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Course: AP®︎/College US Government and Politics > Unit 5
Lesson 7: Groups influencing policy outcomesGroups influencing policy outcomes: lesson overview
How do interest groups interact with the policymaking process? Money talks, but even groups with very deep pockets don't get their way all of the time. In the scrum of public policy, interest groups may meet with many obstacles: opposing forces that favor different policy solutions, elected officials whose constituents will not reward them for backing a controversial issue, or budget limitations, just to name a few.
Key terms
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| direct lobbying | Interest groups' attempts to influence policy by speaking directly with bureaucrats or elected officials. |
| inside strategies | Interest groups' attempts to influence policy by working within Washington DC. This includes strategies like direct lobbying, drafting pieces of legislation for elected officials, and suing the government. |
| outside strategies | Interest groups' attempts to influence policy outside of Washington DC, by using strategies like campaign contributions, media coverage, or encouraging constituents to contact their elected officials. |
| political action committees (PACs) | Registered fundraising committees that donate money on behalf of interest groups. Super PACs are highly-funded PACs, whose numbers have grown following a Supreme Court ruling permitting unlimited spending by corporations and labor unions in federal elections. |
| protest movement | A group that brings attention to a social problem through public demonstrations or other forms of direct action. |
| salience | The degree to which the general public is aware of a policy issue. Policymakers are less likely to accommodate the demands of interest groups on issues with high salience, like gun rights or abortion rights, as they risk alienating voters. |
| single-issue group | An interest group devoted to one particular issue rather than a larger category of interests; for example, EMILY’s List supports pro-choice female candidates, and the National Rifle Association (NRA) opposes gun regulations. |
| social movements | Groups that work to bring about change in society, such as the Civil Rights Movement or the Environmental Movement; these groups support policies and elected officials that align with their beliefs. |
Interest groups and the policy process
As we saw in the previous lesson, there are many types of interest groups and many ways those groups can influence policy. Although some interest groups donate the majority of the money they raise directly to candidates' campaigns, many choose to spend their funds on mailers, TV commercials, and other advertisements to spread awareness about an issue. Others focus on recruiting future candidates or passing ballot measures at the state level.
Interest groups may also choose to mobilize their resources in different steps of the policy process. Some groups may work to identify and frame problems, while others may direct their resources toward blocking the implementation of a policy.
Review questions
Why do you think that interest groups employ different strategies—donating to campaigns vs. supporting ballot initiatives, for example—to accomplish their goals?
Although well-funded interest groups have an edge in shaping policymaking, their ideas don't always prevail. Other groups with fewer resources may ultimately succeed. Why?
Interest groups are more likely to succeed when they try to block a change from happening (for example, lobbying not to repeal a law) than when they try to implement a change. Why do you think this is the case?
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Why do you think that interest groups employ different strategies—donating to campaigns vs. supporting ballot initiatives, for example—to accomplish their goals? Help me answer this please😂(2 votes)