This course introduces students to a broad scope of literature on interest groups in
the United States.  The goals for the course are divided into two broad areas.  
(1) The internal politics of groups are analyzed.  Our goals are to become familiar
with, discuss, and criticize theories about interest group formation and maintenance.
(2) The changing role of groups in the American political system is analyzed.  Our
goals are to become familiar with, discuss, and criticize theories related to direct
Washington lobbying, indirect lobbying or grassroots lobbying, and electioneering.  

To accomplish these goals, this course integrates an introduction to some of the
traditional literature on pluralism and interest groups with an overview of how
traditional questions and problems in those fields are addressed in more recent
literature.

Preliminaries:
Factions, interest groups, pressure groups, organized interests, political interest
groups

I. Groups from the Inside Out
	1) Incentives to Join and Group Formation.  Collective Action Problems
	2) Group Maintenance

II.  The Lobbying Scene in Washington
	1) Direct Congressional Lobbying.  Signaling Games  
	2) Direct Lobbying before the Executive Branch
	3) Lobbying and the Judicial Branch
	4) Lobbying beyond the Beltway
		a) Movements, Mobilization, and Grass Roots Lobbying
		b) Interest Groups and Elections, Parties, and PACs

All academic work must meet the standards contained in "A Culture of Honesty."  
Students are responsible for informing themselves about these standards before 
performing academic work.  The penalties for academic dishonesty are severe and 
ignorance is not an acceptable defense.  Also note that the course syllabus is a 
general plan for the course and that deviations announced to the class by the 
instructor may be necessary.  (www.uga.edu/ovpi/academic_honesty/academic_honesty.htm).