Homework: RQs due tomorrow; test Friday FrontPage: NNIGN

Affecting Public Policy: (aka)… Influencing the Decisions of Government What are the two ways that interest groups can influence the government? 1.Influence the decision-makers… 2. Change the decision-makers

(#1 - influencing the decision-makers) The Dirty Word in Politics:

Homework: Test Monday FrontPage: Sit with your groups and prepare your PPT presentation. By the end of the day on Thursday -- barring a major catastrophe -- Howard Todd will have worked 2,000 days straight. It's a goal he set for himself to show that if a poor kid from Elliott can do it, his three grandchildren can do anything they envision. "I want them to see that I did this and say they can do anything," said Todd, 48, of Mt. Washington. "I'm trying to be an inspiration, not only for them, but anyone." For nearly 5 1/2 years — including on Christmas, Easter, New Year's and other holidays and weekends — Todd has toiled behind the counters of his two Mt. Washington businesses, DiFiore's Ice Cream Delite and Grand Brew cafe. Man Works 2000 Days Straight

Homework: Test Monday FrontPage: How is the practice of lobbying both good and bad for our democracy? May 2: Scurvy Awareness Day The preferred disease of pirates has its own international holiday, and an entire website to boot! May 3: Hug Your Cat Day May 4: Star Wars Day May the fourth be with you. May 5: Cinco de Mayo May 9: National Lost Sock Memorial Day Today we honor the past, and we let go. It’s time to admit that one red argyle sock has gone to washing machine heaven, turn the partner it left behind into a rag or a sock puppet, and buy a new pair. It’s what it would have wanted. May 10: Clean Up Your Room Day May 14: National Dance Like a Chicken Day May 17: National Pack Rat Day May 29: End of Middle Ages Day May 30: My Bucket’s Got a Hole in It Day 17 Offbeat Holidays You Can Celebrate in May

Influencing Officials - Lobbying – Lobbyist: Person who advocates on behalf of himself or a client (e.g., interest group) to pass a law or to make changes to a bill being considered in a federal or state legislative body, or to help shape policy in the executive branch and its regulatory departments. Who becomes a lobbyist? In the course of meeting with representatives and government officials, what must a lobbyist NEVER do? What can lobbyists do to have a direct effect on the bills that placed before Congress? Why do you think lobbying is controlled and monitored?

How much is spent on lobbyists?

Top spenders on lobbyists

#2: Changing the Decision-makers: Influencing Elections Aside from influencing the decision-makers, through lobbying and also by donating to their campaigns, many groups in society try to change the decision- makers They do this in many different ways…not just with campaign contributions.

Influencing Elections: Interest Groups Although interest groups are barred from contributing to candidates, they still have “weapons” in their arsenal to try and influence who wins an election. 1)Candidate endorsement 2)Voter mobilization 3) Some types of issue advocacy

Influencing Elections: PACS Recall what PACs do in order to influence elections… Raise and spend money directly on candidate’s campaigns Don’t typically run ads or do voter mobilization

PAC money – candidate – candidate ad

Influencing Elections: 527 groups A relatively new player on the scene, – A 527 is a non-profit organization formed under Section 527 of the Internal Revenue Code, These groups actively influence elections and policy debates at all levels of government, but do not advocate explicitly for election or defeat of candidates. On the federal level, 527s cannot coordinate with or contribute to a federal candidate in any way. – May not expressly advocate for the election or defeat of a specific federal candidate (“magic words”), but can run ads that “paint a picture” – At the state level, the rules are different. Section 527 organizations generally can, and frequently do, give money directly to state and local candidates.

Top 527s–

527 ad

Influencing Elections: Super-PACs The newest player on the scene, Created in July 2010 as a result of SpeechNow.org v. Federal Election Commission. – Technically known as independent expenditure-only committees, Super PACs may raise unlimited sums of money then spend unlimited sums to overtly advocate for or against political candidates. They are forbidden to donate directly to candidates

Top Super PACs

Super PAC ad

SO…what is the point? What’s the point of all this…different groups, doing different things, trying to influence government, who it is and what it does, and spending a lot of money in the process?