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Interest Groups
Chapter 11
P. 264-290
Interest group Interest group
An organization of people sharing a common interest or goal that seeks to influence the making of public policy
Many kinds of cleavages in the country mean that there are many different interests
Nearly 7,000 organizations with offices in DC50% corporations33% professional trade associations4% public interest2% civil rights
P. 268
Explaining Proliferation
Birth of Interest Groups
Kinds of Organizations
Incentives to Join
Reasons why Interest Groups are so Common 1. Social Diversity/More cleavages in society
Greater the variety of interest groups Income Occupation Religions Traditions Cultures
2. American constitution system Governmental fragmentation
Federalism Multiple points of access to government Political authority is shared by president, courts and Congress Plenty of places to argue one’s case
3. Weakness of political parties Interests work directly on government P.
265
Federalist # 10 James Madison Factions
Groups that unite to serve selfish goals not the national interest
“The latent causes of faction are thus sown in the nature of man.”
Framers believed factions were inherently dangerous to political freedom and stable government
Constitution was designed so that Arbitrary exercise of power by any one
group/individual would be prevented
History of Interest Groups 1770s Groups agitated for independence 1830s-1840s Anti-slavery groups/religious associations 1860s Craft unions Farmers’ organizations 1880s-1890s Business associations 1900-1920 Best known & largest associations formed
One of the two periods of the greatest growth in the number of groups
1960-1980 One of the two periods of the greatest growth in the number
of groups Environmental Consumer Political Reform groups
Boston Tea Party 1773
P. 266
Four Factors Explain Rise of Interest Groups
1. Broad economic developments Farmers
No reason to organize as long as consumed what produced Cash crops—change
Mass productions Labor unions
2. Government policy Wars create veterans State governments gave doctors/lawyers authority to decide who is
qualified Congress made employers bargain with unions
3. Someone exercises leadership Young/antislavery organizations 1830s and 1840s Caught up in change Inspired by some doctrine
4. More activities government undertakes the more groups there will be
Public interest lobbies Environment Consumer protection P. 267
Types of Interest Groups Institutional
An organization representing other organizations > 500 Trade and governmental associations
National Independent Retail Jewelers American Cotton Manufacturers Institute National Association of Counties American Public Transit Association
Foundations and universities American Council on Education
Membership Individuals join because of strong sense of civic duty Belief that organized activity is an effective way to
influence government Nation of joiners Tendency to join religious, civic or political
associations P. 268
Dates of Founding of Organizations Having Washington Offices
P. 268
Incentives to join interest groups Solidary
Sense of pleasure, status, companionship Local chapters lure members Importance of local government enhances local chapters forming
League of Women Voters NAACP PTA Rotary American Legion
Material benefits Money, things, services Illinois Farm Bureau AARP
Purpose of the organization Rely on appeal of the stated goal Appeal to political convictions and principles Most difficult incentive to use Right to Life
P. 270
Ideological Interest Groups Organizations that attract members by appealing
to their interest/purpose in a coherent set of (usually) controversial principles Single issues Narrow focus Strongly held philosophy Often work to change cultural norms, values, and
prevailing stereotypes Examples
Conservative Christian Coalition
Liberal National Organization of Women
Public Interest Lobby Public Interest Lobby
Exists when the purpose of the group benefits non-members
Policies are shaped by the elites who lead them Many formed in the 1960s as a result of government
taking on more responsibilities Representation in Washington skyrocketed since 1970 Examples
PIRG—Public Interest Research Group Group organized to study local consumer/political issues
Ralph Nader Formed Public Citizen
Public Interest Law Firms Bring suits on behalf of those harmed by some public or private
policy Think Tanks
American Enterprise Institute ACLU P. 271
The Nader Network
Nader became famous when he took on Detroit testifying before Congress for auto safety Wrote
Unsafe at Any Speed
Since 1960s Nader spawned more than a dozen interest groups
2000 Nader ran for president as a Green Party candidate
P. 271
Interest Groups and Social Movements
Environmental Movement
Feminist Movement
Union Movement
Social Movements Widely shared demand for change in the social or political
order Examples
19th century nativism Stop immigration Keep Catholics out of office Religious revivals
1960s-1990s Civil rights Environmental movement Feminist movement
Triggers Scandal
Oil spill in Santa Barbara 1969 Dramatic and widely publicized activities of a few leaders
Martin Luther King Gloria Steinem
Coming of age of a new generation that takes up a causeP. 273
Environmental Movement1890s Conservation
Sierra Club1930s
Wilderness Society National Wildlife
Federation1960s
Environmental Defense Fund
Environmental ActionP. 274
Feminist Movement Three kinds of feminist organizations1. Solidary
Uneasy about tactics of militancy League of Women Voters Federation of Business and Professional Women
2. Purposive Strong positions Tackle divisive issues Use militant tactics National Organization of Women NOW National Abortion Rights Action League NARAL
3. Material benefits Legal rights for women Get women into politics and elected office Women’s Equity Action League National Women’s Political Caucus National Federation of Republican Women
P. 274
Union Movement 1930s 1945 peak
36% of non-farm workers were union 1984
<19% union Decline in union membership
Shift in national economic life from industrial to service
Decline in popular approval Social movement that supported unions faded
Unions remain because they can rely on material benefits Teaching and government union membership
high growth
P. 275
The Decline in Union Membership
P. 275
Funds for Interest Groups
Federal Grants
Direct Mail
Funds for Interest GroupsRaising money Dues Foundation grants
One study found that 1/3 of public interest lobbying groups received more than half of all their funds from foundation grants
