What are Interest Groups?

• Intermediary institutions
• Association that tries to influence policy
• Any collection of people trying to influence government
• Non-publicly accountable organizations that attempt to promote shared private interests
    by influencing public-policy outcomes

How Interest Groups Differ From Political Parties

• Goals
  • Interest Groups - Policy first, elections second
    1. Policy: more narrow in focus, emphasis usually on a single area.
    2. Elections: support candidates
       • Key goal is access to process after election.
    
    
  • Political Parties - Elections first, policy second
    1. Elections: nominate candidates
       • Key goal is gaining control of government
    2. Policy: broad focus, many issues
  
  
• Nature of Membership
  • Interest Groups - formal, limited and narrow.
    
    
  • Political Parties - informal, typically broader.
  
  
• Numbers
  • Interest Groups - virtually unlimited
    
    
  • Political Parties - numbers a function of electoral system and societal differences