Course Description
The role of lobbying in United States policy making. Special attention given to legislative and executive branch lobbying and the impact of interest groups on legislative behavior in light of theories of representation.
Athena Title
Lobbying and Lobby Influence
Prerequisite
POLS 1101 or POLS 1101E or POLS 1101S or POLS 1105H
Semester Course Offered
Not offered on a regular basis.
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
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.
Topical Outline
Preliminaries: Factions, interest groups, pressure groups, organized interests, political interest groups I. Groups from the Inside Out 1) Incentives to Join and Group Formation 2) Group Maintenance II. The Lobbying Scene in Washington 1) Direct Congressional Lobbying 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
Syllabus