Government grants Expansion of federal grants in 1960s and 1970s benefited
interest groups Cutbacks in 1980s hurt them
Direct-mail solicitation Use of computers mail is sent directly to a specialized
audience Approach is also expensive—it must generate checks from at
least 2 percent of the people contacted
P. 276
The Problem of Bias
The more affluentThe more likely to join and be active
Business/professional groupsMore numerous and better financed thanMinorities, consumers, or the disadvantaged
P. 278
Limits on Elite Influence
Elites have input in the political system but Do not control who eventually
wins or loses on particular issues Business groups are
Often divided among themselves
Activities of Interest Groups
Information
Money and PACs
Revolving Door
Trouble
LobbyingKey to Political Influence
Generate headlines Large letter-writing
campaign Protest demonstrations File suit in federal court Supply information to key
legislators All require organization
P. 279
Lobby Attempt to influence government decisions
especially through legislation Lobbyists
Develop and maintain Confidence of the legislator over a long period of time Contacts and communication lines
Tend to work with politicians with whom they agree
Sometimes work in informal coalitions based on general political ideology
Pressure Any arguments and inducements supplied by
someone with whom you disagree
Lobbying Political cue
Signal to official telling them what values are at stake Who is for Who is against How issue fits with officer holder’s belief Liberals look to
AFL-CIO NAACP Americans for Democratic Action
Conservatives look to Chamber of Commerce National Rifle Association American Medical Association
Ratings Way in which cues are made known
AFL-CIO compiles list of who is pro-labor Americans for Constitutional Action lists who are
conservative Generate public support for or against legislation
P. 280
Lobbying Insider strategy
Lobbyists who work closely with key members of Congress Face-to-face contact between lobbyist and member or Hill staff
Outsider strategy Link citizens with the use of
Radio Television Internet Fax Toll-free phone numbers
Grassroots lobbying Public pressure directly on officials Mobilization of the public
Abortion Medicare Social security Environment Affirmative action P. 280-
281
Activities of Interest Groups
Lobbyists’ key targetsUndecided legislator or Bureaucrat
Some groups attack their likely allies to embarrass them
Some groups try for grassroots support
Money and PACs PAC
Committee set up to raise and spend money on campaigns and candidates
Money is the least effective way to influence politicians
The Campaign Finance Reform Law of 1974 restricted donations
The rapid growth in PACs has probably not led to vote buying
Even Congressmen may form a PAC and Many have!!
Ideological PACs raise more money, but Raising the money also consumes it, so Less is available to give to campaigns and candidates
In 2003-2004, unions and business or professional organizations gave the most
Incumbents get the most PAC money Republicans receive the most money from PACS
Spending by Political Action Committees 2003-2004
P. 283
Money and Influence
There is no systematic evidence that PAC money influences votes in Congress
Most members vote in line with their ideology and with their constituents
When an issue is of little concern to voters and ideology provides little guidance, there is a slight correlation between PAC contributions and votes
PAC money may influence politics in other ways, like access or committee actions
P. 282-283
Revolving Door Influence Revolving door
People in government leave to work in private industry as lobbyists, consultants, executives in corporations
This may give private interests a way to improperly influence government decisions
Client politics When an issue or government process by which an issue
is resolved gives an advantage to the supplier of the information and puts a burden on those with contrary information
Example: Federal Communications Commission FCC Decides who gets licenses For many years only radio/television broadcasters had any
reason to appear With cable and satellite television now FCC hearings are hotly
contestedP. 284
Making Trouble An accepted political tactic of every day middle
class citizens Used since the Revolution Objective
To disrupt workings of some institutions so that it is forced to negotiate or at least enlist sympathies of others
Examples Public displays Disruptive tactics Protest marches Sit-ins Pickets Violence
P. 285
Regulating Interest Groups
Campaign Finance Laws
Regulating Interest Groups
Right to lobby is protected by the First Amendment of the
Constitution Free speech
HOWEVER Campaign Finance Laws
Impose significant restrictions on how money may be used
Campaign Finance Reform Act 1973 Restricted amount of money any interest
group could give candidates Legal for corporations and unions to form
Political Action Committees—PACs Make contributions to candidates
Results Rapid growth of PACs
1975-1982 quadrupled in number > ½ PACs sponsored by corporations One tenth of PACs are labor unions Rest are various groups including ideological
ones
P. 282
Regulating Interest Groups 1995 Act
Provided a broader definition of lobbying and
Tightened reporting requirements Tax code
Nonprofits lose tax-exempt status if a “substantial part” of their activities involve lobbying Sierra Club 1968
IRS revoked its tax-exempt status because of its extensive lobbying activities
Campaign-finance laws Limit donations by individual PACs
P. 287
Federal Regulation of Lobbying Act 1946 Requires groups and individuals seeking to
influence legislation to Register with the
Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the House
File quarterly reports Supreme Court upheld the law but
Restricted its application to lobbying efforts involving direct contacts with members of Congress
Law had little practical effect so in 1995 Act
Tightened registration and disclosure Broadened the definition of a lobbyist
P. 286-287
Ethics in Government Act 1978 Broadened rules governing conflicts of interest
among senior members of the executive branch President, VP, GS-16 and above must file
Public financial disclosure report each year Indicating source and amount of income
Former executive branch employees may NOT Represent anyone before former agencies in
connection with any matter that the employee was involved in
Appear before an agency for two years after leaving government on matters that were within their responsibility
Represent anyone on any matter before their former agency for one year after leaving governmentP. 285