Interest Groups and Lobbying

What is an Interest Group? an organized group of individuals that share common goals or objectives Work to influence policymakers in all three branches of government, and at all levels Pluralism

Why People Join Interest Groups? Free Riders Someone who can obtain the benefits of membership without participation or even joining Incentives Solidary incentives --the desire to associate with others and to share a particular interest or hobby Material incentives – motivated by economic benefits or opportunities Purposive incentives – a motive having to do with ethical beliefs or ideological principles

Types of Interest Groups Economic Interest Groups Environmental Interest Groups Public Interest Groups Special Interest Groups

Economic Interest Groups – Formed to promote economic interests Public Employee – represent employees of governments, including the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees and teachers Interest Groups of Professionals – Advocate for professional associations, like the American Bar Association and the AMA Business – business and trade organizations that attempt to influence government policy to their benefit Agricultural – advocate for farm interests enjoy disproportionate influence Labor – groups that represent the working class interests

Environmental Interests – Groups that advocate for pro-environmental policies the Sierra Club the National Audubon Society the Nature Conservancy

Public & Special Interest Groups Public Interest Groups – groups that advocate the interests of the collective, overall community Nader organizations -- organizations organized under the leadership of consumer activist Ralph Nader Special Interest Groups – narrowly focused interest groups. Examples include abortion interest groups and groups that advocate for individuals who share a racial, ethnic or age association

Interest Group Strategies: Direct Techniques Lobbying – meeting officials and attempting to convince of your position on an issue; Lobbying also entails testifying before congressional committees testifying before executive rulemaking agencies assisting in the drafting of legislation entertaining legislators providing information to legislators assisting in nominating individuals to government posts Ratings – scoring legislators based on their votes in congress, then making interested constituents aware of those scores Campaign Assistance – providing workers for political campaigns Political Action Committees –a committee that raises money and gives donation on behalf of organizations to political candidates or political parties.

Interest Group Strategies: Indirect Techniques Generating Public Pressure – trying to influence the government by using public opinion on an issue Using Constituents as Lobbyists shotgun approach means having large numbers of constituents act in concert by writing, emailing, phoning or sending postcards to a legislator rifle approach involves having an influential constituent contact a legislator on a particular issue Building Alliances – forming alliances with other diverse groups who share a policy goal

Congressional Committees The Iron Triangle Congressional Committees Interest Groups Executive agencies

Attempts at Regulating Lobbyists Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 provided for public disclosure failed because it did not have an enforcement mechanism United States v. Harriss (1954) confirmed the constitutionality of the Legislative Reorganization Act Some regulations on lobbying passed in 1995-96 include defining “lobbyist” as anyone who spends 20 percent of his/her time lobbying members of congress, congressional staffs, or executive branch officials requiring lobbyists to register with the Secretary of the House or clerk of the Senate requiring semiannual reports on the nature of lobbying activities