1. Chapter 7: Interest Groups
A More Perfect Union 1/e

2. Interest Groups
• The Value of Interest Groups
– Interest Groups and Civic Participation
– Pluralist Theory vs. Elite Theory
– Key Functions of Interest Groups
– The Downsides of Interest Groups
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3. Interest Groups
• Who Joins Interest Groups, and Why?
– Patterns of Membership
• Interest Group Participation Based on Occupation
• Interest Group Participation and Social Class
• Interest Group Participation and Education
– Motivations for Joining Interest Groups
• Solidary Incentives
• Purposive Incentives
• Economic Incentives
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4. Interest Groups
• How Interest Groups Succeed
– Organizational Resources
• How Membership Affects Success
• How Financial Resources Affect Success
– Organizational Environment
• Leadership
• Opposition
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5. Interest Groups
• Types of Interest Groups
– Economic Interest Groups
• Corporate and Business Interests
• Labor Interests
• Agricultural Interests
• Trade and Professional Interests
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7. Interest Groups
• Types of Interest Groups (continued)
– Public and Ideological Interest Groups
• Consumer Interests
• Environmental Interests
• Religious Interests
– Foreign Interest Groups
• Foreign Governments
• International Corporations
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8. Interest Groups
• Interest Group Strategies
– Direct Strategies to Advance Interests
• Lobbying, Issue Networks, and Iron Triangles
• Litigation by Interest Groups
• Providing Information and Expert Testimony
– Indirect Strategies to Advance Interests
• Public Outreach
• Electioneering
• Influence of Political Action Committees
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