Chapter 7 Interest Groups and Political Parties

Interest Groups and Democracy  Whose interests are served?  Who is/is not represented by an interest group?  What groups have power, influence over decision-making?  How do interest groups influence policy?

Definition  Organized group of individuals  Common goals or objectives  Influence government policy/ policymakers  Heart of pluralist theory  Lobbyist = works for interest group, interacts with policymakers

Why Join?  Solidarity – associate with others with common interest  Material – economic benefits/ opportunities  Purpose – ethical beliefs, ideological principles

Types  Economic = by far the most powerful, influential  Environmental  Public Interest  Special Interest

Economic  Business = Business and trade organizations  Agricultural = very influential  Labor = labor/working class interests  Public Employee = American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, AFSCME; FACCC  Professional Associations = American Bar Association, American Medical Association

Others  Environmental National Wildlife Federation, Nature Conservancy, World Wildlife Fund, Sierra Club, National Audubon Society, WISE37  Public – advocate for community interests Common Cause, CALPIRG  Special - single interest (pro/anti- abortion, age, etc.)  Foreign Governments

Group Power  Size (numbers)  Resources (organization and money)  Leadership  Cohesiveness

Direct  Lobbying = meeting officials testifying before congressional committees, executive rulemaking, drafting legislation, entertaining legislators, providing information, etc.  Ratings (voting)  Campaign Assistance (volunteers)  Political Action Committees (PACs)= raises money, gives donations to candidates or parties  Political Contributions = most important form of campaign help

Indirect  Public pressure = using public opinion  Climate control = public relations to create favorable public opinion  Shotgun approach = constituents act in concert by writing, ing, phoning or sending postcards  Rifle approach = influential constituent contacts legislator on particular issue

Campaign Money  Political Action Committee (PAC) = represent business, labor, special interest group Most are corporate  Contributions Primarily given to incumbents $5,000 per election per candidate is upper limit under campaign finance laws  Soft money (to parties) Outlawed in 2002  Issue advocacy advertising

Regulating Lobbyists  Legislative Reorganization Act (1946) public disclosure lack of enforcement United States v. Harriss (1954) constitutional  reforms “Lobbyist” = 20% of time lobbying Register; Semiannual reports

Political Party  Activists who organize to win elections, operate government, and make public policy Distinct from interest groups, which don’t seek office

Functions  Recruiting candidates  Organizing and running elections  Alternative policies  Operating government  Organized opposition

Parties in U.S. History  – Creation of parties  – Personal politics  – National two-party rule  – Post-Civil War period  – Progressive era  1932-present – Modern era

Two-Party System  Two parties have reasonable chance of winning  “Are you now, or have you ever been, a member of the…” Other parties: Green, Reform, Libertarian, Socialist Workers, Communist, Socialist, States Rights Democrats/Workers World, Natural Law, and Social Labor Party

Core Supporters  Democratic core lower SES (income, education) groups; African Americans; union members; Jews; individuals with less than high school education; college grads with a postgraduate education; women  Republican core higher SES groups; college grads with no postgraduate education; professionals; businesspeople

Policies  Democrats = More likely to approve social-welfare spending, government regulation of business, measures to improve status of minorities and elderly  Republicans = More supportive of private enterprise; believe federal government should be less involved in social programs

Why Two-Party System  Historical foundations = sectional/regional and class politics  Political socialization/party identification  Commonality of views  Winner-take-all electoral system plurality voting in single member district elections  State and federal laws favoring two party system

Party Identification © 2004 Wadsworth Publishing / Thomson Learning™

Minor Parties  Most successful splinter parties broke from major party Bull Moose Progressives (from Republicans) Dixiecrats (States Rights) Party (from Democrats) American Independent Party 1968 (from Democrats)  Platforms often adopted  Candidates can impact election outcomes Nader and Gore (2000)  Libertarian, Reform, Green, Natural Law, Communist, Socialist, Socialist Workers, etc.