1. Case of The Eli Lilly Bandit
Exemption from liability – who slipped this in during a conference committee?
Have special interest groups taken over?

2. Interest Groups Are there too many? Just enough?
Does money talk? If so – how loudly?
James Madison in Federalist #10 said:
The sphere of influence must be extended in order to prevent any one group from having too much power.

3. Are corporate special interests out of control after the Citizen’s United ruling?
Are they so powerful that they control Washington politics?

4. So just what is an interest group?
An interest group is an organization whose members share common concerns and try to influence government policies affecting those concerns. Interest groups are also known as lobbies; lobbying is one of the ways in which interest groups shape legislation and bring the views of their constituents to the attention of decision-makers. Interest groups also provide information promoting a particular point of view or offer support for reelection. Some interest groups, like antiabortion groups, exist primarily to do the lobbying of their group. For other organizations, like labor unions, corporations, or the military, lobbying is secondary to a variety of other activities.

5. Special Interest Groups – The factions that our founders dreaded
Special Interest Groups – The factions that our founders dreaded? or the voice of the people?
Private/nongovernmental
Protected under the 1st amendment in the Bill of Rights
Try to influence public policy – promote policies that affect a defined group in society
36,000 K Street lobbyists – an explosion of special interest groups and money spent primarily occurring since 1960.

6. Special interest Groups v Political Parties
Interest groups are often policy specialists, whereas parties are policy generalists.
Parties
Nominate candidates
Win election and govern
Broad inclusive platform – positions on 100’s of issues
Special Interest Groups
Influence elections – help get officials elected favorable to their cause
May support either party or some candidates in either party
Lobby for their cause – promote the narrow interest of their group

8. 3 Theories About Special Interest Groups

9. Theories of Interest Group Politics
Pluralist Theory suggests that interest groups serve an important function and allow more voices in the conversation.
Interest groups are a linkage institution in government
Groups compete
No one group is likely to become too dominant
Groups usually play by “the rules of the game”
While some groups have money – other groups have more people…big business vs. unions

10. Elite Theory suggests that real power lies in the hands of a few and that these few hold multiple positions of power.
More groups doesn’t mean anything because the groups are unequal in power
Awesome power is held by large multinational corporations
The few that have power – have interlocking power (in multiple positions of power
Other groups win minor battles – but big decisions are won by the elite

11. Who’s got the Power in America? Does money buy power?
Who cares what the poor think?

12. Hyperpluralist Theory suggests that the pluralist system is out of control. Too many groups. By trying to please every group – you create contradictory, confusing and expensive policy.
Confusion
Overspending
Gridlock results

13. Special interest groups role as a linkage institution.
Help raise concern about issues.
Get issues on the political agenda
An amplified voice of the people?
Helps get issues on the policy agenda

14. The Iron Triangle and Special Interest Groups
Nuke Power Industry, key members of Congress, Nuclear Regulatory Industry.
Click dude to go to video on Iron Triangles

15. Soooo? What interest groups might interest you?
Do a couple kids as a demo…

16. Small Groups more successful than large ones????
Potential Groups – All the people that might be a part of the group.
Actual Group – Those people who actually join

17. Collective Good
If the U of M Alumni Association got discounted rates on U of M sporting events for ALL alum – then everyone would get that benefit – whether they belong to the Alumni Association or not.

18. Free-Riders
Those who benefit from the collective good without paying dues or being an active member of the Alumni Association – they are called Free-Riders.

19. Olson’s law of large groups
The larger the group – the more free-riders
In a class action suit – all members of the class will receive a portion of the settlement
Who has more incentive to participate
The consumer (who will share with potentially millions of others
The businesses who are impacted by the settlement and have to pay damages

20. Selective Benefits By offering benefits only to those that actually join – large groups can overcome Olson’s Law.

21. Olson’s theory is that the smaller group will be more well organized.
Lobbying costs and benefits are focused and concentrated
Small groups have organizational advantage
Clear economic advantages understood
Business and corporate groups can finance efforts
Who are the most powerful special interest groups? How many of them represent business and corporate concerns?

22. Fortune Magazine top 25 special interest groups
1.  National Rifle Association 2.  American Association of Retired People (AARP) 3.  National Federation of Independent Business 4.  American Israel Foreign Affairs Committee  5.  Association of Trial Lawyers of America 6.  AFL-CIO 7.  Chamber of Commerce of the United States of America 8.  National Beer Wholesalers of America 9.  National Association of Realtors 10.  National Association of Manufacturers 11.  National Association of Homebuilders of the United States 12.  American Medical Association 13.  American Hospital Association 14.  National Education Association of the United States 15.  American Farm Bureau Federation 16. Motion Picture Association of America 17.  National Association of Broadcasters 18.  National Right to Life Committee 19.  Health Insurance Association of America 20.  National Restaurant Association 21.  National Governors' Association 22.  Recording Industry Association of America 23.  American Bankers Association 24.  Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America 25.  International Brotherhood of Teamsters
Fortune Magazine top 25 special interest groups
2001

