Chapter 11 Interest Groups

Interest Group an organization of people with shared policy goals entering the policy process at several points to try to achieve those goals

Types of Interest Groups Economic Interests Labor Agriculture Business Environmental Interests Equality Interests Consumer and Public Interest Lobbies

Table 11.1 Perceptions of the Dominance of Big Interests

Most Powerful Interest Groups Table 11.1 The Power 25

What Makes an Interest Group Successful? Intensity Single-Issue groups: groups that focus on a narrow interest, dislike compromise, and often draw membership from people new to politics Groups may focus on an emotional issue, providing them with a psychological advantage. Intensity encourages non-conventional means of participation. I.e.- protests

What Makes an Interest Group Successful? Financial Resources Not all groups have equal amounts of money. Monetary donations usually translate into access to the politicians, such as a phone call, meeting, or support for policy. Wealthier groups have more resources—and presumably more access—but they do not always win on policy.

Small potential groups like businesses have an easier time organizing themselves for political action than large potential groups, such as consumers. The primary way for large potential groups to overcome Olson’s law is to provide selective benefits. These are goods that a group can restrict to those who pay their yearly dues, such as information publications, travel discounts, and group insurance rates. --- Table 11.2 The Benefits of AARP Membership

Business groups have supported right-to-work laws, which outlaw union membership as a condition of employment. In 1947, Congress passed the Taft-Hartley Act, permitting states to adopt right-to-work laws. The American labor movement reached its peak in 1956 when 33 percent of the non-agricultural work force belonged to a union; the percentage has declined since then to about 16 percent. Business. Seventy percent of all interest group organizations having a Washington presence represent business, and business PACs have increased more dramatically than any other category of PACs. Most large firms now have offices in Washington that monitor legislative activity. Business interests are generally unified when it comes to promoting greater profits, but are often fragmented when policy choices have to be made. (cont.) --- LO 11.5 Image: For unions, few issues are as important as job security for their members.

How Interest Groups try to Shape Policy Lobbying Electioneering Litigation Going Public

How Groups Try to Shape Policy Lobbying “communication by someone other than a citizen acting on his own behalf, directed to a governmental decisionmaker with the hope of influencing his decision” (Lester Milbrath) Two basic types of lobbyists: Regular, paid employees of a group Temporary hires

How Groups Try to Shape Policy Lobbying Lobbyists: are a source of information help politicians plan political strategies for legislation help politicians plan political strategies for reelection campaigns are a source of ideas and innovations Mixed evidence as to whether lobbying works

Plenty of evidence to the contrary suggests that lobbying can sometimes persuade legislators to support a certain policy. Examples include opposition to gun control legislation by the National Rifle Association and intensive lobbying against the 1988 Catastrophic Health Care Act conducted by the nation’s most wealthy senior citizens. It is difficult to evaluate the specific effects of lobbying because it is hard to isolate its effects from other influences. Like campaigning, lobbying is directed primarily toward activating and reinforcing one’s supporters. --- Figure 11.3 The Big Spenders on Lobbying, 1998-2007

How Groups Try to Shape Policy Electioneering Direct group involvement in the election process Groups can help fund campaigns, provide testimony, and get members to work for candidates; some form PACs. Political Action Committee (PAC): Political funding vehicles created by 1974 campaign finance reforms, PACs are used by interest groups to donate money to candidates. PACs help pay the bill for increasing campaign costs. Most PAC money goes to incumbents.

How Groups Try to Shape Policy Litigation If an interest group fails in one arena, the courts may be able to provide a remedy. Interest groups can file amicus curiae briefs to influence a court’s decision. amicus curiae: briefs submitted by a “friend of the court” to raise additional points of view and present information not contained in the briefs of the formal parties Class Action lawsuits permit a small number of people to sue on behalf of all other people similar situated.

How Groups Try to Shape Policy Going Public Because public opinion makes its way to policymakers, groups try to: cultivate a good public image to build a reservoir of goodwill with the public use marketing strategies to influence public opinion of the group and its issues advertise to motivate and inform the public about an issue

Iron Triangle Info; positive legislation; access Positive legislation; money; info. POLICY AREA Money; votes; info. Info.; positive enforcement Enforcement support; info. Info.; access; positive enforcement Additional interests change the relationship from an Iron Triangle to an ISSUE NETWORK