1. Have they bought the American government?
Interest Groups
Have they bought the American government?

2. What are interest groups?
Organization of people who enter the political process to try to achieve their shared goals.
About 2/3 of Americans belong to such groups.
Number has doubled since 1970, is upwards of 4000 officially.

3. Interest groups exist outside the structure of government, but they interact with government
BY TRYING TO AFFECT POLICY
Political parties fight election battles; interest groups do not field candidates for office but may choose sides.
Interest groups are policy specialists; political parties are policy generalists.

4. PAC
Political Action Committee- political arms of interest groups, entitled to raise money for candidates and parties
They try to influence election results, but on particular issue
PAC examples- NRA PAC, National Assoc. of Realtors PAC, Coca-Cola Company Nonpartisan Committee for Good Government
Super PACS- may raise unlimited sums of money from corporations, unions, associations, and individuals, then spend unlimited sums to overtly advocate for or against political candidates or policies. Cannot donate directly to candidates. American Crossroads (conservative), Priorities USA Action (liberal)- donors are not disclosed.

5. 527’s
Tax exempt organizations created primarily to influence nomination, election, appointment, or defeat of candidates for public office.
NOT regulated by Federal Election Commission
NOT subject to same contribution limits as PACs.

6. 527’s con’t
FEC (2004) tried to regulate them under campaign finance rules, decided to wait until after 2004 elections for ruling, never changed a thing.
As result, Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, Texans for Truth, The Media Fund, America Coming Together, and Moveon.org Voter Fund raised huge amounts of money for candidates from both parties (all still exist, except for SBV).

7. Theories of Interest Group Politics
Elitist Theory- Very few interest groups have most power
Pluralist Theory
Interest groups benefit American politics by bringing representation of interests
Hyperpluralist Theory- Groups have become too powerful as the government tries to appease every interest.
Trying to please every group results in contradictory policies by government. Interest groups almost act as sub-governments by pushing policy priorities.

8. Some of the Most Successful…

9. Types of Membership
Institutional-represent institutional interest/ National Council on Education
Individual- represent individuals with concerns over issues/ NOW, the Sierra Club, NAACP
Some are broad- based --(AARP), others very specific-- National Beekeepers Association

10. Types of Interest Groups, con’t
Economic Interests- Labor Unions(AFL-CIO), Agriculture Groups (American Farm Bureau Federation, American Mushroom Institute), Business Groups (Chamber of Commerce, life insurance groups), Professional Groups (AMA, NEA)
Consumer and Public Interest- Common Cause, League of Women Voters; include environmental interests, too- Sierra Club, Audubon Society
Equality and Justice Interests- NOW, NAACP

11. How Do Interest Groups Work?
Lobbying
Electioneering
Litigation- amicus curiae briefs
Appealing to the public
Grassroots organizing
$$$

12. Where do interest groups get their money?
Foundation Grants- Ford Foundation, Bill and Melinda Gates
Federal Grants and Contracts- substantially reduced after Reagan
Direct Solicitation- , direct mail, private contributions

13. Effective Interest Groups
Factors contributing to success:
Size- can have the problem of free-rider- many benefit, few join
Intensity- gun control and Jim Brady in 1982
Financial resources- $=influence

14. Revolving Door
Gov officials leave gov to join interest groups as lobbyists or consultants, often for business interests.
Does this compromise the government’s ability to act only for the public good?
Are interest groups contributors or detractors from the democratic process?

15. Bob Schieffer
Face the Nation 10/24/2011