Interest Groups

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Fall 2004

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MWF 10:30-11:20
15 Schaeffer
Frederick J. Boehmke
frederick-boehmke@uiowa.edu
361 Schaeffer
335 2342
Tuesday and Wednesday 2:00-3:00, or by appointment.
polisci125
ProfBoehmke

Announcements

December 06: Here is a final review sheet.
November 29: The fifth quiz is scheduled for December 03.
November 10: The fourth quiz is scheduled for November 15.
October 20: The third quiz is scheduled for October 25.
October 07: Here is a midterm review sheet.
October 06: The final exam is at 9:45 a.m. on Wednesday, December 15 2004.
September 22: The midterm exam is scheduled for October 13 (Wednesday).
September 22: The second quiz is scheduled for September 29.
September 10: Class is cancelled on September 17.
August 30: The first quiz is scheduled for September 10.
August 23: Class is cancelled on September 03 for the APSA meeting in Chicago.

Assignments

Assignment #4: Type up a 350-500 word response to the Bell book. Same rules as the last one.
Assignment #3: Type up a 350-500 word response to the Mason book. Same rules as the last one.
Assignment #2: Type up a 350-500 word response to the Davidson book. Same rules as the last one.
Assignment #1: Type up a 350-500 word response to the McAdam book. You should not summarize the book, but rather I want you to explore some issue that is addressed in the book. This can be an issue that appeals to you personally, one that links to topics addressed in previous lectures, or one that relates to interest groups in general. A good summary will demonstrate that you can link concepts from the course to the reading material. Your write-up is due at the beginning of your assigned discussion session.

Description

This course is an introduction to the role of organized interest groups in American politics. We will survey the important approaches to understanding and explaining interest group formation and behavior: how and why groups form, how they attract members and how they attempt to influence policy outcomes. Of particular interest will be the relationship between the motivations for groups to mobilize and the types of interests that are represented by groups.

View course syllabus.

Topics to be covered

  1. Course Introduction and Summary.
  2. Historical Perspectives on Interest Groups.
  3. Mobilization and the Collective Action Dilemma.
  4. The Structure and Sources of Membership.
  5. Bias and Representation in the Interest Group System.
  6. Lobbyists and Lobbying.
  7. What Interest Groups Do: Lobbying Tactics and Strategies.
  8. Interest Groups in the States.
  9. Indian Gaming and Political Activity.

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Lecture Files

Lecure Topics and Readings

    Week 1

    Class 1: Course Introduction. Class 2: Federalist #10 discussion.
    Class 3: An aside on 527 Committees.

    Week 2

    Class 4: Pluralism.
    Class 5: Critiques of Pluralism. Class 6: Cancelled - APSA Conference

    Week 3

    Class 7: Cancelled - Labor Day
    Class 8: Mobilization and the Collective Action Dilemma.
      Reading: Lowery and Brasher, Ch. 2 pp 29-48.
    Class 9: Collective Action continued.

    Week 4

    Class 10: Why do People Join Groups?
      Reading: Lowery and Brasher, Ch. 2 pp. 48-63.
    Class 11: Benefits of Group Membership.
      Reading: Read McAdam book for next week.
    Class 12: No Class.
      Reading: Read McAdam book for next week.

    Week 5

    Class 13: Freedom Summer video.
      Reading: Finish McAdam book.
    Class 14: McAdam discussion: First names A-J.
    Class 15: McAdam discussion: Last names K-W.

    Week 6

    Class 16: The Washington D.C. Interest Community Class 17: State Interest Communities.
      Reading: Lowery and Brasher, Ch. 3 pp. 78-107.
    Class 18: The ESA Model.
      Reading: Davidson book.

    Week 7

    Class 19: Davidson discussion: First names Ana-Jessica.
      Reading: Finish Davidson book.
    Class 20: Davidson discussion: First names Jillian-Wesley.
      Reading: Finish Davidson book.
    Class 21: Institutions and Interest Groups.

    Week 8

    Class 22: Midterm wrap-up & review.
    Class 23: Midterm Exam.
    Class 24: Lobbyists and Lobbying.

    Week 9

    Class 25: Lobbyists and Lobbying.
      Reading: Wolpe and Levine Ch. 1-3, 5.
    Class 26: Lobbyists and Lobbying continued. Class 27: Types of Lobbying: Inside and Outside
      Reading: Lowery and Brasher Ch. 5, pp. 158-168.

    Week 10

    Class 28: Grassroots Lobbying.
      Reading: Lowery and Brasher Ch. 4, pp. 108-125.
      Wolpe and Levine Ch. 8.
    Class 29: Political Expenditures: Hard Money.
      Reading: Lowery and Brasher Ch. 4, pp. 125-142.
      Wolpe and Levine Ch. 4.
    Class 30: Political Expenditures: Hard Money and PACs.

    Week 11

    Class 31: Soft Money and Lobbying.
    Class 32: Case Studies: NRA and Sierra Club. Class 33: Campaign Finance Reform.
      Reading: TBA.

    Week 12

    Class 34: Mason Discussion: Last names K-W.
      Reading: Finish Mason.
    Class 35: Mason Discussion: Last names A-J.
      Reading: Finish Mason.
    Class 36: Indian Nation's Political Expenditures.
      Reading:

    Week 13

    Class 37: Campaign Finance Reform. Class 38: Money and Votes.
      Reading: Lowery and Brasher Ch. 5, pp. 148-158; 168-182.
    Class 39: Lobbying Strategies.

    Week 14

    Thanksgiving Holiday - no class.

    Week 15

    Class 40: Lobbying the Judiciary.
      Reading: Lowery and Brasher Ch. 7.
    Class 41: The Bork Nomination.
      Reading: Wolpe and Levine Part II, Case 5.
    Class 42: Lobbying the Executive Branch.
      Reading: Lowery and Brasher Ch. 6,
      Wolpe and Levine Chapter 6.

    Week 16

    Class 43: Bell discussion: First names Jillian-Wesley.
      Reading: Finish Bell book.
    Class 44: Bell discussion: First names Ana-Jessica.
      Reading: Finish Bell book.
    Class 45: Wrap-up and Review.

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Other Information

Please visit the Political Science Department's Website at http://www.uiowa.edu/~polisci. It is frequently updated regarding events and procedures in our department, changes in the Schedule of Courses, plus TA and faculty hours when available. You may also find current information on pre-advising, and registration. Our Vernon Van Dyke Computing Facility (Political Science ITC) is located in Room 21 Schaeffer Hall. Available hours are listed at our website and also posted outside Room 21 Schaeffer.

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Description
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Class Homepages     Fred's Homepage
Last Updated: December 06, 2004
Created: May 13, 2004
Frederick J. Boehmke:
frederick-boehmke@uiowa.edu
Department of Political Science
341 Schaeffer Hall
University of Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa 52242
Phone: (319) 335 2342