Interest Groups

The Influence of Lobbyists Who are the Lobbyists? A person or persons employed by and acting for an organized interest group or corporation to try to influence policy decisions and positions in the executive and legislative branches. What do Lobbyists Do? Engage in activities aimed at influencing public officials, especially legislators and the policies they enact. Lobbyists primarily provide money for campaigns. The Iron Triangle Origins of term “lobbying”: refers to the lobby or hallway outside the House and Senate chambers in the U.S. Capitol and to those who hung around the lobby of the old Willard Hotel in Washington, D.C., when presidents dined there. The noun “lobby” is now used as a verb. The term “lobbying” was not generally used until around the mid-nineteenth century in the United States. Lobbyists help prepare legislation, testify before legislative hearings, and contribute a large share of the costs of campaigns. There are over 1 million nonprofit organizations in the United States, several thousand of which registered as lobbyists in Washington, D.C. What else do Lobbyists do: Socializing, Providing information, Grass-roots mobilization, Protests and demonstrations, Coalition building, Boycotts 2

The Influence of Lobbyists Who Are the Lobbyists? Lobbyists are former public servants. Lobbyists are experienced in government. Lobbyists often go to work for one of the interests they dealt with while in government. What Do Lobbyists Do? Many lobbyists participate in issue networks or relationships among interest groups, congressional committees, subcommittees, and government agencies that share a common policy concern. Interest groups provide money for incumbents or people already in office. Interest groups provide information of two important types. The typical image of policy making is of powerful, hard-nosed lobbyists who use a combination of knowledge, persuasiveness, personal influence, charm, and money to influence legislators and bureaucrats. Moving from a government job to a job with an interest group—or vice versa—is so common that this career path is called the revolving door. Revolving door refers to an employment cycle in which individuals who work for government agencies that regulate interests eventually end up working for interest groups or businesses with the same policy concern. Personal relationships among members of these groups can sometimes allow these networks to become so strong and mutually beneficial that they form a sort of sub-government. Legal and political skills, along with specialized knowledge, are so crucial in executive and legislative policy making that they have become a form of power in themselves. Elected representatives increasingly depend on their staff for guidance. 3

The Influence of Lobbyists What Do Lobbyists Do? (cont.) Interest groups sometimes attempt to influence legislators and regulators by going directly to the people and urging them to contact public officials. Money and Politics Interest groups seek to influence politics and public policy by spending money on elections in several ways. to candidates for their election campaigns, especially in contested races. to political parties. to other interest groups. to the members of their group, including employees. To members of Congress, the single most important thing lobbyists provide is money for their next reelection campaign. One limit on the power of lobbyists is the competition among interest groups. Interest groups provide information of two important types, political and substantive. Political information includes such matters as who supports or opposes legislation, including the executive branch, and how strongly they feel about it. Substantive information, such as the impact of proposed laws, may not be available from any other source. Interest groups sometimes influence legislators and regulators through television advertising but also through mail, e-mail, and banner ads on the Internet. 4

Regulation of Lobbying -Past activities of lobbyists have been questionable Congressmen taking bribes, people not getting their rights -government regulation -stop bribery -special interest groups -reporting lobbying activities -effects of Lobbying Have been successful historically of influencing legislation

Money and Politics The Growth of Political Action Committees PACs PACs – Political Action Commitee-the political arm of an interest group that is legally entitled to raise funds on a voluntary basis from members, stockholders, or employees in order to contribute to favored candidates or political parties. Types of PACs: Corporations Trade and health organizations Labor unions Ideological organizations PACs link two vital techniques of influence—giving money and other political aid to politicians and persuading officeholders to act or vote ‘the right way” on issues. PACs are one important means by which interest groups seek to influence which legislators are elected and what they do once they take office. PACs grew in number and importance in the 1970s, in part because of campaign finance reform legislation enacted in that decade. The number of registered PACs rose from 608 in 1974 to 4,611. 6

PAC Contributions to Congressional Candidates 1998–2008. Contributions to Candidates for U.S. Congress, 1975–2008 (in Millions). 7

Influencing your vote Interest groups: are political organizations that have a particular goal or idea in mind Examples are NRA, United Auto Workers (UAW), NEA- National Education Association (teachers) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1q30kfi_5M

Major Organized Interest Groups

Other Techniques Pictures of Grape Boycott led by Cesar Chavez, teachers in downtown Los Angeles protesting state budget cuts for education, and PETA. Groups often use protest to generate interest and to bring support to their cause.

The National Rifle Association AARP: The Nation’s Most Powerful Interest Group The National Rifle Association 36 million members Offers a wide array of material benefits like insurance and magazines One of the most influential lobbying groups in D.C.

Other Interest Groups - Some Environmental Groups and How They Do Business

Public Opinion -Public Opinion Generic term for what the majority of the public may believe about an issue—can be very misleading as a majority may represent only 51% Opinions about government officials, candidates, and issues -Often misleading Can manipulate questions to get the answers they want

Forming Opinions -Many Factors Influence Opinions -Mass Media TV, radio, newspapers, Internet Provides powerful images to the public -Public Officials Voters elect those they trust to public office – voice of the people -Special Interest Groups Persuade people to their point-of-view

Measuring Opinion -Public Opinion Polls Individuals answer questions to see how the “general public” feels -Random Samples -poll methods where attempts are made to include a wide segment of the population in the poll Reflect the entire population -Effects of Polls Make public officials respond to what the people want Set the public agenda

Interest Groups -Interest Groups Believe that by putting together time, money, and resources, they can influence decision-makers -Bias -term that refers to a one-sided opinion on an issue Interest groups usually biased -Impartial -having no opinion on an issue

Role of Media in Politics Each news station has political opinions that favor certain people. Fox News- Conservative republican CNN- impartial opinion MSNBC- More liberal democrat

Types of Groups -Economic Groups Business Organizations Professional Associations Labor Unions -Particular Groups of People Ethnic – NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) Age – AARP (American Association of Retired Persons) Sex – NOW (National Organization of Women) -Particular Causes ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union)