1. Interest Groups Theory and Practice

2. Interest Group: Organized group that tries to influence public policy
Interest Group Theory: In a democratic society, interest groups interact naturally and properly to produce public policy.

3. James Madison Federalist #10
Factions and Freedom
“If the government does not allow people to pursue their self interest, it takes away their political freedom” – agree or not??
Controlling selfish interest limits freedom???

4. Best way to control factions - James Madison:
through the proliferation of groups
no one group could get hegemony over other groups. (dominance)
Does the “proliferation of groups” keep a balance in the system?
Has $$ corrupted the whole theory? / failure to organize?

5. Interest Group Pressure, special, advocacy, PAC
An organized body of individuals
share some goals
try to influence public policy
Educate and mobilize people
Advance certain policy goals
benefits to its members & free riders

6. Formation of Interest Groups
A need arises:
a group of unorganized people are adversely affected by change
Success of group
Leadership quality
membership quality
30% of all current interest groups formed 1960 – 1980.

7. 1960’s - 1980’s: Rise in Public Interest Groups
Common Cause, Public Citizen
Devoted to interests of blacks, women, elderly, poor, consumers, environment
Influenced by NAACP, ACLU, Civil Rights Movement
Christian Coalition p.590

8. Lobbying Spending

9. 1st Amendment Petition government constitutionally protected activity
Guarantees the right to be heard
Special interest can not be regulated

10. What Interests Represented?
Economic interests
Wages, tariffs, jobs, insurance
Largest groups business, industry
Better financed than labor interests
Professional Associations; AMA
Economic and non-economic
Ethnic Associations - NAACP
Mix between eco and non-eco interests

11. Professional Associations
AMA, ABA, AAES, AFT, IRA
Economic and non-economic interests
Ethnic Associations
NAACP, ADC, OCA, AJC

12. Public interest groups work for the greater good
Non-economic Groups
Public interest groups
work for the greater good
Image of non-partisanship
No expectation of eco profit
“Unsafe At Any Speed” - Ralph Nader
AARP-nations largest & most powerful

13. League of Women Voters
Work to get citizens registered to vote
Voter guide on issues
Promoting democracy
Do not receive any economic benefit

14. Single Issue Group Narrow in focus - one issue only
Number of these groups increased over last 40 years
Also constitutionally protected
Often will go against a candidate’s entire platform based on the one issue
NRA, NRLC, MADD

15. What do Interest Groups Do?
1. Information
Try to get their interest heard
Important resource interest groups can provide
Oil price crisis - Petroleum Institute, an interest group of oil companies

16. Lobbying
Late 19th century groups waited “in the lobby” to speak with a Congressman
influence congressional actions
Testify
Help with drafting of leg.
Provide the language needed

17. Performed with all 3 branches of government - usually associated with Congress
Revolving door
Senator must wait 2 years before being able to lobby old job
Rep 1 year

18. Disclosure Right to lobby – not unrestricted
Government responsible to see if groups are legit
What capacity group is acting
Accountability

19. Lobbying Disclosure Act 1995
Public access to lobby groups
Definition of lobbyist - one who devotes at least 20% of a client’s or employers time to lobbying activities

20. Requires registration
clerk of the House and secretary of the Senate
Report clients, issues and the agency or house they lobbied
Estimate the amount they are paid by each client

21. 2006 The Legislative Transparency Accountability Act
Result of scandal involving a lobbyist Jack Abramoff
Tax evasion, bribing public officials
DeLay RTX, Ney ROH
Bars lobbyists from buying gifts and meals for legislators
Loophole: firms they work for were not barred

22. Lobbyists were to file more frequent reports
more detailed reports on their activities
post on a public domain
Open Secrets.org

23. The New Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007
Congressional regulations on lobbying activities :
Anyone who spends 20% of his or her time influencing legislation
Any organization spending $1000/quarter or more on influencing legislation.

24. 3. Any individual who is paid. more than $2500/quarter for
3. Any individual who is paid more than $2500/quarter for work as a lobbyist
Closed the revolving door – Senators have to wait 2 years before being able to lobby Congress (was one)
Cabinet Sec also have to wait years.

25. 6. Prohibits senior staff in. Congress from lobbying their
6. Prohibits senior staff in Congress from lobbying their former offices for 1 year.
7. Amended Senate and House ethic rules regarding lobbyist sponsored events, travel, employment negotiations, finances.

26. 2009 Recovery Act: Lobbying Rules – Ex order; Act of Con
Restrictions extend to all persons, not just federally registered lobbyists
Anyone influencing the process
Expansion of information posted on Internet for all American’s to see

27.
Watchdog group - open secrets
Allows public access to who or what is behind a lobby’s agenda

28. Executive Branch Lobbying
Departments set up for different interests
Influence policy decisions at the beginning stages
Pharmaceutical corps concern with drugs from overseas
Appeal to Fed Drug Agency FDA
Safety issue
Lack of control

29. Judiciary Branch Lobbying
Amicus curiae: friend of the court briefs
Legal argument filed by someone who is not part of the suit but has an interest in the outcome

30. Lobbying of the courts has increased over last 30 years by interest groups
NAACP: had trouble getting anything through Congress due to Southern influence
Court system best alternative to pursue it’s interests using 14th Amendment

31. 3. Elections PAC’s ability to raise and spend $ for political purposes
Funnel $ into campaigns that support interest group
Endorse candidates
Flood Congress with letters,
s etc.
Grassroots campaigns

32. Unconventional Means Protests, Civil disobedience, Dem.
Operation Rescue: surrounded abortion clinics trying to prevent patient from entering
Congress - law restricting how far away protesters must be and can not touch
Civil Rights Movement
Social Media

33. Pluralism vs Elitism Interest Groups vs Political Parties
How is power and influence distributed in a political process?

34. Pluralist Theory
Power is broadly (& unequally) distributed among many organized interest groups
Should be many diverse & competing centers of power
Marketplace for ideas
Diverse among a variety of eco & ideological groups

35. Linkage between groups
Popularly elected political officials
Exercise as leaders in policy areas
No single power elite, many and diverse competing power elites
Flaw: what about the people who are not organized?
Those who are not organized do not have any influence

36. Elitist Theory Political power held by small & wealthy group
Share similar values & interests
From similar backgrounds
Top leaders recruited from same social group

37. Corporate & foundations directorates, old school ties etc.
Link together top leaders
Power elite: effectively dictates goals for policy making
Control over the societies economic resources
Personal and professional positions

38. Interest Groups vs. Political Parties
Not resp. for administration of gov
More homogeneous
Smaller membership
Common interests
Make claims without regard to broader interest or effects
Resp. for admin of gov.
Heterogeneous
Large membership
Diverse interests - coalition of interests
Compromise - need to make broader claims due to diversity