POL SC 1 Chapter Notes - Chapter 7: Free Rider Problem, Alexis De Tocqueville, Moveon.Org
21 Jan 2018
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An interest group is any organization whose members share common objectives and actively attempts to in uence government policy. Unlike political parties, interest groups do not attempt to gain control of the government; rather they attempt to in uence governmental policies. Often, interest groups employ lobbyists, who attempt to in uence policy by communication with policymakers. One reason there are so many di erent groups that try to in uence government is the many opportunities for them to do so through the three branches of government. 10, madison foresaw the importance of having a multitude of competing interests, which dahl echoed centuries later in arguments about pluralism. Today, hyperpluralism, the ability of interest groups to mandate policy or to defeat policies needed by the nation, has been seen by some as a detriment to an e ective government. Mass movements for social change are one source of interest groups.
