1. Chapter 6

2. The Politics of Influence 2008 elections Democrats wanted and conservatives feared a “filibuster proof” supermajority in the Senate U.S. Chamber of Commerce spent $35 million dollars on behalf of republican candidates U.S. Chamber of Commerce Service Employees International Union (SEIU) spent $17 million on democratic candidates Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Independent Expenditures Groups can raise and spend unlimited amounts of money as long as expenditures are independent of candidates and parties

3. The Politics of Influence “Swift Boating” Swift Boat Veterans for Truth Ran very effective ads questioning John Kerry’s Vietnam War service 2000 Republican Primary Anonymous push poll calls insinuated John McCain had fathered illegitimate black child Actually an adopted Bangladeshi daughter

4. Interest Groups Past & Present: The “Mischiefs of Faction” Section 1

5. The Federalist, No. 10 “The latent causes of faction…are sown in the nature of man” “most common and durable source of factions has been the various an unequal distribution of property” “the causes of faction cannot be removed, and that relief is only to be sought in the means of controlling its effects”

6. “Mischiefs of Faction” Why do factions not dominate? Separation of Powers Checks and Balances Staggered terms of office Must endure to prevail Constitution encourages competition between actions Pluralism - open, multiple, and competing groups check power by any one group http://www.ts4.com/Quotes/Pictures/JamesMadison.jpg

7. A Nation of Interests Interest Groups A collection of people who share some common interest or attitude and seek to influence government for specific ends. Interest groups usually work within the framework of government and employ tactics such as lobbying to achieve their goals. Movement A large body of people interested in a common issue, idea, or concern that is of continuing significance and who are willing to take action. Movements seek to change attitudes or institutions, not just politics.

8. Types of Interest Groups Section 2

9. Economic: Business Large and small corporations exercise considerable political influence Ex. General Motors, AT&T, Microsoft, Coca-Cola, McDonald’s, Wal-Mart When government and public scrutiny increase so do political contributions from corporations http://www.corbisimages.com/images/67/0AD0A3CC-C2B3-4489-A08B-83596C07CC3E/U1323049INP.jpg

10. Economic: Trade & Other Associations Businesses with similar interests join together as trade associations Harrisonburg-Rockingham Association of Realtors Sometimes organize into large nationwide associations National Association of Realtors American Wind Energy Association Typically conservative U.S. Chamber of Commerce National Association of Manufacturers

11. Economic: Labor Organize to increase wages and safety Traditionally identify with the Democratic Party U.S. workforce is one of the least unionized of industrial democracies

12. Economic: Labor Farm Interests American Farm Bureau Federation Fight for price supports and expanded credit Typically more conservative with a focus on large scale agriculture National Farmers’ Union Typically more liberal with a focus on individual farmers Single Issue Agriculture Interests Got Milk? Peanut Growers Group

13. Economic: Labor AFL-CIO American Federation of Labor (AFL) & Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) Speaks for 2/3 of unionized labor Recently 1/3 of members (4.5 million) affiliated with SEIU and Teamsters left to from Change to Win FederationSEIUTeamstersChange to Win Federation

14. Economic: Labor Open Shop Workers cannot be required to join a union as a condition of employment Closed Shop Workers may be required to join a union as a condition of employment Free Rider An individual who does not join a group representing his/her interests yet receives benefits of the groups influence

15. Economic: Professional Associations Individuals who share a common profession and are often organized for common political purposes related to that profession Examples American Medical Association American Bar Association National Education Association & Virginia Education Association National Education Association Virginia Education Association Screen Actors Guild Large donors to political campaigns due to state requirements associated with their profession

16. Ideological or Single-Issue Often unwilling to compromise and are most often strongly ideological Examples Club for Growth National Right to Life NARAL National Rifle Association (NRA) National Rifle Association (NRA) PETA

17. Public Interest Groups Unsafe at Any Speed (1965) Unsafe at Any Speed Founded Public Citizen; “Nader’s Raiders” Ran for president as Green Party candidate in 1996 and 2000, and as independent in 2004 and 2008 Ralph Nader

18. Foreign Policy and Public Sector Foreign Policy Interest Groups Organize to promote or oppose foreign policies Examples Council on Foreign Relations Council on Foreign Relations Free Tibet American-Israel Political Action Committee American-Israel Political Action Committee Public Sector Interest Groups Government or government employees as an interest Group Examples National Governors Association National Governors Association National League of Cities National Educational Association, Terrorist Organization? National Educational Association, Terrorist Organization?

