ABSTRACT

Interest groups and lobbyists play a crucial role in how public policy is made in the United States' representative democracy. By helping citizens organize and pursue their self-interests in the political arena, interest groups and lobbyists are an alternative but very effective form of representation. However, the adversarial nature of interest groups often fuels voter discomfort with the political process. Interest Groups and Lobbying is an accessible and comprehensive text that examines the crux of this conflict. Pulling together two areas of interest group research (why advocacy organizations form and how they are able to gain influence in Washington) DC. Thomas T. Holyoke shows students the inner workings of interest groups in the United States. Using case studies to clarify and expand on the issues surrounding lobbying and group action in federal, state, and local government, Holyoke explores how we can use interest groups and their adversarial impulse to achieve the greatest good for the greatest number of people.

chapter |5 pages

Introduction

part 1|123 pages

Origins and Structure

chapter 1|25 pages

Interests and Interest Groups

chapter 4|21 pages

Lobbyists and Organization Management

chapter 5|21 pages

A Model of Interest Group Advocacy

part 2|154 pages

Lobbying and Influence

chapter 7|28 pages

Executive Branch Lobbying

chapter 8|25 pages

Interest Groups Going to Court

chapter 9|25 pages

Friends and Foes of Convenience