Describe the key arguments behind the Elitist view of interest group politics. Describe the key arguments of the Hyperpluralist theory of group politics.

What are iron triangles and give an example of an iron triangle.

What is a single-issue group and give an example?

What are the four basic strategies that interest groups use to try and shape policy?

What is lobbying? What is a lobbyist?

What are four ways that lobbyists help members of Congress?

What is electioneering?

In what ways to interest groups participate in electioneering?

Why do PACS give more money to incumbents?

What is litigation?

What are amicus curiae briefs? How do interest groups use amicus curiae briefs?

How do interest groups appeal to the public to achieve their goals?

According to the text, what are four main types of interest groups?

What issues are economic interest groups concerned with and list two examples of interest groups that would fall under this category?

What issues are environmental interest groups concerned with and list two examples of interest groups that would fall under this category?

What issues are equality interest groups concerned with and list two examples of interest groups that would fall under this category?

What issues are consumer and public interest group lobbies concerned with and list two examples of interest groups that fall under this category?

Examine how Madison’s ideas for controlling the influence of interest groups has worked in practice (hint…what do pluralists, elitists, and hyperpluralists think…?)

The United States allows its citizens to participate in government in many ways. The United States also has many different levels and branches of government that any citizen or group might approach. Many people take this as evidence that U.S. citizens, especially as represented by competing groups, are able to influence government actions. Some political theorists, however, argue that this is not the case. They claim that only a handful of economic and political elites have any influence over government. Many Americans fear that a set of elite citizens is really in charge of government in the United States and that others have no influence. This belief is called the elite theory of government. In contrast to that perspective is the pluralist theory of government, which says that political power rests with competing interest groups who share influence in government. Pluralist theorists assume that citizens who want to get involved in the system do so because of the great number of access points to government. That is, the U.S. system, with several levels and branches, has many places where people and groups can engage the government.

The foremost supporter of elite theory was C. Wright Mills. In his book, The Power Elite, Mills argued that government was controlled by a combination of business, military, and political elites. Most are highly educated, often graduating from prestigious universities. According to elite theory, the wealthy use their power to control the nation’s economy in such a way that those below them cannot advance economically. Their wealth allows the elite to secure for themselves important positions in politics. They then use this power to make decisions and allocate resources in ways that benefit them. Politicians do the bidding of the wealthy instead of attending to the needs of ordinary people, and order is maintained by force. Indeed, those who favor government by the elite believe the elite are better fit to govern and that average citizens are content to allow them to do so. In apparent support of the elite perspective, one-third of U.S. presidents have attended Ivy League schools, a much higher percentage than the rest of the U.S. population.

women should have the same rights as men

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