∞ Legislators don’t have time to compile information

∞ Lobbyists present info in an organized, persuasive,

factual manner

∞ Client politics – nature of issue could give advantage

to suppliers of certain information but burden on

suppliers of contrary information

∞ Political cue: tells official what values are at stake and

if issue fits into their set of political beliefs

∞ Ratings: assess a representative’s voting record on

issues important to an interest group

∞ Insider strategy: lobbyists work closely with key members of Congress

∞ Outsider strategy: designed to generate public pressure directly on

government officials (grassroots lobbying)

∞ Issue public: public directly affected by government policy

∞ Members interest groups work with legislators with whom they agree

∞ Only few issues are so important that member of Congress would

think that to ignore public opinion would mean losing election

∞ Lobbyists try direct-mail campaigns to arouse

small, passionate group to write letters/vote

∞ “Dirty Dozen” – Congressmen votes against

bills to help environment; lost them their re-

election

∞ Large, well-funded interest groups rarely all-

powerful

∞ Money one of less effective ways to advance groups’ causes

∞ Campaign finance reform law of 1973: restricted amount any

interest could give candidate; legal for corporations/labor unions to

form political action committees (PACs) to make contributions

∞ 2004, top ten PACs were labor unions, business organizations,

groups representing doctors, lawyers, realtors, government

employees

∞ Rise of ideological PACs (+1,000: ⅓ liberal, ⅔ conservative)

∞ Make more money but give less since the way they raise it is expensive

∞ Most PACs spend small sums of money over many candidates

∞ Hundreds leave government for jobs in private industry

∞ Michael K. Deaver (deputy chief of staff under Reagan) used former

government contacts to help clients of public relation firm

∞ Works other way: Ex – lawyers of Federal Trade Commission might feel will

be rewarded for being especially vigorous/effective prosecutors

∞ Both ends of political spectrum used disruption

∞ Feminists, antislavery, blacks: sit-ins to bombings

∞ Ku Klux Klan: terror, intimidation, murder

∞ Officials find selves in no-win situations