1. Longman PoliticalScienceInteractive
Magleby & Light
Government by the People
Chapter 9
Interest Groups: The Politics of Influence
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2. The Politics of Influence
The 2004 presidential election featured ads by interest groups
Swift Boat Veterans for Truth
MoveOn
The Media Fund
Known as “527s” due to their classification in the IRS tax code
Able to raise/spend unlimited amounts of money as long as the expenditures were independent of the candidates/parties
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3. Interest Groups Past and Present: The “Mischief of Faction”
Faction: A term the founders used to refer to political parties and special interests or interest groups
Madison believed that factions were “united and actuated by some common impulse of passion, or of interest, adverse to the rights of other citizens, or to the permanent and aggregate interests of the community.”
He argued that “the causes of faction cannot be removed, and…relief is only to be sought in the means of controlling its effects.”
Pluralism: A theory of government that holds that open, multiple, and competing groups can check the asserted power by any one group
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4. A Nation of Interests Interest Groups Movement
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.
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5. Types of Interest Groups: Economic Interest Groups
Business/Corporate
Trade and other associations
Labor (unions)
Professional associations
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6. Union Membership in the United States Compared to Other Countries
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7. Labor Force and Union Membership, 1930-2007
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8. Labor
Open shop: A company with a labor agreement under which union membership cannot be required as a condition of employment
Closed shop: A company with a labor agreement under which union membership can be a condition of employment
Free rider: An individual who does not join a group representing his or her interests, yet receives the benefit of the group’s influence
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9. Types of Interest Groups: Ideological or Single-Interest Groups
-Christian Coalition
-NRA
-NARAL
-Club for Growth
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10. Types of Interest Groups: Public Interest Groups
Ralph Nader
Unsafe at Any Speed
(1965)
Founded Public Citizen; “Nader’s Raiders”
Ran for president as Green Party candidate in 1996 and 2000, and as independent in 2004 and 2008
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11. Foreign Policy Interest Groups Public Sector Interest Groups
Types of Interest Groups: Foreign Policy and Public Sector Interest Groups
Foreign Policy Interest Groups
Council on Foreign Relations
American-Israel Political Action Committee
Public Sector Interest Groups
National Governors
Association
National League of Cities
National Educational
League of Women Voters
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12. Interest Groups: Cohesiveness
Types of members in an organization
Small number of formal members
People involved with the group to some degree
People who are members in name only
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13. Characteristics and Power of Interest Groups: Size and Resources
Resources or incentives can be offered to provide selective benefits, which can be used to overcome resistance to joining an interest group
Material benefits
Solidary benefits
Purposive benefits
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14. Interest Groups: Techniques for Exerting Influence
Mass Mailing
Publicity, Mass Media, Internet
Direct Contact with Government
Litigation
(lawsuit or amicus curiae brief)
Campaign Contributions
Forming a Political Party
Lobbying
Grassroots action
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15. Who are the Lobbyists?
Lobbyist: A person who is employed by and acts for an organized interest group or corporation to try to influence policy decisions and positions in the executive and legislative branches
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
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16. Congressional committee
Who are the Lobbyists?
Issue network: Relationships among interest groups, congressional committees and subcommittees, and the government agencies that share a common concern
The Iron Triangle
Interest groups
Congressional committee
Federal agency
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17. Money and Politics PAC Soft Money Hard Money
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
Hard Money
Political contributions given to a party, candidate, or interest group that are limited in amount and fully disclosed
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18. Money and Politics Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (2002)
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
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19. Total PAC Contributions to Federal Candidates, 1975-2006 (in Millions)
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20. PACs that Gave the Most to Federal Candidates, 2000-2006 (Millions of Dollars)
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21. How PACs and Others Allocated Campaign Contributions to House Candidates, 2005-2006
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22. How Much Do Interest Groups Influence Elections and Legislation?
Tendency of PACs to give money to incumbents has meant that 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)
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23. Continued Concerns About “Factions”
Interest groups do not represent people equally
Use of money to influence politicians
Many attempts at reform, but unclear effect
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24. Other Methods of Influence
Independent expenditures
No limits, but must be disclosed to FEC
Campaigning through other groups
Issue advocacy: Unlimited and undisclosed spending by an individual or group on communications that do not use words like “vote for” or “vote against”
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