William_T._Bianco,_David_T._Canon]_American_Polit

342 Chapter 10Chapter 10 || Interest GroupsInterest Groups

For most Americans, this story looks all too common: organized, well-funded

groups lobbying against changes that would benefit broader segments of the

population. How can individuals have a voice in the policy process when they

are fighting against organizations that have millions of dollars and extensive

connections on their side? Even if individuals try to form new groups to advance their

policy goals, their battle against well-entrenched and well-funded groups does not

seem like a fair fight.

Surprisingly, the case of student loans is one where David appears to have beaten

Goliath. Despite intense, well-funded lobbying against direct loans, legislation

implementing this change was enacted in 2010—meaning that you and your parents

are now able to get lower-interest loans directly from the federal government. The

move was so popular that even when Republicans regained control of Congress and

Donald Trump was elected president, they left the program in place. However, Trump’s

proposed 2018 budget attempted to alter other aspects of the program, such as

eliminating the student loan forgiveness program. But Congress expanded the popular

program with a one-time $350 million appropriation to cover those who thought they

qualified for the loan forgiveness program but had been turned down for various

bureaucratic reasons.^1

This chapter surveys the wide range of interest groups in American politics—

from large, powerful groups such as the National Rifle Association (NRA) to small

organizations that lobby on issues that concern only a few Americans. Our aim is to

get to the bottom of examples where the lobbyists lose, like student loan reform,

examples where it seems like the lobbyists always win, like the NRA’s apparent

influence on gun control policy. Some people, like Senator Alexander, would argue

that interest groups provide a necessary check on the federal government’s

tendency to “take over” private industry. However, many others always root for

lobbyists, with their perceived insider connections and undue influence, to lose their

battles. Is it fair to characterize all interest groups, like those that worked against

student loan reform, as “armies of lobbyists” on self-interested missions? Are interest

groups really too-powerful manipulators of the American policy process?

What Are Interest Groups?

Interest groups are organizations that seek to influence government policy. They

use a variety of tactics, such as lobbying elected officials and bureaucrats, mobilizing

group members and the public, and helping to elect candidates who support the

organizations’ policy goals. In its most basic form, lobbying involves persuasion

and monitoring policy development by using reports, protests, informal meetings,

or other techniques to convince an elected official or bureaucrat to help enact a

law, craft a regulation, or do something else that a group wants. The members

of an interest group can be individual citizens, local governments, businesses,

foundations or nonprofit organizations, churches, or virtually any other entity. An

interest group’s employees or members may lobby on the group’s behalf, or a group

may hire a lobbyist or lobbying firm to do the work for it. Groups may lobby on their

own or work with other groups to enact compromise proposals. Many organizations

also have lobbying operations or hire lobbyists to work on their behalf. (See Nuts &

Bolts 10.1 for some examples of the types of interest groups found in contemporary

American politics.)

DEFINE INTEREST GROUPS

AND DESCRIBE THE

CHARACTERISTICS OF

DIFFERENT TYPES OF GROUPS

interest group

An organization of people who share

common political interests and

aim to influence public policy by

electioneering and lobbying.

lobbying

Efforts to influence public policy

through contact with public officials

on behalf of an interest group.

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