This research examines representation processes within two age-based interest groups: The National Retired Teachers Association and The American Association of Retired Persons. Drawing upon survey data from group members and leaders, propositions are evaluated regarding the implications of varying rates of policy interest and activity among group members. Activists are compared with other members in terms of background, policy positions, and proximity to leadership policy positions.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Binstock, R.1972"Interest group liberalism and the politics of aging."The Gerontologist (Autumn): 265-280.
2.
1974"Aging and the future of American politics."Annals of the Amer. Academy of Pol. and Social Sci. 415: 199-212.
3.
Browne, W. P.1977"Organizational maintenance: the internal operation of interest groups."Public Admin. Rev. (January-February): 48-57.
4.
Cutler, N.1977"Demographic, social-psychological, and political factors in the politics of aging: a foundation for research in political gerontology."Amer. Pol. Sci. Rev.71: 1011-1024.
5.
Dobson, D.1980NRTA/AARP: A Profile of Leaders and Members. Report submitted to the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare, Administration on Aging.
6.
Glenn, N.1969"Aging disengagement and opinionation."Public Opinion Q. 33: 17-33.
7.
Glenn, N.
and M. Grimes1968"Aging, voting and political interest."Amer. Soc. Rev.33: 563-575.
8.
Hartooyan, R.1977"Interest groups and aging policy," in R. Hudson (ed.) The Aging in Politics. Springfield, IL: Charles C. Thomas.
9.
Hudson, R.
and R. Binstock1976"Political systems and aging," in R. Binstock and E. Shanas (eds.) Handbook of Aging and the Social Sciences. New York: Litton.
10.
Lawrence, D.1976"Procedural norms and tolerance: a reassessment."Amer. Pol. Sci. Rev.70: 80-100.
11.
Luttbeg, N. R.1974Public Opinion and Public Policy. Harwood, IL: Dorsey.
12.
Luttbeg, N. R.
and L. H. Zeigler1966"Attitude consensus and conflict in an interest group: an assessment of cohesion."Amer. Pol. Sci. Rev.60: 655-665.
13.
McClosky, H.
, P. J. Hoffman, and R. O'Hara1960"Issue conflict and consensus among party leaders and followers."Amer. Pol. Sci. Rev.56: 406-429.
14.
Moe, T. M.1980a"A calculus of group membership."Amer. J. of Pol. Sci. 24: 593-632.
15.
1980bThe Organization of Interests. Chicago: Univ. of Chicago Press.
16.
1981"Toward a broad theory of interest groups."J. of Politics43: 531-543.
17.
Ontjoy, R. S.
, W. R. Shaffer, and R. E. Weber1980"Policy preferences of party elites and masses: conflict or consensus?"Amer. Politics Q. 83: 319-343.
18.
National Clearinghouse on Aging1978Statistical Notes, Number 2.
19.
Nexon, D.1971"Asymmetry in the political system: occasional activities in the Republican and Democratic Parties, 1956-1964."Amer. Pol. Sci. Rev.65: 716-730.
20.
Nie, N. H.
, S. Verba, and J. Kim1974"Participation and the life cycle."Comparative Politics6: 319-340.
Pratt, H.1976The Gray Lobby. Chicago: Univ. of Chicago Press.
23.
1979"The politics of aging: political science and the study of gerontology."Research on Aging1(2): 155-186.
24.
1982 "Facilitators and inhibitors in national level senior citizen lobbying." Paper presented at the 1982 annual meeting of the Midwest Political Science Association.
25.
Salisbury, R. H.1969"An exchange theory of interest groups."Midwest J. of Pol. Sci. 13: 1-32.
26.
1975"Interest groups," pp. 171-228 in F. Greenstein and N. Polsby (eds.) Handbook of Political Science: Non-Governmental Politics. Reading, MA:Addison-Wesley.
27.
1976 "Overlapping memberships, organizational interactions, and interest group theory." Paper presented at the 1976 annual meeting of the American Political Science Association.
28.
Shaffer, S. D.1980"The policy biases of political activists."Amer. Politics Q. 8(1): 15-33.
29.
Stone, W.1979"Measuring constituency representative linkages: problems and prospects."Legislative Studies4(4): 623-639.
30.
Truman, D.1951The Government Process. New York: Knopf.
31.
United States Bureau of the Census1973Current Population Reports, Series p-20. Washington, DC: Government Printing Office.
32.
Verba, S.
and N. H. Nie1972Participation in America: Political Democracy and Social Equality. New York: Harper & Row
33.
Vinyard, D.
1976 "Rediscovery of the aged: senior power and public policy." Paper presented at the 1976 annual meeting of the American Political Science Association.
34.
Wilson, J. Q.1973Political Organizations. New York: Basic Books.