AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Linkages Linkage Institutions

AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Linkages Linkage Institutions

AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Linkages Linkage Institutions

AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Linkages Interest Groups Quotable Quote Americans of all ages, all conditions, and all dispositions constantly form associations. Alexis de Tocqueville

AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Linkages Interest Groups Basic Definition An organization of people with shared policy goals... Enters the policy process at several points to try to achieve these goals

AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Linkages Interest Groups Interest Groups v. Political Parties Both promote democracy by... Linking citizens to the political process However... Individual interest groups have a narrower range of interests than political parties

AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Linkages Interest Groups Basic Categories * Economic * Environmental * Equality * Consumers

AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Linkages Interest Groups Economic – Environmental – Equality – Consumers – Public Interest

AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Linkages Interest Groups Economic – Environmental – Equality – Consumers – Public Interest

AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Linkages Interest Groups Economic – Environmental – Equality – Consumers – Public Interest

AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Linkages Interest Groups The MOST INFLUENTIAL according to Fortune magazine From my cold, dead hands!

AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Linkages Interest Groups How Groups Try to Shape Policy * Lobbying * Electioneering * Litigation * Going Public

AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Linkages Interest Groups Lobbying Attempt to influence governmental decision maker... Made by someone other than a citizen acting on his own behalf

AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Linkages Interest Groups Lobbying... Positives * Source of information & expertise * Help politicians with political strategy for passing legislation * Help politicians formulate campaign strategy and gain group’s support * Source of ideas and innovation

AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Linkages Interest Groups Reminder... The mutually dependent relationship between... * Bureaucracy * Congressional Committees * Interest Groups IRONTRIANGLE

AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Linkages Interest Groups Electioneering Direct group involvement in elections * Fund campaigns * Provide supportive testimony * Form Political Action Committees

AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Linkages Interest Groups PACS Organizations set up to channel MONEY to political campaigns Helps interest groups gain access to legislators

AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Linkages Interest Groups PACS & Interest Groups Support both Democrats & Republicans Goal is to affect legislation Reminder: Who usually wins Congressional elections?INCUMBENTS

AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Linkages Interest Groups PACS Number in 1974 = Number in 2006 = The biggest increase has been in PACS representing... ? 608 4,210 LABOR ENVIRONMENT BUSINESS CONSUMERS EDUCATION

AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Linkages Interest Groups Business must learn the lesson that political power is necessary; that such power must be assiduously cultivated; it must be used aggressively and with determination... Lewis Powell Attorney Represented tobacco companies in many lawsuits In a Memo written to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in 1971 Named to the U.S. Supreme Court in 1972

AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Linkages Interest Groups Litigation If cannot get favorable action in Congress Sometimes groups turn to Courts with: * Class Action lawsuits... which permit a small number of people to sue on behalf of all other people “similarly situated”

AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Linkages Interest Groups Litigation If cannot get favorable action in Congress Sometimes groups turn to Courts with: * “Friend of the Court” briefs... known as Amicus Curiae briefs

AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS – Linkages Interest Groups Going Public May appeal to the public for support * Call on people to contact representatives * Build public goodwill * Employ PR firms * Use advertising