Interest Groups

Chapter 11Chapter 11Interest Groups Interest Groups

Copyright © 2011 CengageCopyright © 2011 Cengage

WHO GOVERNS?WHO GOVERNS?1.1. Do interest groups dominate Do interest groups dominate

government, and is any particular government, and is any particular lobby politically unbeatable?lobby politically unbeatable?

2.2. Why do people join interest groups?Why do people join interest groups? TO WHAT ENDS?TO WHAT ENDS?

1.1. Is the proliferation of political action Is the proliferation of political action committees (PACs) and other groups committees (PACs) and other groups good or bad for America’s good or bad for America’s representative democracy?representative democracy?

2.2. Should interest groups’ political Should interest groups’ political activities be restricted by law?activities be restricted by law?

The Birth of Interest GroupsThe Birth of Interest Groups

An interest group An interest group is any organization is any organization that seeks to influence public policy. that seeks to influence public policy.

The conditions that lead to the rise of The conditions that lead to the rise of interest groups areinterest groups are• Broad economic developmentsBroad economic developments• Government policyGovernment policy• LeadershipLeadership• Increased governmental activitiesIncreased governmental activities


In 2009 many people launched “Tea Party” protestsIn 2009 many people launched “Tea Party” protestsagainst the Obama administration. p. 263against the Obama administration. p. 263


George Guajardo/NBC NewsWire/AP Photos

Kinds of OrganizationsKinds of Organizations

Institutional InterestsInstitutional Interests Membership InterestsMembership Interests


W. E. B. Du Bois, scholar and activist, was one of the founders of the NAACP, p. 266

C.M. Battey/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Figure 11.1 What the Top Lobby Figure 11.1 What the Top Lobby Spent, 1998-2004Spent, 1998-2004


Source: Center for Source: Center for Public Integrity, Public Integrity, Georgetown Georgetown University, University, Washington, D.C., Washington, D.C., 2006. p. 2652006. p. 265

Kinds of OrganizationsKinds of Organizations

Incentives to joinIncentives to join• SolidaritySolidarity• MaterialMaterial• PurposivePurposive

The Influence of The Influence of the Staffthe Staff


Teachers organized by the Teachers organized by the National Education Association National Education Association campaign for more money for campaign for more money for public schools. p. 267public schools. p. 267

David McNew/Staff/Getty images News/Getty Images


Alex Gregory/cartoonbank.com


p. 268p. 268

Interest Groups and Social Interest Groups and Social MovementsMovements

The Environmental MovementThe Environmental Movement The Feminist MovementThe Feminist Movement The Union MovementThe Union Movement


The Million Moms The Million Moms March in 2004 March in 2004 demanded a demanded a federal ban on federal ban on assault weapons, assault weapons, p. 270 p. 270

STAC MCKEE/AFP/Getty Images

Funds for Interest GroupsFunds for Interest Groups

Foundation GrantsFoundation Grants Federal Grants and Federal Grants and

ContractsContracts Direct MailDirect Mail


A Green Bay Packers A Green Bay Packers linebacker solicits money for linebacker solicits money for the Salvation Army, p. 272 the Salvation Army, p. 272

The Green Bay News-Chronicle, H. Marc Larson/AP Photo

The Problem of BiasThe Problem of Bias

Do interest groups reflect an upper-Do interest groups reflect an upper-class bias?class bias?

Those most likely to belong to a Those most likely to belong to a voluntary association havevoluntary association have• Higher incomesHigher incomes• College degreesCollege degrees• Professional or technical jobsProfessional or technical jobs


Farmers once had great Farmers once had great influence in Congress and influence in Congress and could get their way with a could get their way with a few telephone calls. few telephone calls. Today, they often must Today, they often must use mass protest use mass protest methods. p. 273methods. p. 273


JP/Laffront/Sygma/Corbis

The Activities of Interest GroupsThe Activities of Interest Groups

InformationInformation EarmarksEarmarks Public SupportPublic Support Money and PACsMoney and PACs The “Revolving Door”The “Revolving Door” Civil DisobedienceCivil Disobedience


Lobbyist Candi Wolff discusses public policy with Senator Christopher S. Bond (R-MO). p. 274

