American Politics Today - Essentials (3rd Ed)

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THE INTEREST GROUP UNIVERSE| 233

MASS ASSOCIATIONS OR PEAK ASSOCIATIONS

Interest groups can also be distinguished according to the size of their member-
ship and the members’ role in the group’s activities. Some are mass associations
with many dues-paying members. One example is the Sierra Club, which has more
than 750,000 members who pay annual dues of about $30 each. Besides keeping
its members informed about the making of environmental policy in Washington,
D.C., the Sierra Club endorses judicial nominees and candidates for elected posi-
tions and works with members of Congress to develop legislative proposals. The
group’s members elect the organization’s board of directors.
However, not all mass associations give members a say in selecting a group’s
leaders or determining its mission. For example, AARP claims to lobby for policies
its members favor, but members actually have no control over which legislative
causes the group chooses. Moreover, A ARP does not poll members to determine
its issue positions, nor do members pick A ARP leadership.
Peak associations have a diff erent type of membership,^3 exemplifi ed by the
Business-Industry Political Action Committee (BIPAC). This association of several
hundred businesses and trade associations aims to elect “pro-business individu-
als” to Congress.^4 Individuals cannot join peak associations—they may work for
member companies or organizations, but they cannot become dues-paying mem-
bers on their own.


Membership: Benefi ts and Incentives


Attracting members is important for an interest group’s success. Society is full
of groups of like-minded people (such as college students) who do not organize
to lobby or who choose to enjoy the benefi ts of organizations without participat-
ing. Therefore, most organizations develop mechanisms to promote participation.
These mechanisms fall into three categories: benefi ts from participation, coer-
cion, and selective incentives.

CENTRALIZED INTEREST GROUPS
in America often have an offi ce
in Washington, D.C., which
helps them to stay in touch
with members of Congress,
bureaucrats, and the president
and his staff. It also provides
a venue for attracting press
coverage of the group’s concerns.
This 2009 town hall meeting on
health care held at the Washington
headquarters of A ARP was
attended by President Obama.

mass associations Interest
groups that have a large num-
ber of dues-paying individuals as
members.

peak associations Interest
groups whose members are busi-
nesses or other organizations
rather than individuals.
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