24. Money Helps…but doesn’t always win the day
Michigan Proposals 2012
Prop 6 – Matty Maroun spent $33 million to block the building of a new bridge.
Unions spent $10 million
to get collective bargaining rights into the constitution

25. Four Methods of Special Interest Groups
1. Lobbying
Paid employees of corporations, unions or associations
“For Hire”

26. Campaign $ - get the group they represent behind the candidate
Lobbyists offer -
Expertise/advice
Testimony
Language for bills
Campaign $ - get the group they represent behind the candidate
Alternative view – new ideas that a Congressperson can attach their name to
Looking at this chart – Who has influence
over laws governing global warming?
Hand out chart to look at up close…

27. Can lobbyists actual persuade members of Congress to change their mind?
Threaten?
Bribe?
Inform and persuade.
Primarily activate and reinforce?

28. 2. Electioneering Getting the candidate elected
PAC’s – who do they support?
Incumbent advantage
Why do they support them?
On committees that are important to their interests
Very supportive of issues important to them
From a district or state where they had facilities
Helping them with executive and regulatory agencies
In leadership positions that enabled them to influence issues that affect the PAC

29. Other Electioneering Activities of Interest Groups
Get members to run for office
Send delegates to the convention to influence the party platform
Get volunteers to help on campaigns
Officially endorse candidates

30. 3. Litigation Groups fight for their interests in court
Many civil rights groups fought
their battles in court not Congress
Amicus Curiae Briefs
Attempt to influence courts
Filed by parties that have an interest in the outcome of the case
Filed by parties not actively involved in the suit
Regents of the University of California v. Bakke: 100 amicus briefs filed
Class Action Suits – often filed by interest groups (Erin Brockovich)

31. Class Action Lawsuits

32. 4. Going Public…
Like politicians – interest groups pay attention to public opinion and try to rally their members to support/protest legislation
Interest Groups want a positive public image – and often pay for ad campaigns to get it.

33. Going Public can mean: Mass protest
Grass roots letter writing/ campaigns
Gulf spill hay video:
Kevin Costner:
Parody in Media
BP Response:

34. Classifications of Special Interest Groups
Economic interest – business , trade associations, and unions. Agricultural
Professional Groups (i.e.. doctors, lawyers, etc)
Public Interest (i.e. environmental, civil rights, consumer protection)
Single-Issue Those which promote a segment of the population (AARP) or a particular interest (MADD)
Ideological (religious or political)

35. Economic Interest Groups
Government doesn’t determine wages/prices/profits – but can influence these through:
Regulations
Tax advantages
Subsidies
Government contracts
International trade policy

36. Labor Interest Groups (Economic)
Labor unions are interest groups – press for policies to ensure better working conditions and higher wages
OSHA standards
Child labor laws
Minimum wage
8 hour work day
Union Shop
Requires workers to belong to the organization that supports them (avoid free-riders)
Right to work laws – supported by business interest groups – outlaw the union shop – can’t require membership in a union as a condition of employment.

37. Business Interest Groups (Economic)
70% of all interest group organizations in Washington represent business
Growing faster than any other type of interest group
Many compete against each other
More/better mass transit
More/better roads

38. Professional Groups

39. Consumers and Public Interest Groups
Seek the public’s collective good – everyone benefits
Seek to protect the public from harm

40. Environmental Interest Groups (Public Interest)
Concerned with environmental protection
Often conflict with goals of energy producers

41. Single Issue Groups

42. Single Issue Groups Narrow focus High intensity Dislike compromise
Issues that often evoke strong emotions

43. Ideological Interests
Brown vs. Board of Education is the result of the work of NAACP Interest Group
Groups like NOH8 work for the passage of rights for the LGBTQ community

44. Religious Based (Ideological)
Pat Robertson holds up the Christian coalition voter Guide

45. The Good and the Bad
Good Points
Bad Points

46. The Good and the Bad Good Points Bad Points Give a voice to the people
Add to checks and balances
Expert specialized information
Demonstrates issues people care about
Bad Points
Special Interests not concerned about the whole picture
Free rider problem
Low income – less powerful underrepresented

47. So what do the 3 theorist’s think?
Pluralists: Elite Theorists: Hyperpluralists:

48. So what do the 3 theorist’s think?
Pluralists: Madison would be happy – a group for every interest and another to counter that group – opens the door for everyone to participate and good dialogue to occur – no one gets too much power. Elite Theorists: Business groups are proliferating. PACS and money distorts the democratic process. The powerful PACS are buying votes in Congress and state legislatures Hyperpluralists: Too many competing interests that no one wants to say no to. Causes gridlock or contradictory policies and is creating bigger and bigger government

49. YEEEEEESSSSSS Scope of government
Special interest groups strive to maintain established programs that benefit them.
Is government bigger as a result?
YEEEEEESSSSSS