Chapter 11 Interest Groups

Copyright © 2013 Cengage WHO GOVERNS? WHO GOVERNS? 1.Do interest groups dominate government, and is any particular lobby politically unbeatable? 2.Why do people join interest groups? TO WHAT ENDS? TO WHAT ENDS? 1.Is the proliferation of political action committees (PACs) and other groups good or bad for America’s representative democracy? 2.Should interest groups’ political activities be restricted by law?

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The Rise of Interest Groups An interest group is any organization that seeks to influence public policy. An interest group is any organization that seeks to influence public policy. The conditions that lead to the rise of interest groups are The conditions that lead to the rise of interest groups are Broad economic developments**Broad economic developments** Government policyGovernment policy Leadership exercisedLeadership exercised Increased governmental activitiesIncreased governmental activities Copyright © 2013 Cengage

Facts about interest groups Of the 7,000 interest groups in Washington 50% are corporations Of the 7,000 interest groups in Washington 50% are corporations Money is the LEAST important when it comes to interest groups Money is the LEAST important when it comes to interest groups Most effective commodity to interest groups Most effective commodity to interest groups informationinformation The best measure of their success The best measure of their success Organizational skillsOrganizational skills Copyright © 2013 Cengage

A woman holds a Tea Party sign at a rally in Concord, New Hampshire. Copyright © 2013 Cengage BRIAN SNYDER/Reuters/Landov

Copyright © 2013 Cengage **Action of Interest groups is protected under the First Amendment

Figure 11.1 What the Top Lobby Spent, 1998–2010 Copyright © 2013 Cengage Source: Center for Public Integrity, Georgetown University, Washington, D.C., 2011.

Kinds of Organizations Institutional Interests - individuals or organizations representing other organizations Institutional Interests - individuals or organizations representing other organizations Membership Interests - Americans tend to join groups more than other nations (civic duty) Membership Interests - Americans tend to join groups more than other nations (civic duty) BUT people don't always join groups like the NAACP and Sierra club because they don't feel that they can make a difference.BUT people don't always join groups like the NAACP and Sierra club because they don't feel that they can make a difference. Copyright © 2013 Cengage W. E. B. Du Bois, scholar and activist, was one of the founders of the NAACP.

Getting and Keeping Members Incentives to Join Incentives to Join Solidarity - Social rewardsSolidarity - Social rewards Material - money or things valuedMaterial - money or things valued Purposive - benefits that come from serving a causePurposive - benefits that come from serving a cause Copyright © 2013 Cengage The Service Employees International Union, a large and growing force, listens to Andy Stern, its president until 2010.

Types of Interest Groups Public Interest Economic Interests Profession al Groups Ideological Groups Single- Issue Groups Focuses on topics that affect the general public like education, the environment, and politics Promotes the economic interests of their members in business, labor, and trade organization Advocates for people in a particular profession, such as doctors, lawyers, and teachers Promotes policies based on a set of core political or religious beliefs Focuses on one narrow topic, such as immigration or drunk driving Copyright © 2013 Cengage

Public-interest lobby - a political organization whose goals will principally benefit nonmembers

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The Influence of the Staff Some members of an interest group may not care about many of the issues with which the group gets involved. Some members of an interest group may not care about many of the issues with which the group gets involved. What the interest group does may reflect what the staff wants than what the members believe. What the interest group does may reflect what the staff wants than what the members believe. (solidary or material benefits) (solidary or material benefits) Copyright © 2013 Cengage

Interest Groups and Social Movements The Environmental Movement - more liberal; Sierra Club The Environmental Movement - more liberal; Sierra Club The Feminist Movement - league of women voters (1920), 3 types: solidary incentives (ERA - equal rights amendment), purposive incentives (National Organization for Women NOW), material incentives (Women’s equality Action League WEAL) The Feminist Movement - league of women voters (1920), 3 types: solidary incentives (ERA - equal rights amendment), purposive incentives (National Organization for Women NOW), material incentives (Women’s equality Action League WEAL) Spawned an antifeminist movementSpawned an antifeminist movement The Union Movement - The Union Movement - The Great Depression brought on unions, but membership peaked in 1945 The Great Depression brought on unions, but membership peaked in 1945 Government unions are becoming the most important recently Government unions are becoming the most important recently Membership is down due to lack of support for unions Membership is down due to lack of support for unions Copyright © 2013 Cengage

Funds for Interest Groups Dues or 3 sources lobbyists go to for money: Dues or 3 sources lobbyists go to for money: Foundation Grants - Foundation Grants - Half or more of all funds Ten year period - Ford Foundation contributed $21 million to liberal public-interest groups Federal Grants and Contracts - Federal Grants and Contracts - Used largely by both Profit and non-profit groups used to put pressure on Congress Direct Mail - raise money and mobilize support Direct Mail - raise money and mobilize support Copyright © 2013 Cengage

Upper Class Bias? Do interest groups reflect an upper- class bias? Do interest groups reflect an upper- class bias? Those most likely to belong to a voluntary association have Those most likely to belong to a voluntary association have Higher incomes (better than average)Higher incomes (better than average) College degreesCollege degrees Professional or technical jobsProfessional or technical jobs Copyright © 2013 Cengage

Upper Class Bias? Consider: Consider: Do interest groups and lobbyists always get what they want?Do interest groups and lobbyists always get what they want? No No Are business-oriented groups divided among themselves?Are business-oriented groups divided among themselves? Yes - farming Yes - farming Are there profound cleavages of opinion among the upper class?Are there profound cleavages of opinion among the upper class? Yes - divisions between groups Yes - divisions between groups

Farmers once had great influence in Congress and could get their way with a few telephone calls. Today, they often must use mass protest methods. Copyright © 2013 Cengage JP/Laffront/Sygma/Corbis

