Interest Group Tactics Linkage Institutions

How do interest groups attempt to influence? Linkage Institutions Interest Groups How do interest groups attempt to influence?

Grass Roots Activism Interest Groups

Interest Groups Grassroots Propaganda Interest Groups attempt to influence the public The want to change people’s minds about an issue 100 Ultimately, the people influenced by the group will put pressure on their own policy makers The group has influenced policy by influencing people’s opinions

Interest Groups Grassroots Grass Roots Mobilizing Grass Roots activities attempt to appeal to and organize average people The group also benefits by potentially adding new members to the actual group 100 The group will be able to raise more money for group activities from the people who join their group Mobilization is about other people seeing how much support there is for the group’s interests

GreenPeace is an environmental interest group Interest Groups Grassroots Grassroots GreenPeace is an environmental interest group They posted these advertisements near the Canadian Museum of Natural History 100 It gives people specialized information about a topic they likely know little about It includes ways to get involved with the group, including fund raising.

Interest Groups Grassroots Grassroots PETA is a group that advocates for animal rights to be protected They placed this ad in a variety of magazines 100 It appeals to people’s emotions to try to change their mind about a policy It includes ways to get involved with the group

Interest Groups Grassroots Grassroots Commercials are made to appeal to the average person or regular voters A person who sees these ads may get upset about policy stances 100 The interest group made the ads so people would see, now people may be contact their policy makers The group has informed regular people, who let policy makers know what their preferences are.

Lobbying Interest Groups

Interest groups attempt to influence policy makers Lobbying Lobbying Interest groups attempt to influence policy makers They discuss policy with policy makers and hope to sway that person to make the policy the group wants. They are the policy specialists while the policy makers tend to be policy generalists.

Interest Groups Lobbying Lobbying Lobbyists are an important source of specialized information. They may recommend actual policy changes They may recommend strategies for getting policies passed. They may recommend campaign strategies for people seeking election

This means that interest groups are writing the laws Lobbying Lobbying In many cases lobbyists and interest groups actually write the laws themselves They give these pre-written bills to members of Congress or local officials The policy makers propose the bill from the interest group and it goes through the lawmaking process as if they had written it themselves. This means that interest groups are writing the laws

Interest Groups Lobbying Lobbyist A regular paid employee or an interest group (or corporation or union) They speak with government officials on behalf of their group An actual lobbyist must be registered with the government and records of who they meet with are kept

Interest Groups Lobbying Lobbyist Some lobbyists are so good at it (because they have established relationships with policy makers) Instead of being a lobbyist for a particular group, they are “mercenaries” Any group can hire them temporarily to lobby with policy makers on the group’s behalf This allows even small groups to take advantage of close relationships with policy makers

Interest Groups Lobbying Regulating Lobbyists Lobbying Disclosure Act – lobbyists must register with the government They must also indicate who they represent This information is available to the public so anybody can see who groups are trying to influence This is not very effective

Interest Groups Lobbying Regulating Lobbyists If you spend less than 20% of your time lobbying – you don’t have to register If you contribute less than $10,000 you don’t have to register Enforcing this law is the responsibility of the Office of the Clerk of the Senate – which is way too busy to look into corruption Who do you think influenced these provisions of the laws?

Electioneering Interest Groups

Interest Groups Electioneering Electioneering Groups attempt to influence the outcome of elections This is where groups have a preference in WHO runs the government because of WHAT they promise to do They group wants to help those candidates that share policy goals with the groups.

Interest Groups Electioneering Electioneering Specifically endorse a candidate Donate money to a candidate’s campaign through a PAC Encourage people to vote for candidates that support their policies Issue candidate “report cards” to help group members know how the candidates have acted in accordance to group wishes

Interest groups will often donate money to both candidates in a race Electioneering Electioneering Interest groups who donate money to candidates expect access to that candidate if that person wins A person who took money from a group is more likely to meet with that group once in office Interest groups will often donate money to both candidates in a race Groups expect the candidate to support policies that the group would like once they are in office.

Litigation Interest Groups

Interest Group Litigation Litigation Groups use the court system to get policies changed This may be the last resort for a group that is unable to sway opinion The group may attack a law that they see as unconstitutional

Interest Group Litigation Litigation Brown V Board is our best example of litigation They were the lawyers in the case (Thurgood Marshall) They wanted to challenge segregation laws in court They went out and found a plaintiff (Brown) they could represent to make arguments before federal courts about this policy issue

The group is not a litigant in the case Interest Group Litigation Litigation Groups use amicus curiae briefs to attempt to sway court cases they are not directly involved in The group is not a litigant in the case They submit a “brief” of “expert information” for the court to consider when listening to the case The goal of the group is to influence the outcome of the case : the decision of the judge or the jury – which is a form of changing policy

Interest Group Litigation Class Action Class Action Lawsuits allow a small group of people to sue and represent all people who have been impacted in a similar way. The few people actually suing represent a “class” of all people harmed The interest group will reach out and try to find all people that belong to the class Any settlement is divided among all the people who joined the class.

Interest Group Litigation Class Action Suits Tobacco Industry – tobacco users formed a class action because tobacco companies hid information about tobacco causing diseases, settled for $205B in settlements to states Blockbuster Video – years of unfair fees led to class action for all customers, each winning free rentals. Red Bull – made false health claims, customers sued, everybody won free Red Bull or $4. ATT – charged customers without their consent for text services. 2 million customers are receiving refunds currently- average $31.

Bigly Ideas Beliefs & Behaviors

Grassroots mobilization History Wrap Up Grassroots mobilization Lobbying Litigation Electioneering Focus on these things: