Interest Groups
4/19/2012
Clearly Communicated Learning Objectives in Written Form
• Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:– discuss and critically analyze political events in the
United States government– students will be able to identify and explain the
role of informal institutions and their effect on policy.
– students will be able to assess the 2010 and 2012 elections without resorting to partisan bickering.
Office Hours and Readings
• Chapter 7
• Office Hours– No office hours today – Monday 10-2
THE LOGIC OF COLLECTIVE ACTIONAn Alternate theory of Group Formation
Collective Action
• The Writings of Mancur Olson
• Groups form if it is convenient
• Groups form for Benefits
Logistics of Group Formation
• Potential Membership– Big groups form more easily (fewer costs)– Small groups have to share less (more benefits)
• Geography (not as important today)
Direct Benefits
• Benefits that only members get
• Excludes Non-members
• Economic benefits are most lucrative
Collective benefits
• Benefits that the group works for....
• Everyone gets
• No One is Denied
Groups that Provide Collective Benefits
Overcoming the Free-Rider Problem
• You have to offer people some incentive to join
• Appeal to our greed, or appeal to our ideology
• These are selective incentives
Selective Incentives
Tangible Benefits• Real benefits given to
members by the group
• People outside of the group do not get the goodies
• The AARP
Ideological Benefits• Moral incentives
• Appeals to one’s ideology
• Guilt-ing People
Groups that cannot offer any benefits will not be able to form
KINDS OF INTEREST GROUPS
Private Interest Groups
• Limit their Membership and their benefits
• Business Groups
• Labor Unions
Public Interest Groups
• Concerned with that group’s perception of the general welfare of the population
• Anyone can join
• Everyone receives the benefits
Single Issue Groups
• Concerned with a single policy issue
• Ensures that members know what they do
Umbrella Groups
• Concerned with multiple issues within a larger policy area
• Potential for more resources
• Potential for in-fighting
Interest Groups Today
• Fragmentation
• Specialization
• Cannibalization– Greenpeace vs. Whale
Wars
COMPONENTS OF INTEREST GROUP POWER
Money and Size
• This is a recursive relationship
• There is a problem of being “too big”
Cohesion and Intensity
• Does the group stick together
• Are the members willing to fight for the interests of the group
Access
• The Number one goal of an interest group
• If no one hears your message, it is wasted
TACTICS OF INTEREST GROUPSDirect Lobbying
Direct Lobbying
• Traditional Interest group tactic
• All about making contacts
• Exchanging Resources
Direct Lobbying
• An Exchange of Resources
• What Resources do interest groups have for legislators?
• What resources do legislators have for interest groups
The Revolving Door
• 1 year moratorium
• People move out of Congress and on to “K” Street
Why former Congressmen?
• Familiarity
• Ability to get access
Direct Lobbying is not Cheap
INDIRECT LOBBYINGTactics of Interest Groups
What is Outsider/Indirect Lobbying
• Pressure from outside the beltway
• Pressure without direct contact
Tactics of Indirect Lobbying
• Electoral Threats
• Using the media to shape opinion
• Reports and publications
Politicians dislike indirect tactics
ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAILInterest groups and the electoral connection
Why Get involved?
• You want to keep people you trust in position
• You want to control the agenda
Getting the membership active
• Encouraging members to donate
• Hitlists
• Scorecards
How Much Can Members Give?
SPENDING MONEY
Money is a form of Political Speech
• Buckley v. Valeo
• At the federal level, fundraising is not capped
• Neither are expenditures
Political Action Committees
• The Money Giving Arm of an Interest Group
• Can Give $5,000 per candidate per election
Different PACs have different Goals
• Issue PACS
• Labor PACS
• Ideological PACS
• Leadership PACS
PACS Give to Safe Seats
• Money flows to safe seats
• Giving money to losers has no return on investment
• If I wanted to buy seats, I would give to underdogs and closer races
Pacs Give To Incumbents
• I care about the issues, not the label
• I want to keep my supporters in office
• Keep my enemies out
PACS Give to People Who Already Support them
• “Corporations Love Everyone”
• You want them to get reelected
• You want them to continue to support your ideas
PACS do not Give To Undecided Members
• Money could convince them to vote my way
• But what if it doesn’t
• Its safer to hang on to it
PACS do not give to their enemies
• My money is not going to change their votes
• They won’t take my money anyway
The Goal Of PAC Money
• Access
• A chance to meet with legislators
• Ensure my views are represented
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