Interest Interest GroupsGroups

AP GovernmentAP Government

Linkage institutionLinkage institution: means by : means by which individuals can express which individuals can express preferences regarding development preferences regarding development of public policyof public policy

Four main linkage institutionsFour main linkage institutions– Interest GroupsInterest Groups– Political partiesPolitical parties

Viewed as the Viewed as the input agentsinput agents that result that result in in outputoutput (policy) for (policy) for policy-making policy-making institutionsinstitutions

– Elections– Media

Definition of Definition of interest groupinterest group::– Organized group of individualsOrganized group of individuals– Share common interest, attitude, or goalShare common interest, attitude, or goal– Seek to Seek to influence govt & political processinfluence govt & political process to to

achieve goals achieve goals (target all branches at all levels)(target all branches at all levels)

Founders wary of Founders wary of factionsfactions [IGs] – Fed 10[IGs] – Fed 10– Many provisions of Constitution aimed at Many provisions of Constitution aimed at

limiting “mischiefs of faction”limiting “mischiefs of faction”

Const. encourages competition btwn Const. encourages competition btwn factions – “ambition to counter ambition”factions – “ambition to counter ambition”

Interest Groups in AmericaInterest Groups in America

America is considered pluralistic America is considered pluralistic – many different groups seeking to secure many different groups seeking to secure

its members interestsits members interests

Work outside of the political system, Work outside of the political system, (separate and independent from the (separate and independent from the actual government structure)actual government structure)

Serve as policy specialists not Serve as policy specialists not generalistsgeneralists

PluralismPluralism

– Many different groups seeking to secure its Many different groups seeking to secure its members interests. members interests.

– Public policies emerge from bargaining and Public policies emerge from bargaining and compromises among competing groups. compromises among competing groups.

– Sep. of powers in gov’t allows many Sep. of powers in gov’t allows many different points of access/influence – so no different points of access/influence – so no one group can dominate.one group can dominate.

– If an interest group lacks $, their size and If an interest group lacks $, their size and intensity can be used to achieve goals. intensity can be used to achieve goals.

Elitism/Power EliteElitism/Power Elite

– Small # of rich individuals, powerful Small # of rich individuals, powerful corporate interest groups, and large corporate interest groups, and large financial institutions dominate key financial institutions dominate key policy areas.policy areas.

Ex: recent bailouts – ordinary Americans Ex: recent bailouts – ordinary Americans got small stimulus checks; Wall Street got small stimulus checks; Wall Street Banks got huge federal bailouts.Banks got huge federal bailouts.

HyperpluralismHyperpluralism

– Too many interest groups try to Too many interest groups try to influence public policy. influence public policy.

– When political leaders try to please When political leaders try to please so many competing gropus, often so many competing gropus, often times policies are confusing and times policies are confusing and contradictory. contradictory.

CHARACTERISTICS CHARACTERISTICS of Interest Groupsof Interest Groups

Forms and features of the groupForms and features of the group– Geographic distribution, cohesion, intensity, Geographic distribution, cohesion, intensity,

prestigeprestige MembershipMembership

– Direct payment of dues, no personal criteriaDirect payment of dues, no personal criteria Organization Organization

– Access to funds and officialsAccess to funds and officials– Board of DirectorsBoard of Directors

Appointment by members, speak for group, legally Appointment by members, speak for group, legally responsible for groupresponsible for group

– Staff MembersStaff Members Lobbying, Fundraising, Research, Member RecruitmentLobbying, Fundraising, Research, Member Recruitment

Where does all the Where does all the power come from?power come from?

SizeSize: :

Smaller groups have organizational Smaller groups have organizational benefits over larger groupsbenefits over larger groups

– Better chance of having “actual” group Better chance of having “actual” group members members

Larger groups encounter Larger groups encounter free-rider free-rider problemproblem b/c they fight for b/c they fight for collective collective goodsgoods

– Some attempt to compensate by providing Some attempt to compensate by providing selective benefitsselective benefits to active membersto active members

IntensityIntensity of commitment to issue: of commitment to issue:

Adv. applies to both large & small groupsAdv. applies to both large & small groups

Politicians more likely to listen to group that Politicians more likely to listen to group that is active/committed to an issueis active/committed to an issue

– Ex: Ex: single-issue groupsingle-issue group (ex: abortion)(ex: abortion)

CohesivenessCohesiveness: membership & organization: membership & organization

Leaders; activists; members in name onlyLeaders; activists; members in name only

Formal organization vs. loose federationsFormal organization vs. loose federations