The Activities of Interest Groups Information - most important because it is in short supply Information - most important because it is in short supply Greatest when the issue is fairly narrowGreatest when the issue is fairly narrow Political cues give legislators a signal telling them what values are at stake in a vote and how that issue fits into his or her own political views on party agendaPolitical cues give legislators a signal telling them what values are at stake in a vote and how that issue fits into his or her own political views on party agenda Public Support - grassroots - outsider strategy (asking the people to take action) Public Support - grassroots - outsider strategy (asking the people to take action) Money and PACs - one of the least effective ways by which interest groups advance their cause Money and PACs - one of the least effective ways by which interest groups advance their cause The “Revolving Door” - people leave important jobs in government to join private industries or lobby groups The “Revolving Door” - people leave important jobs in government to join private industries or lobby groups Civil Disobedience - public displays and disruptive tactics to get a message across (KKK, anti-masons, rioting, picketing) Civil Disobedience - public displays and disruptive tactics to get a message across (KKK, anti-masons, rioting, picketing) The more hostile you are the more progress you makeThe more hostile you are the more progress you make

Copyright © 2013 Cengage Source: Federal Election Committee, “Top 50 PACs by Contributions to Candidates and Other Committees, January 1, 2009–December 31, 2009,” 2010.

Figure 11.2 Political Action Committees (PACs) Copyright © 2013 Cengage

Jack Abramoff, convicted of unethical behavior in handling lobbying claims by certain Indian tribes, is sworn in before a congressional committee investigating this. Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call Group/Roll Call/Getty Images

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Lawsuits, such as this one against Proposition 8 which banned same sex marriage in California, are often more effective than protest demonstrations in changing policies. Copyright © 2013 Cengage Fred Prouser/Reuters/Landov

Regulating Interest Groups 1946 – Federal Regulation of Lobbying Act 1946 – Federal Regulation of Lobbying Act Regan cut funds for noprofit lobbying groupsRegan cut funds for noprofit lobbying groups 1995 – Congress unanimously passed lobbying bill 1995 – Congress unanimously passed lobbying bill Tightened registration and disclosure requirementsTightened registration and disclosure requirements Broadened definition of a lobbyistBroadened definition of a lobbyist Did not cover grass roots organizationsDid not cover grass roots organizations Copyright © 2013 Cengage

Regulating Interest Groups 2007 – New regulations took effect 2007 – New regulations took effect No gifts of any value from registered lobbyists or firms that employ lobbyistsNo gifts of any value from registered lobbyists or firms that employ lobbyists No reimbursements for travel costs from registered lobbyist or firms that employ lobbyistsNo reimbursements for travel costs from registered lobbyist or firms that employ lobbyists No reimbursement for travel costs, no matter the source, if the trip is in any part organized or requested by a registered lobbyist or firm that employs lobbyistsNo reimbursement for travel costs, no matter the source, if the trip is in any part organized or requested by a registered lobbyist or firm that employs lobbyists Copyright © 2013 Cengage

Interest Groups attmepts to influence policy making Litigation - brings issues to court via lawsuits in order to further their cause if Congress is not listening to them Litigation - brings issues to court via lawsuits in order to further their cause if Congress is not listening to them Ex. NAACP - Brown v Board of educationEx. NAACP - Brown v Board of education PACs - Can influence Congress members “the best Congress money can buy” PACs - Can influence Congress members “the best Congress money can buy” So much PAC money is available on so many issues that Congressmen still may be able to vote freelySo much PAC money is available on so many issues that Congressmen still may be able to vote freely Grassroots - generates support of the public - “Contact your Congressman” via (SOOO easy!) Grassroots - generates support of the public - “Contact your Congressman” via (SOOO easy!) Congressman may not care about interest groups but don’t want to let down constituentsCongressman may not care about interest groups but don’t want to let down constituents Copyright © 2013 Cengage

M E M O R A N D U M To: Kathleen Moore, Senate majority leader From: Christopher Franklin, chief of staff Subject: Full federal financing of presidential campaigns Every presidential election since 1976 has been financed in part by federal funds. Now presidential candidates say they will forego public funding for the general election, given the vastly greater resources available through private fund- raising. Congress needs to decide whether elections are a public investment or a political free market for citizens and candidates. Copyright © 2013 Cengage WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

Arguments for: 1. Legal precedents are promising. Federal matching funds already go to presidential primary candidates who have raised at least $5,000, in contributions of $250 or less, in each of twenty states. For the general election, each major party nominee already is eligible for federal funding if he or she agrees to spend no more than that amount. 2. The funding required would be small. Allocating $1 billion out of the public treasury for a presidential election every four years is hardly a fiscal drain on a nearly $2 trillion annual budget. 3. The effects would be pervasive. Candidates and party leaders would stop covertly courting big donors with phone calls, lunches, and personal visits, and would focus instead on the needs of average citizens. Copyright © 2013 Cengage WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

Arguments against: 1. Constitutional precedent for requiring political candidates to accept public funds is weak. In Buckley v. Valeo (1976), the Supreme Court upheld limits on campaign contributions for candidates who accept public money, but it also defined spending money for political purposes as expression protected by the First Amendment, thereby giving individuals the right to raise and spend as much of their own money as they choose, if they forego federal funds. 2. Campaign spending would soon spiral once again. The federal government may not restrict spending by individuals or organizations working independently from the political parties, and federal funds would merely supplement, not supplant, private fund-raising. 3. Less than 10 percent of taxpayers currently supports public financing through voluntary federal income tax checkoffs, and voters likely would view bankrolling elections as serving politicians, not the people. Copyright © 2013 Cengage WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

Your decision: Support Legislation? Oppose Legislation? Copyright © 2013 Cengage WHAT WOULD YOU DO?