1. Interest Groups

2. Learning Objective
Explore the Ways in Which Interest Groups try to influence Government Policies

3. Review Are US political parties centralized? Explain
What are the three interconnected parts of Political parties in the United States?

4. Parties and Party Systems
Political Parties are DECENTRALIZED
Example from 2015 Headline: Republican Governors Buck Party Line on Raising Taxes
Three Parts of the Parties
Party Organization
Party in government
Party in the electorate

5. Party in Electorate
Which party has an advantage in party identification?

6. Party Coalition
Who are the Major constituency groups for the Democrats?
Who are the Major constituency groups for the Republicans?
First Write down at least 5 for each party
Compare with the person next to you
Look at the Exit Polls from the 2012 elections
Look Pew Research Part Affiliation

7. Realignments When Party Coalitions collapse we have a REALIGNMENT.
The Sixth Party System in the United States may be collapsing
Source

8. Campaign Finance
What is the difference between hard and soft money?

9. Federal Election Laws
Hard Money – campaign contributions regulated and limited by the federal government that are given directly to a candidate
Soft Money – unlimited and unregulated campaign contributions to federal candidates and the national parties Supposedly for generic “party building” activities (ex: get-out-the-vote drives, bumper stickers, yard signs, and “issue ads”)

10. Hard Money Limits

11. Election Laws
Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (a.k.a. McCain-Feingold Act) 2002 – banned national parties and officeholders from raising and spending “soft money,” and prohibited corporations and unions from funding "electioneering communications” within 30 days before a primary or 60 days before a general election.
Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010) – ruled spending is protected speech under the 1st Amendment and the government cannot prohibit spending by corporations and labor unions to support or denounce individual candidates in elections

12. Super PACS Super PACs or 527 organizations have no funding limits
Example from Colbert

13. What is the role of the Federal Election Commission
What is the role of the Federal Election Commission? Why is it ineffective?

14. Current Event
Koch Brothers’ Budget of $889 Million for 2016 Is on Par With Both Parties’ Spending NYT 2015
NYT Interactive on 2016 Spending

15. What are the interest groups?

16. Types of Interest Groups
Economic groups– big business
Labor organizations
Citizen groups
Ex. Sierra Club, Family Research Council
Single Issue Groups
Ex. National Rifle Association, National Right to Life, NORML

17. Structure of Groups
Centralized groups- Interest groups that have headquarters usually in Washington, D.C
Ex. AARP
Confederations- Interest groups made up of several independent local organizations that provide much of their funding and hold most of the power
Ex National Automobile Dealership
Mass associations- Interest groups that have a large number of dues-paying individuals as members
EX Sierra Club
Peak Associations- Interest groups whose members are businesses or another organizations rather than individuals

18. How do interest groups attract members?

19. Attracting Members
Solidary Benefits-Satisfaction derived from the experience of working with like- minded people
Purposive Benefits-Satisfaction derived from the experience of working toward a desired policy goal
Coercion- A method of eliminating non participation or free riding by potential group members by requiring participation
Selective Incentives- Benefits that can motivate participation in a group effort because they are available only to those who participate,

20. What strategies do interest groups use to meet their goals?

21. Inside Strategies Direct Lobbying Drafting Legislation and Regulations
Research
Hearings
Litigation (lawsuits)

22. Outside Strategies Grassroots lobbing (ex. Letter campaign)
Criticism = Astroturf lobbing
Mobilizing Public Opinion
Electioneering
See Chart Pg. 244 and 245