Chapter 16

Pearson Education, Inc. © 2008

American Government: Continuity and Change9th Editionto accompany Comprehensive, Alternate, Texas, and Essentials Editions

O’Connor and Sabato

Interest Groups

Interest Groups Social capital

The myriad relationships that individuals enjoy that facilitate the resolution of community problems through collective action

Civic virtue The tendency to form small-scale

associations for the public good

What are Interest Groups?

An organized group that tries to influence public policy

Truman Disturbance theory

Interest groups form in part to counteract the efforts of other groups

What Are Interest Groups? Robert Salisbury

Expanded Truman’s theory Groups form when resources are

inadequate or scarce Stressed the role that leaders play:

entrepreneurs

Kinds of Organized Interests Generally, interest

groups is a term used to describe the numerous organized groups that try to influence government policy

Public Interest Groups Economic Interest

Groups Governmental Units Political Action

Committees Multi-Issue versus

Single Issue Groups

The Origins & Development of American Interest Groups National groups emerge (1830-1889)

Communication networks enabled nationalization of groups

First were single-issue groups deeply rooted in the Christian religious revivalism Temperance, Peace, Education, and Slavery

Other groups emerged after the Civil War One of the most effective: Central Pacific Railroad

Sent lobbyist to D.C. in 1861 Lobbyists

Interest group representative who seeks to influence legislation that will benefit his or her organization through political persuasion

The Roots & Development of American Interest Groups The Progressive Era (1890-1920)

Grew out of concern for impact of rapid industrialization, influx of immigration, monopolistic business practices, crime, poverty, poor working conditions

Organized Labor AFL Clayton Act: allowed unions to organize free from

prosecution and guaranteed their right to strike Business Groups and Trade Associations

Trade Associations: a group that represents a specific industry

National Electric Light Association (NELA)

The Rise of the Interest Group State 1960s and 1970s saw

a reappearance of the Progressive spirit Civil Rights Women’s Rights Elderly Poor Consumers Environment

Common Cause and Ralph Nader’s Public Citizen

Conservative Response: Religious and Ideological Groups Jerry Falwell and the

Moral Majority Pat Robertson, the

700 Club and the Christian Coalition

National Rifle Association

Business Groups, Corporations, and Associations Rise in business advocacy groups More political that Chamber of Commerce

Example: The Business Roundtable Created in 1972 Urges member to engage in direct lobbying to influence

the course of public policy Most large corporations have

Own governmental affairs department Employ D.C.-based lobbyists to keep them apprised

of legislation Gave substantial soft money in the past Still use PACS, 527s, and thus contribute a great deal

of money

Organized Labor Began to emerge as powerful player

early in the 20th century Could turn out members Focus not only on labor issues, but also

other issues of concern to its members More recently labor has lost some

clout Membership down “pale, male, stale”

What Do Interest Groups Do? Lobbying

The activities of a group or organization that seeks to influence legislation and persuade political leaders to support the group’s position

23 ways for lobbyists and organizations to lobby on the state and national level Most often they: testify at legislative

hearings, contact government officials directly, help draft legislation

Lobbying Congress Members of Congress targets of lobbyists Many lobbyists former members Lobbyists work closely with those members

who share their interests Effectiveness depends on a lobbyists’

reputation for fair play and accurate information

Lobbying the Executive Branch As the scope of federal government has

expanded, so has lobbying of the executive branch. Many potential access points Lobbyists seek influence at formation and

implementation stages. An especially strong link exists between interest

groups and regulatory agencies Groups often monitor the implementation of the

laws or policies they advocated.

Lobbying the Courts

Can take two forms: Direct sponsorship Filing amicus curiae briefs

Brief that informs the court of the group’s policy preferences, generally in guise of legal arguments

Interest groups also attempt to influence who is nominated and placed on the bench.

Grassroots Lobbying

A form of pressure-group activity that attempts to involve individuals who contact their representatives directly in an effort to influence policy

Persuading ordinary voters to act as the group’s advocates

Protest and Radical Activism

Some groups resort to more forceful, legal as well as illegal measures to attract attention to their cause. Sometimes violent, illegal protest

(Boston Tea Party, Shays’ Rebellion) Civil Rights Movement

Marches with permits legal PETA Animal Liberation Front

Attempts to Reform Congressional Lobbying

Federal Regulation of Lobbying Act, 1946 Lobbying Disclosure Act, 1995

Employs a strict definition of lobbyist Requires lobbyists to:

Register with the clerk of the House and the secretary of the Senate

Report their clients and issues and the agency or house they lobbied

Estimate the amount they are paid by each client

Makes it easier for watchdog groups to track the lobbying activity

Election Activities

Candidate recruitment and endorsements

Getting out the vote Rating the candidates or office

holders Political action committees

What Makes An Interest Group Successful?

Leaders Patrons and Funding

Person who finances a group or individual activity

Members Collective goods Free riders: potential members who fail to join a

group because they can get the benefit, or collective good, sought by the group without contributing to it