Financial resourcesFinancial resources: :

$$ increases IGs’ $$ increases IGs’ accessaccess to to policymakerspolicymakers

– Most groups have Most groups have PACsPACs to to donate $ with with hope of influencing policy outcomehope of influencing policy outcome

But $ doesn’t buy a “win” on policy But $ doesn’t buy a “win” on policy issueissue

– Ex: ’96 Tax Reform ActEx: ’96 Tax Reform Act

Interest Groups in PoliticsInterest Groups in Politics

The closer the ties to political issues, The closer the ties to political issues, personalities and organizations, the personalities and organizations, the more effective the groupmore effective the group

Contributions of Interest GroupsContributions of Interest Groups– provide link to gov'tprovide link to gov't– provide info provide info – encourage participationencourage participation– stabilize other groupsstabilize other groups

Goal: Influence PoliticsGoal: Influence Politics Assist in election campaignsAssist in election campaigns Influence judicial appointmentsInfluence judicial appointments Form PACsForm PACs File amicus curiae briefs and lawsuitsFile amicus curiae briefs and lawsuits

Grassroots work (advertise opinion, letter Grassroots work (advertise opinion, letter writing, social protests) writing, social protests) – A form of pressure-group activity that attempts A form of pressure-group activity that attempts

to involve individuals who contact their to involve individuals who contact their representatives directly in an effort to influence representatives directly in an effort to influence policypolicy

– Persuading ordinary voters to act as the group’s Persuading ordinary voters to act as the group’s advocatesadvocates

Goal: Form Political Action Goal: Form Political Action Committees (PACs)Committees (PACs)

Organizations, formally independent of Organizations, formally independent of candidates themselvescandidates themselves– channel money from interest groups to political channel money from interest groups to political

candidates sympathetic to their groups' policy candidates sympathetic to their groups' policy preferencespreferences

Electioneering experts who aid candidates Electioneering experts who aid candidates financially with member support financially with member support

Blossomed as a result of FECA of 1974Blossomed as a result of FECA of 1974 Buckley v. Valeo created the “PAC man” Buckley v. Valeo created the “PAC man” Most money goes to incumbentsMost money goes to incumbents

Goal: LobbyingGoal: Lobbying An attempt to influence the shape of An attempt to influence the shape of

legislation coming out of Congress legislation coming out of Congress and other rule making bodies and other rule making bodies – The activities of a group or organization that The activities of a group or organization that

seeks to influence legislation and persuade seeks to influence legislation and persuade political leaders to support the group’s positionpolitical leaders to support the group’s position

Goal: LobbyingGoal: Lobbying

Employs more than 80,000 in Washington DC Employs more than 80,000 in Washington DC alonealone

Named from days when Congress didn't live in Named from days when Congress didn't live in Washington and stayed in boarding homes or Washington and stayed in boarding homes or hotels where lobbies were only place to catch and hotels where lobbies were only place to catch and attempt to sway to your sideattempt to sway to your side

23 ways for lobbyists and organizations to lobby 23 ways for lobbyists and organizations to lobby on the state and national levelon the state and national level

Most often they: testify at legislative Most often they: testify at legislative hearings, contact government officials hearings, contact government officials directly, help draft legislationdirectly, help draft legislation

Lobbying CongressLobbying Congress

Members of Congress are targets of Members of Congress are targets of lobbyistslobbyists

Many lobbyists are former membersMany lobbyists are former members Lobbyists work closely with those Lobbyists work closely with those

members who share their interestsmembers who share their interests The effectiveness of a lobbyist The effectiveness of a lobbyist

depends on their reputation for fair depends on their reputation for fair play and accurate informationplay and accurate information

Reform AttemptsReform Attempts

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

– Employs a strict definition of lobbyistEmploys a strict definition of lobbyist– Requires lobbyists to:Requires lobbyists to:

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

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

Estimate the amount they are paid by each Estimate the amount they are paid by each clientclient

– Makes it easier for watchdog groups to track Makes it easier for watchdog groups to track the lobbying activitythe lobbying activity

Lobbying the Executive Lobbying the Executive BranchBranch

Has expanded As the scope of federal Has expanded As the scope of federal government has expandedgovernment has expanded– Many potential access pointsMany potential access points– Lobbyists seek influence at policy Lobbyists seek influence at policy

formation and implementation stages.formation and implementation stages.– An especially strong link exists between An especially strong link exists between

interest groups and regulatory agenciesinterest groups and regulatory agencies– Groups often monitor the implementation Groups often monitor the implementation

of the laws or policies they advocated.of the laws or policies they advocated.

