American Government and Organization PS1301 Thursday, 19 October

What is an Interest Group? An interest group is an organized body of individuals who share some goals and who try to influence public policy An interest group is an organized body of individuals who share some goals and who try to influence public policy How does this definition differ from a political party? How does this definition differ from a political party?

Types of Interest Groups Economic interest groups Economic interest groups Business Business Organized labor, ie. AFL-CIO, Teamsters Organized labor, ie. AFL-CIO, Teamsters Agriculture groups Agriculture groups Professional associations, ie. American Bar Association, American Medical Association Professional associations, ie. American Bar Association, American Medical Association Citizen groups Citizen groups Broad vs. single issue groups Broad vs. single issue groups ie. Americans for Democratic Action, Greenpeace, National Rifle Association ie. Americans for Democratic Action, Greenpeace, National Rifle Association

Logic of Collective Action Collective goods and free riders Collective goods and free riders Why join? Why join? Selective benefits of membership that are received by people who join the group Selective benefits of membership that are received by people who join the group Material Material Solidary Solidary Expressive Expressive

How Interest Groups Influence the Policy Process Lobbying Contact by close friends, party giving get constituents to contact their local congressman., letter writing, s, Bring influential constituents to D.C. target members/ image ads, voting scorecards, publicizing voting records (dirty dozen), contributing money, protests, demonstrations Inside Beltway Outside Beltway Direct Indirect

Lobbying Members of congress can be divided into (5) groups: Members of congress can be divided into (5) groups: 1. Active, favors: get bills on the floor 1. Active, favors: get bills on the floor 2. Inactive, favors. Lobbyists concentrate 80% of the efforts on these types of legislators they try to get the inactive members to become active 2. Inactive, favors. Lobbyists concentrate 80% of the efforts on these types of legislators they try to get the inactive members to become active 3. Neutral (20%) 3. Neutral (20%) 4. Inactive, against 4. Inactive, against 5. Inactive, opposed 5. Inactive, opposed Basic Rules: when you see someone opposed to you, you don’t talk to them. Minimize contact and don’t bring up the issue Basic Rules: when you see someone opposed to you, you don’t talk to them. Minimize contact and don’t bring up the issue Contrary to conventional wisdom, lobbyists do not put pressure on members (or threaten them) because they don’t want to lose access. They are not “arm-twisters”. Contrary to conventional wisdom, lobbyists do not put pressure on members (or threaten them) because they don’t want to lose access. They are not “arm-twisters”.

Political Action Committees (PACs) PACs constitute the primary avenue by which interest groups contribute money to federal election campaigns PACs constitute the primary avenue by which interest groups contribute money to federal election campaigns Federal campaign finance law prohibits PACs from giving more than $5,000 per election to any candidate seeking federal office. (primary, general, run-off elections are considered separate) Federal campaign finance law prohibits PACs from giving more than $5,000 per election to any candidate seeking federal office. (primary, general, run-off elections are considered separate) Types of PACs: see list of Pacronyms Types of PACs: see list of PacronymsPacronyms

Growth in PACs

Changes in PAC contributions to Congress See Figure 10-3 p.335. PACs give more money to Democrats when the Democratic Party controlled Congress and they favored Republicans when the Republican Party controlled Congress. See Figure 10-3 p.335. PACs give more money to Democrats when the Democratic Party controlled Congress and they favored Republicans when the Republican Party controlled Congress.Figure 10-3 p.335Figure 10-3 p.335

Top Soft Money Contributors Am. Fed. St/Cnty/Mun Employees $5,949,000 Am. Fed. St/Cnty/Mun Employees $5,949,000 AT&T $4,398,920 AT&T $4,398,920 Service Employees Int. Union $4,288,096 Service Employees Int. Union $4,288,096 Bank of America $3,147,824 Bank of America $3,147,824 Philip Morris $2,383,453 Philip Morris $2,383,453 Microsoft $2,316,926 Microsoft $2,316,926 Enron $1,657,555 Enron $1,657,555

Top Hard Money PAC contributors Democrats Democrats International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers $2,536,525 International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers $2,536,525 American Federation of St/Cnty/Mun Employees $2,457,974 American Federation of St/Cnty/Mun Employees $2,457,974 Teamsters Union $2,369,595 Teamsters Union $2,369,595 Association of Trial Lawyers of America $2,301,000 Association of Trial Lawyers of America $2,301,000 Republicans Republicans National Association of Realtors $2,026,698 National Association of Realtors $2,026,698 National Auto Dealers Association $1,687,700 National Auto Dealers Association $1,687,700 National Beer Wholesalers Association $1,478,500 National Beer Wholesalers Association $1,478,500 National Rifle Association $1,333,074 National Rifle Association $1,333,074

Hard Money Raised Over Time

Bribery? Money buys time not votes. PACs give money because they want access. Contributing money is seen as an important advantage in getting policymakers to pay attention to their problems rather than someone else’s. “Talking to politicians is fine, but with a little money they hear you better”. Money buys time not votes. PACs give money because they want access. Contributing money is seen as an important advantage in getting policymakers to pay attention to their problems rather than someone else’s. “Talking to politicians is fine, but with a little money they hear you better”.

Where does the money go? Money is used to buy access, so it goes to individuals who stand a good chance of getting elected. If the election is seen as a toss-up, then it goes to both parties. Usually, it goes to incumbents. Money is used to buy access, so it goes to individuals who stand a good chance of getting elected. If the election is seen as a toss-up, then it goes to both parties. Usually, it goes to incumbents.

How money influences behavior Money flows to members who are either strongly in favor or strongly against. Money flows to members who are either strongly in favor or strongly against. PACs through money to members who are against legislation to buy inactivity. PACs through money to members who are against legislation to buy inactivity. “Why don’t you think of something else to do with your time”. “Why don’t you think of something else to do with your time”. Money just changes how people spend their time. Money just changes how people spend their time.

Criticisms of PAC money Operate primarily to protect incumbents Operate primarily to protect incumbents Nationalizes campaign financing and weakens the link between the representative and his or her district. Nationalizes campaign financing and weakens the link between the representative and his or her district. Accountability. Money comes from outside the district. Accountability. Money comes from outside the district. Overrepresentation of business interests (rapid increase in bus. related PACs) Overrepresentation of business interests (rapid increase in bus. related PACs) Fragmentation of American politics by encouraging groups that focus on narrow interests. Fragmentation of American politics by encouraging groups that focus on narrow interests. Weakens the role of the individual in politics ($1000 opposed to $5000) Weakens the role of the individual in politics ($1000 opposed to $5000) Undermines political parties Undermines political parties