7.1: Introduction

 

Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\): MeToo Movement Protesters(CC BY-NC-ND 2.0; by Meredith Nutting via Flickr)

Learning Objectives

• To analyze how interest groups attract members and how they seek to influence public policy.
• To evaluate the role of interest groups in the political system.
• To analyze and evaluate current campaign finance regulations.

Introduction

There are many ways to make a difference in California. For many people, voting may be too solitary an activity—a ballot received in the mail, a consideration of the contests over a cup of coffee, and then a walk to the mailbox. Rather alienating! The political parties offer another way to become involved. Still, the scope of the contests, the wide breadth of the issues, and the focus on helping to satisfy someone else’s political ambition may not be your cup of tea, either.

There is a third way of becoming involved in politics. Think about a cause that you care about. Maybe it is work-related, and you want to improve career opportunities in your field. Perhaps you care about civil rights, an environmental issue, or a charitable cause to help people with particular health challenges. You may have been personally affected by a tragedy, such as a school shooter or a drunk driver, and want to dedicate yourself to reducing the probability of such a trauma affecting other people. Next, look for a group that is dedicated to the cause. There are often student chapters of various organizations on campus or in the local community. Interest group participation allows you to learn much about a particular issue, network with others who share similar interests, and work to accomplish specific goals that will make you proud.

You may wish to join a civic group primarily focusing on helping community members, such as supporting women choosing STEM careers. Maybe you can arrange for mentors of students and peer tutoring. Political involvement might be limited to working with educational administrators to provide more support services for women. On the other hand, you may join a group with a particular public policy goal, for example, a statewide group seeking the governor’s immediate recall. The focus is immediate: gather enough signatures and organize a successful campaign. This group is less about helping members and more about short-term results.

Regardless of the type of interest groups, they all seek to change public policy. Business and labor groups organize about fundamental economic issues such as taxation, regulation, working conditions, and pay. Citizen groups lobby about environmental, civil rights, gun rights, fighting crime, and social and religious concerns such as abortion. Occasionally, interest groups will trigger broader social movements that sweep the state, demanding change and upending politics as usual.

This chapter will analyze how political scientists study interest groups and apply these methods to understanding California groups. How do groups organize change public policy, and what are their effects on the political system? We will examine campaign finance reform as a case study to regulate interest groups.