Lobbying the Judicial BranchLobbying the Judicial Branch

Can take two forms:Can take two forms:– Direct sponsorshipDirect sponsorship– Filing Filing amicus curiaeamicus curiae briefs briefs

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

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

I.I. EconomicEconomic

II.II. Ideological or Single-IssueIdeological or Single-Issue

III.III. Public InterestPublic Interest

IV.IV. Foreign PolicyForeign Policy

V.V. NGOsNGOs

VI.VI. EqualityEquality

VII.VII. EnvironmentalEnvironmental

Types of Interest GroupsTypes of Interest Groups I. EconomicI. Economic

– establish establish standards, standards, better working better working conditionsconditions Determined Determined

by the way by the way people earn people earn a livinga living

Business & Business & professionalprofessional, labor, , labor, agriculturalagricultural

NAM (National Association of NAM (National Association of Manufacturers)Manufacturers)

American Bankers AssociationAmerican Bankers Association

AFL-CIOAFL-CIO

General MotorsGeneral Motors

AMA (American Medical AMA (American Medical Association)Association)

ABA (American Bar Association)ABA (American Bar Association)

National GrangeNational Grange

NEA (National Education NEA (National Education Association)Association)

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II.II. Ideological or Single-IssueIdeological or Single-Issue::

Want gov’t policy Want gov’t policy consistent with their consistent with their viewview, often unwilling to compromise , often unwilling to compromise

Often strongly liberal or conservative; Often strongly liberal or conservative; occasional centrist groupoccasional centrist group

Ex: Ex: Nat’l Right to Life; ACLU; NRA; anti-war Nat’l Right to Life; ACLU; NRA; anti-war groupsgroups

III.III. Public InterestPublic Interest: advocate interests : advocate interests of of overall communityoverall community

Claim to work on broad issues on Claim to work on broad issues on behalf behalf of all citizens/the public goodof all citizens/the public good– Ex: Ex: Common Cause, Public Citizen, religious Common Cause, Public Citizen, religious

groups, etcgroups, etc Many are Many are consumer groupsconsumer groups

– PIRGsPIRGs (Nader orgs): report on gov’t & corp. (Nader orgs): report on gov’t & corp. action relating to action relating to consumer consumer interestsinterests

IV.IV. Foreign PolicyForeign Policy: influence some area : influence some area of international affairs of international affairs – Ex: Ex: Council on Foreign Relations, AIPACCouncil on Foreign Relations, AIPAC

V. V. NGONGOs s (non-governmental (non-governmental organizations) = nonprofit groups organizations) = nonprofit groups outside gov’t, often pursue policy goals outside gov’t, often pursue policy goals & lobby regarding foreign affairs issues& lobby regarding foreign affairs issues– Ex: Ex: Greenpeace, Amnesty International Greenpeace, Amnesty International

VI. VI. EqualityEquality: main policy goal = equal rights in : main policy goal = equal rights in housing, employment, education, etchousing, employment, education, etc

Often represents minorities & women Often represents minorities & women – Ex: Ex: NAACP; NOWNAACP; NOW

VI. VI. EnvironmentalEnvironmental Control pollution, combat global warming, Control pollution, combat global warming,

protect wilderness, species preservationprotect wilderness, species preservation– Ex: Ex: Sierra Club; Environmental Defense FundSierra Club; Environmental Defense Fund

Other IGsOther IGs: veterans’ groups, nationality groups: veterans’ groups, nationality groups

Problems with Interest Problems with Interest GroupsGroups

Overrepresentation of views of Overrepresentation of views of privileged classprivileged class

Utilization of free-rider concept of Utilization of free-rider concept of representationrepresentation– Benefits go to all in an industry, not just group Benefits go to all in an industry, not just group

membersmembers Benefits that go to members only (better Benefits that go to members only (better

health care, etc.)health care, etc.) Reliability of funding sources and Reliability of funding sources and

sponsorshipsponsorship Could be double influence (corporations, Could be double influence (corporations,

foundations, etc.)foundations, etc.)

Business Role in Interest Business Role in Interest GroupsGroups

Most large corporationsMost large corporations– Have their own governmental affairs Have their own governmental affairs

departmentdepartment– Employ D.C.-based lobbyists to keep them Employ D.C.-based lobbyists to keep them

apprised of legislationapprised of legislation– Have given substantial soft money in the Have given substantial soft money in the

pastpast– Still use PACS & 527s which means they Still use PACS & 527s which means they

still contribute a great deal of moneystill contribute a great deal of money

Helpful videosHelpful videos

Buckley v. ValeoBuckley v. Valeo– https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJqj

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Interest Groups (Cram for the Exam)Interest Groups (Cram for the Exam)– https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDe

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