Chapter 16 Interest Groups

Chapter Outline and Learning Objectives LO 16.1: An organized interest is a collection of people or groups with shared attitudes who make claims on government. Political scientists approach the development of interest groups from a number of theoretical perspectives, including pluralist theory, the transactions approach, and neopluralist theories such as population ecology. Interest groups can be classified in a variety of different ways based on their functions and membership. LO 16.2: Interest groups did not begin to emerge in the United States until the 1830s. From 1890 to 1920, the Progressive movement dominated. The 1960s saw the rise of a wide variety of liberal interest groups. During the 1970s and 1980s, legions of conservatives formed new groups to counteract those efforts. Business groups, corporations, and unions also established their presence in Washington D.C. during this time. Roots of the American Interest Group System LO 16.1: Trace the roots of the American interest group system. The Development of American Interest Groups LO 16.2: Describe the historical development of American interest groups.

Chapter Outline and Learning Objectives LO 16.3: Interest groups often fill voids left by the major political parties and give Americans opportunities to make organized claims on government. The most common activity of interest groups is lobbying, which takes many forms. Groups routinely pressure members of Congress and their staffs, the president and the bureaucracy, and the courts; they use a variety of techniques to educate and stimulate the public to pressure key governmental decision makers. Interest groups also attempt to influence the outcome of elections; some run their own candidates for office. Others rate elected officials to inform their members how particular legislators stand on issues of importance to them. Political action committees (PACs), a way for some groups to contribute money to candidates for office, are another method of gaining support from elected officials and ensuring that supportive officials stay in office. LO 16.4: Interest group success can be measured in a variety of ways, including a group’s ability to get its issues on the public agenda, winning key pieces of legislation in Congress or executive branch or judicial rulings, or backing successful candidates. Several factors contribute to interest group success, including leaders and patrons, funding, and committed members. What Do Interest Groups Do? LO 16.3: Identify several strategies and tactics used by organized interests. What Makes Interest Groups Successful? LO 16.4: Analyze the factors that make an interest group successful.

Chapter Outline and Learning Objectives LO 16.5: It was not until 1946 that Congress passed any laws regulating federal lobbying. Those laws were largely ineffective and were successfully challenged as violations of the First Amendment. In 1995, Congress passed the Lobbying Disclosure Act that required lobbyists to register with both houses of Congress. By 2007, a rash of scandals resulted in the sweeping reforms called the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act, which dramatically limited what lobbyists can do. The executive branch is also regulated by the 1978 Ethics in Government Act. Toward Reform: Regulating Interest Groups and Lobbyists LO 16.5: Explain reform efforts geared toward regulating interest groups and lobbyists.

Groups build social capital and civic virtue. Roots of the American Interest Group System LO 16.1: Trace the roots of the American interest group system. Groups build social capital and civic virtue. Their main goal is to influence public policy. To Learning Objectives

Theories of Interest Group Formation LO 16.1 Note: the theory the author refers to as transactions theory is sometimes characterized as “elite theory.” Photo caption: How do special interests develop? Geography often determines the kinds of special interests that are most common in a given region. Theories of Interest Group Formation Pluralist theory Disturbance theory Transactions theory Neopluralist theory To Learning Objectives

Kinds of Organized Interests LO 16.1 Click to see a table listing the membership numbers and campaign contribution amount for specific interest groups within each category. Kinds of Organized Interests Types of interest groups Public Interest Groups Economic Interest Groups Governmental Units Political Action Committees Multi-issue versus single-issue groups What are the characteristics of different types of interest groups? To Learning Objectives

A “PAC” is an acronym for ____________. LO 16.1 A “PAC” is an acronym for ____________. Political Action Committee Politically Anonymous Company Public Action Ceremony People’s Ardent Continuum Population American Committee To Learning Objectives

A “PAC” is an acronym for ____________. LO 16.1 A “PAC” is an acronym for ____________. Political Action Committee Politically Anonymous Company Public Action Ceremony People’s Ardent Continuum Population American Committee To Learning Objectives 10

National Groups Emerge (1830-1889) The Development of American Interest Groups LO 16.2: Describe the historical development of American interest groups. National Groups Emerge (1830-1889) Business interests play larger role after Civil War. Groups begin to send lobbyists to Washington. The Progressive Era (1890-1920) Explosion of interest groups. Growth of labor, business organizations, and trade associations. To Learning Objectives

