Interest Groups and the Political Process Post-Citizens United “Show Me the Money” Interest Groups and the Political Process Post-Citizens United

What are Interest Groups? Organizations of people sharing a common interest or goal that seek to influence government policy and elections

The Role of Interest Groups in the Political Process Inform public about issues and candidates Grassroots organizing Recruit and endorse candidates Form Political Action Committees (PACs) Contribute money to campaigns Sponsor “Issue Ads”

Hard Money: Campaign contributions regulated and limited by the federal government that are given directly to a candidate

Soft Money: Previously unlimited and unregulated campaign contributions to federal candidates and the national parties Supposedly for generic “party building” activities (ex: get-out-the-vote drives, bumper stickers, yard signs, and “issue ads”)

Political Action Committee (PAC): Officially registered fund-raising organization that represents interest groups in the political process.

Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 a.k.a. McCain-Feingold Bill Prohibited corporations and unions from funding "electioneering communications” within 30 days before a primary or 60 days before a general election i.e. can’t broadcast ads mentioning a candidate

Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 a.k.a. McCain-Feingold Bill Ban on national parties and officeholders raising and spending “soft money” “Stand by your ad” provision

527 Groups Tax-exempt organizations created to raise money for political activities Not subject to FEC disclosure rules. Advocacy groups try to influence federal elections through voter mobilization efforts and so-called issue ads that tout or criticize a candidate’s record.

501(c) Groups Nonprofit, tax-exempt interest groups that can engage in varying levels of political activity Not subject to FEC disclosure rules.

Interest Groups

Interest Group Theory Elitist Pluralist Hyper-Pluralist

What is an Interest Group? There are many aliases an interest group has. (Pressure Groups, Lobby Groups, Special Interest Groups, Advocacy Groups…) There are a number of definitions for interest groups in your book Functions- To influence public policy They are not- Political Parties…they do not run candidates. They try to influence political parties.

Lobbying A strategy by which organized interests seek to influence passage of legislation by exerting direct pressure on members of the legislature

Types of Interest Groups Public Interest Groups Seek a collective good, the achievement of which will not selectively and materially benefit the membership or activists of the organization

Economic Interest Economic Interest Groups (Lots of Money) A group whose primary purpose is to promote the financial interests of its members

How are Interest Groups Effective? Size Intensity Money

Mobilizing Public Opinion Grassroots Mobilization (Lobbying) A campaign in which a group mobilizes its membership to contact governmental officials in support of the groups position What groups do you think would specialize in Grassroots Mobilization

Protests and Demonstrations Many Groups will go public with parades or protests because they lack the resources, the contacts, or the experience to use other political stategies Southern Christian Leadership Conference Is the most significant and successful case of a protest or demonstration Groups are still protesting and demonstrating today

How will they Lobby Campaign Contributions Advertising PACs Advertising Super PACs Wining and Dining Jack Abramoff

Quiz on Interest groups What is the only goal of an interest group? What is the only function of an interest group?(how they accomplish their goal) Describe one way the AARP (40 million members) would lobby a congressman Describe one way the American Medical Association would lobby a congressman

Lobbying the Courts Litigation (suing) Sponsor a Court Case NAACP and Brown v. Board of Education Amicus Curiae Friend of the Court Briefs Non Litigant Documents submitted to the court to influence their opinion THOSE ARE THE ONLY WAYS TO LOBBY THE COURTS Wining and Dining judges is illegal….YOU WILL GO TO JAIL!!!!

Interest Group Number One Goal How do they influence Politics Influence Politics/ public policy How do they influence Politics Inform government officials and the public How do they inform the government officials and the public? Through everything we just talked about…The main ways… Contribute Money, Talk Directly to Government Officials, Litigation (sponsor a court case or Amicus briefs) Mobilize the Public, Contribute to the Electoral Process

Pros and Cons Pros Cons Participation and Access Expertise Bias Linkage Institution Expertise More so than Congressmen and Bureaucrats. Interest Groups write legislation Cons Bias Elitist Theory Revolving Door revolving door that shuffles former federal employees into jobs as lobbyists, consultants and strategists just as the door pulls former hired guns into government careers.

Lobbying Congress Lobbying in the government occurs the most in Congress Why? Most Common Ways to Lobby in Congress Donate Money to Candidates (money) Litigation Endorse a Candidate (people) Talk Directly to a Government Official (money) Alert State Legislators of a bill’s effects on their districts (People) Testify at a Legislative Hearing Mount a grassroots movement (People)