19. Other Interest Groups Local Groups PTA, “No Golf Course” Environmental Groups Sierra Club, Green Peace, Wilderness Society, Natural Resource Defense Council Sierra ClubGreen PeaceWilderness SocietyNatural Resource Defense Council Veteran Groups Rolling Thunder, POW-MIA Families, VFW Rolling ThunderPOW-MIA FamiliesVFW

20. Characteristics and Power of Interest Groups Section 3

21. Size and Resources Size (especially active members) = Political Power AARP - 35.7 million AARP35.7 million PETA - 2 million

22. Size and Resources How do interest groups attract members? Material Benefits Exclusive magazines, travel benefits, job opportunities, discounts (merchandise, admission, insurance) NEA Member Benefits Solidary Benefits Desire to associate with others and to share with others a particular interest or hobby Purposive Benefits Offers satisfaction for a persons ethical beliefs/ideological principles

23. Cohesiveness How strongly do the members of a group believe in their cause? Are they willing to work for that issue? Send letters to Representatives Join a march Work together to defeat a candidate

24. Cohesiveness Types of members in an organization Small number of formal members People intensely involved with the group People who are members in name only

25. Leadership Individual leaders with power and charisma are another determinant of a group’s power Ex. Rainbow Coalition – Jesse Jackson Rainbow Coalition NRA – Charlton Heston

26. Techniques for Exerting Influence Publicity, Mass Media, Internet Direct Contact with Government Litigation - Amicus Curiae Briefs Campaign Contributions Forming a Political Party Cooperative Lobbying Mass Mailing Protests

27. The Influence of Lobbyists Section 4

28. Who Are Lobbyists? Lobbyist A person who is employed by and acts for an organized interest group or corporation to try and influence policy decisions and positions in the executive and legislative branches What are your opinions of lobbyists?

29. Who Are Lobbyists? Revolving Door An employment cycle in which individuals who work for government agencies that regulate interests eventually end up working for interest groups or businesses with the same policy concern Often members of Congress themselves Honest Leadership and Open Government Act (2007) Attempts to disclose employment history of lobbyists Senator - 2 years after leaving office may lobby Staff - 1 year

30. Who are the Lobbyists? The Iron Triangle Interest groups Members of Congress Bureaucratic leaders and experts Issue network: Relationships among interest groups, congressional committees and subcommittees, and the government agencies that share a common concern Fe

31. Who are the Lobbyists? The Iron Triangle Example Veterans Interest Groups give campaign contributions and election support Veterans Congressional Committee gives help to executive department and pass legislation helping veterans Department of Veterans Affairs gives health care and benefits to veterans and helps members of Congress solve veterans’ problems Fe

32. Money and Politics Section 4

33. Money and Politics PAC The political arm of an interest group that is legally entitled to raise funds on a voluntary basis from members, stockholders, or employees in order to contribute funds to favored candidates or political parties Soft Money Money raised in unlimited amounts by political parties for party-building purposes, now mostly illegal Hard Money Political contributions given to a party, candidate, or interest group that are limited in amount and fully disclosed

34. Money and Politics Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (2002) McCain-Feingold Act Largely banned party soft money Restored long-standing prohibition on corporations and labor unions for using general treasury funds for electoral purposes Narrowed the definition of issue advocacy Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz)., second left, and Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wisc) smile during a news conference following the signing of the BCRA

35. Money and Politics Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010) Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission 5-4 decision in favor of Citizens UnitedCitizens United Overturned parts of McConnell v. FEC (2003) Overturned parts of McConnell v. FEC Corporations funding independent political ads in elections cannot be limited under the 1st Amendment Could an independent group air the movie, Hillary: The Movie 30 days prior to the election, a violation of BCRAHillary: The Movie

36. Money and Politics PAC contributions to federal candidates limited to: $10,000 per election cycle (primary and general) BCRA Loopholes Bundling Collect money from several individual contributors and give it to the candidate as a bundle Most PAC money goes to whichever party is in power http://westernstandard.blogs.com/.a/6a00d834515b5d69e2010536f22b7a970b-450wi

37. Total PAC Contributions to Federal Candidates, 1975-2006 (in Millions)

39. How PACs and Others Allocated Campaign Contributions to House Candidates, 2005-2006

40. Independent Expenditures 1976 Supreme Court ruled that limiting independent expenditures was unconstitutional Groups/Individuals can campaign for or against a candidate MUST be independent of the party or candidate Unlimited but must be reported to FEC MoveOn PAC, NRA, EMILY’s List, National Right to Life PAC, Club for Growth

41. Issue Advocacy Unlimited and undisclosed spending by an individual/group May not use the words “vote for” or “vote against” 527 Organizations Tax exempt groups under section 527 of IRS tax code Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, 501(c) Section of the tax code that allow some groups to organize and participate in nonpartisan activities such as voter registration drives

42. How Much Do Interest Groups Influence Elections and Legislation? Section 5

43. How Much Do Interest Groups Influence Elections and Legislation? PACs tend to give money to incumbents Challengers face real difficulties in getting their campaigns funded “Too often, members’ first thought is not what is right or what they believe, but how it will affect fundraising. Who, after all, can seriously contend that a $100,000 donation does not alter the way one thinks about—and quite possibly votes on—an issue?” - Former U. S. Senator Alan Simpson (R-WY) Does money guarantee election results?

44. Curing the Mischiefs of Factions: Two Centuries Later Section 6

45. Two Centuries Later Interest groups do not represent people equally What, if anything, should we do about factions? How do you regulate interests without threatening Constitutional liberties