preclsely whaL Madlson feared
l Pe hoped large republlc compeLlLlon among lnLeresL groups would prevenL any
slngle one from galnlng Loo much lnfluence
c lnLeresL groups conLrlbuLe Lo democracy by holdlng governmenL accounLable for lLs
acLlons pressurlng elecLed offlclals Lo be responslve Lo Lhelr consLlLuenLs and servlng as
a vehlcle Lo equallze Lhe lnfluence of dlfferenL groups of clLlzens ln Lhe pollcy process
d very exlsLence of lnLeresL group can keep clLlzens lnformed abouL dlrecL lmpacL of pollcy
on Lhelr llves
e lnLeresL groups engage ln several meLhods Lo lnfluence economlc and soclal pollcy
l ulrecL lobbylng
ll Medla campalgns
lll Legal challenges
lv CrassrooL lnformaLlonal movemenLs
f uemocraLs elecLed offlclals bureaucraLs and Lhe [udlclary ofLen acL as lnLermedlarles
of lnLeresL group confllcLs
g 1hough more lnLeresL groups Loday Lhan ever before pollLlcal parLles serve as a
counLerwelghL Lo Lhe lnfluences of lnLeresL groups
h 1he exLenL lnLeresL groups can lnfluence pollLlclans Lo address only narrow or excluslve
lnLeresLs Lo Lhe deLrlmenL of whaL's besL for all clLlzens can be vlewed as a negaLlve
aspecL of uS democracy
l lnLeresL groups also represenL a poslLlve aspecL of democracy when Lhey serve Lo
express wlderanglng vlewpolnLs and Lhey conLlnue Lo be effecLlve ln volclng needs of
clLlzens
[ Sole rellance on lnLeresL groups as a means of clLlzen parLlclpaLlon ls dangerous slnce
some groups have more resources Lhan oLhers and consequenLly wln more ofLen Lhan
oLhers

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