250 CHAPTER 8|INTEREST GROUPS
small details of proposals. But when large, powerful groups seek controversial
changes, their resources are matched by the diffi culty of the task. Fears of large
groups dominating the policy-making process to the exclusion of public opinion
are largely unfounded.Conclusion
The number of interest groups in America and the amount those groups spend on
lobbying have increased in recent years, bringing a larger variety of organizations
a nd lobby i n g t a ct ics. Cont ra r y t o t he i ma ge of i nt erest g roups a s power f u l ma n ipu-
lators, one of their biggest challenges involves galvanizing members to participate
in their eff orts. Interest groups are more likely to get what they want when their
demands attract little public attention and no opposition from other groups. When
a group asks for a large or controversial policy change, it stands little chance of
success even if the group has many members, a large lobbying budget, or an infl u-
ential leader directing its operation. Moreover, because interest groups are more
likely to succeed when they work together, and because many of their strategies
help to inform members of Congress and bureaucrats about the details of public
policy and the shape of public opinion, interest group lobbying can be a force for
compromise in American politics as well as a source of confl ict.
In sum, while individual lobbying eff orts often refl ect the eff orts of small groups
to achieve favored policy outcomes at the expense of the majority of the popula-
tion, looking across the entire range of interest group activities, a diff erent picture
emerges. In the main, interest groups refl ect the confl ictual nature of American
politics and the resulting drive of individuals, groups, and corporations to shape
American public policy in line with their diverse policy goals.