The Rise of the Interest Group State LO 16.2 The Rise of the Interest Group State Expansion of civil rights and groups in 1960s. NAACP and ACLU Nader’s Unsafe at Any Speed  Common Cause and Public Citizen Rise of conservative/religious groups. Evolution of new business groups dedicated to lobbying. Declining power of organized labor. To Learning Objectives

LO 16.2 In 1965 _________ became a well known consumer rights advocate with the publishing of his book, “Unsafe at Any Speed.” Jerry Falwell Ralph Nader Pat Robertson Ronal Reagan John McCain To Learning Objectives

LO 16.2 In 1965 _________ became a well known consumer rights advocate with the publishing of his book, “Unsafe at Any Speed.” Jerry Falwell Ralph Nader Pat Robertson Ronal Reagan John McCain To Learning Objectives 14

Political interest groups What Do Interest Groups Do? LO 16.3: Identify several strategies and tactics used by organized interests. Some are non political. Political interest groups increase representation and participation increase public awareness about important issues help frame the public agenda monitor programs to guarantee effective implementation engage in lobbying and election activities To Learning Objectives

Grassroots lobbying, such as petitions Protests and radical activism Congress through research, money, or testimony The executive branch The courts through sponsorship or amicus briefs Grassroots lobbying, such as petitions Protests and radical activism To Learning Objectives

Candidate recruitment and endorsements Getting out the vote LO 16.3 Click to view cartoon depicting a simplified view of the role of special interests. Election Activities Candidate recruitment and endorsements Getting out the vote Rating the candidates or office holders Campaign contributions PACs To Learning Objectives

LO 16.3 Interest groups participate in the electoral process in all of the following ways EXCEPT nominating candidates for office. contributing money to political campaigns. getting out of the vote. rating office holders. Endorsing candidates who are running for office. To Learning Objectives

LO 16.3 Interest groups participate in the electoral process in all of the following ways EXCEPT nominating candidates for office. contributing money to political campaigns. getting out of the vote. rating office holders. Endorsing candidates who are running for office. To Learning Objectives 19

What Makes Interest Groups Successful. LO 16 What Makes Interest Groups Successful? LO 16.4: Analyze the factors that make an interest group successful. Photo caption: Who are interest group leaders? As president of the Children’s Defense Fund, Marian Wright Edelman continues to fight against child poverty and for better health care. Leaders Funding and patrons Members: helps to overcome the free rider problem, especially for collective goods To Learning Objectives

LO 16.4 The phenomenon in which potential members fail to join an interest group because they can get the benefit without contributing the effort is known as transactions theory. disturbance theory. grassroots lobbying. the free rider problem. a common cause. To Learning Objectives

LO 16.4 The phenomenon in which potential members fail to join an interest group because they can get the benefit without contributing the effort is known as transactions theory. disturbance theory. grassroots lobbying. the free rider problem. a common cause. To Learning Objectives 22

Regulating Congressional Lobbyists Toward Reform: Regulating Interest Groups and Lobbyists LO 16.5: Explain reform efforts geared toward regulating interest groups and lobbyists. Click to view a table listing the provisions of The Ethics in Government Act of 1978. Regulating Congressional Lobbyists The Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 1927 Regulating Executive Branch Lobbyists The Ethics in Government Act of 1978 To Learning Objectives

LO 16.6 What law requires the president the source and amount of all earned income and any positions held in business, labor, or non-profit organization? The Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 1927 The Ethics in Government Act of 1978 Federal Election Campaign Act of 1974 The Clayton Act of 1914 To Learning Objectives

LO 16.6 What law requires the president the source and amount of all earned income and any positions held in business, labor, or non-profit organization? The Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 1927 The Ethics in Government Act of 1978 Federal Election Campaign Act of 1974 The Clayton Act of 1914 To Learning Objectives 25

What role do lobbyists play in Congress What role do lobbyists play in Congress? This cartoon presents one popular, although not always correct, view of how legislation gets enacted on Capitol Hill. Discuss why this view is popular, but not always correct. How is this view a simplification of the lobbying process? Do some candidates receive more support than others? How can students find out which interest groups are funding which candidates? How does incumbency play into this process? Back To Learning Objectives

Table 16.1: What are the characteristics of selected interest groups? Use the table to look for patterns among different types of interest groups. Then consider questions such as: Which interests groups spent the most? Which interest groups are the largest? Back To Learning Objectives

Table 16.2: What are the key provisions of the Ethics in Government Act? Use the table to discuss the purpose each of the provision. Back To Learning Objectives