Scott J. Ferrell/Congressional Quarterly/Getty Images

Figure 11.2 Political Action Figure 11.2 Political Action Committees (PACs)Committees (PACs)


p. 277

Lawsuits, such as Lawsuits, such as this one against this one against Proposition 8 which Proposition 8 which banned same sex banned same sex marriage in marriage in California, are often California, are often more effective than more effective than protest protest demonstrations in demonstrations in changing policies. changing policies. p. 280p. 280


Fred Prouser/Reuters/Landov

Regulating Interest GroupsRegulating Interest Groups

19461946 – Federal Regulation of – Federal Regulation of Lobbying ActLobbying Act

19951995 – Congress unanimously – Congress unanimously passed lobbying billpassed lobbying bill• Tightened registration and disclosure Tightened registration and disclosure

requirementsrequirements• Broadened definition of a lobbyistBroadened definition of a lobbyist• Did not cover grass roots organizationsDid not cover grass roots organizations

20072007 – New regulations took effect – New regulations took effectCopyright © 2011 CengageCopyright © 2011 Cengage

M E M O R A N D U MM E M O R A N D U M

To: To: Kathleen Moore, Senate majority leaderKathleen Moore, Senate majority leader

From: From: Christopher Franklin, chief of staffChristopher Franklin, chief of staff

Subject: Subject: Full federal financing of presidential Full federal financing of presidential campaignscampaigns

Every presidential election since 1976 has been financed in Every presidential election since 1976 has been financed in part by federal funds. Now presidential candidates say they part by federal funds. Now presidential candidates say they will forego public funding for the general election, given the will forego public funding for the general election, given the vastly greater resources available through private fund-vastly greater resources available through private fund-raising. Congress needs to decide whether elections are a raising. Congress needs to decide whether elections are a public investment or a political free market for citizens and public investment or a political free market for citizens and candidates.candidates.


WHAT WOULD YOU DO?WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

Arguments for:Arguments for:

1. Legal precedents are promising. Federal matching funds already 1. Legal precedents are promising. Federal matching funds already go to presidential primary candidates who have raised at least go to presidential primary candidates who have raised at least $5,000, in contributions of $250 or less, in each of twenty states. $5,000, in contributions of $250 or less, in each of twenty states. For the general election, each major party nominee already is For the general election, each major party nominee already is eligible for federal funding if he or she agrees to spend no more eligible for federal funding if he or she agrees to spend no more than that amount.than that amount.

2. The funding required would be small. Allocating $1 billion out of 2. The funding required would be small. Allocating $1 billion out of the public treasury for a presidential election every four years is the public treasury for a presidential election every four years is hardly a fiscal drain on a nearly $2 trillion annual budget.hardly a fiscal drain on a nearly $2 trillion annual budget.

3. The effects would be pervasive. Candidates and party leaders 3. The effects would be pervasive. Candidates and party leaders would stop covertly courting big donors with phone calls, lunches, would stop covertly courting big donors with phone calls, lunches, and personal visits, and would focus instead on the needs of and personal visits, and would focus instead on the needs of average citizens.average citizens.



Arguments against:Arguments against:1. Constitutional precedent for requiring political candidates to accept 1. Constitutional precedent for requiring political candidates to accept

public funds is weak. In public funds is weak. In Buckley v. Valeo (1976), the Supreme Court Buckley v. Valeo (1976), the Supreme Court upheld limits on upheld limits on campaign contributions for candidates who accept campaign contributions for candidates who accept public money, but it also defined spending money for political public money, but it also defined spending money for political purposes as expression protected by the First Amendment, thereby purposes as expression protected by the First Amendment, thereby giving individuals the right to raise and spend as much of their own giving individuals the right to raise and spend as much of their own money as they choose, if they forego federal funds.money as they choose, if they forego federal funds.

2. Campaign spending would soon spiral once again. The federal 2. Campaign spending would soon spiral once again. The federal government may not restrict spending by individuals or organizations government may not restrict spending by individuals or organizations working independently from the political parties, and federal funds working independently from the political parties, and federal funds would merely supplement, not supplant, private fund-raising.would merely supplement, not supplant, private fund-raising.

3. Less than 10 percent of taxpayers currently supports public financing 3. Less than 10 percent of taxpayers currently supports public financing through voluntary federal income tax checkoffs, and voters likely through voluntary federal income tax checkoffs, and voters likely would view bankrolling elections as serving politicians, not the people.would view bankrolling elections as serving politicians, not the people.



Your decision:Your decision:

Support Legislation?Support Legislation?

Oppose Legislation?Oppose Legislation?



Interest Groups

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