1. Interest groups
5.5

2. defined
An organization of people who members share policy views on specific issues and attempt to influence policy to their benefit
Operate at every level of government

3. 3 CHARACTERISTICS
- SHARED INTERESTS AND GOALS
- ORGANIZED STRUCTURE
- WANT TO INFLUENCE POLICY

4. POLITICAL PARTIES
ARE NOT
INTEREST GROUPS!

5. INTEREST GROUPS
- NARROW FOCUS
- POLICY FOCUS
- IDEOLOGICAL
POLITICAL PARTIES
- BROAD FOCUS
- ELECTION FOCUS
- MAINSTREAM

6. SIMILARITIES
- SELF-INTERESTED
- FACTIONS (REMEMBER FEDERALIST 10?)
- SUPPLEMENT & USE EACH OTHER
- RAISE AWARENESS, RECRUIT, $$$, &EDUCATE
- FORM OF PARTICIPATION

7. TYPES OF
INTEREST
GROUPS

8. ECONOMIC- BUSINESS

9. ECONOMIC- LABOR

10. ECONOMIC-AGRICULTURE

11. PROFESSIONAL/TRADE GROUPS

12. PUBLIC INTEREST GROUPS

13. SINGLE-ISSUE GROUPS

14. IDEOLOGICAL GROUPS
THE
CONSERVATIVE
CAUCUS

15. CIVIL RIGHTS GROUPS

16. RELIGIOUS GROUPS

17. GOVERNMENT GROUPS

18. ENVIRONMENTAL

19. COMMUNITY

20. INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

21. WHY DO PEOPLE JOIN? SOLIDARY INCENTIVES MATERIAL INCENTIVES
PURPOSIVE INCENTIVES
THE NEXT 3 SLIDES WILL EXPLAIN THESE INCENTIVES

22. WHY DO PEOPLE JOIN THE NATIONAL AUDUBON SOCIETY?
TO BE WITH OTHERS
LIKE THEMSELVES

23. WHAT DO SENIORS GET WHEN THEY JOIN AARP?

24. WHY DO PEOPLE JOIN ANTI-ABORTION GROUPS?
Operation Save America unashamedly takes up the cause of preborn children in the name of Jesus Christ. We employ only biblical principles. The Bible is our foundation; the Cross of Christ is our strategy; the repentance of the Church of Jesus Christ is our ultimate goal. As the Church changes its heart toward unborn children, God Himself will hear from heaven, forgive our sin, and bring healing to our land. We believe that Jesus Christ is the only answer to the abortion holocaust. It is upon our active repentance in the streets of our cities that the Gospel is visibly lived out. We become to the church, to our city, and to our nation living parables which rightly represent God's heart toward His helpless children.
There are no cheap political solutions to the holocaust presently ravaging our nation. Like slavery before it, abortion is preeminently a Gospel issue. The Cross of Christ is the only solution.

25. Fundamental goals of interest groups
Gain access to policymakers
Influence public policy

26. WAYS GROUPS SHAPE POLICY
LOBBYING- APPROACHING GOVT. PERSONALLY
ELECTIONEERING- $$$ & CAMPAIGN SUPPORT TO CANDIDATES

27. WAYS GROUPS SHAPE POLICY (CONT.)
LITIGATION- IF LEGISLATION FAILS “MAKE AN END RUN TO THE COURTS”
GOING PUBLIC- APPEAL TO PUBLIC OPINION TO HELP THE CAUSE

28. LOBBYING
GROUPS EMPLOY LOBBYISTS TO “BUTTONHOLE” OFFICIALS ON POLICY ISSUES
“REVOLVING DOOR CONCEPT”

29. LOBBYING (CONT.) GROUPS MAINTAIN OFFICES NEAR THE NATION’S CAPITAL
SOME COMMON LOBBYING ACTIVIES ARE

30. PRIVATE MEETINGS
WITH OFFICIALS

31. INFORMATION IS #1
RESOURCE GROUPS
HAVE TO OFFER

32. SOCIAL
EVENTS
&
AWARDS

33. TESTIFYING
BEFORE CONGRESS

34. LOBBYING
CONGRESSIONAL
AIDES & STAFF

35. DRAFTING LEGISLATION

36. LOBBYISTS HELP A CONGRESSMAN BY…
INFORMATION
POLITICAL STRATEGY
CAMPAIGN STRATEGY
SOURCE OF IDEAS & INNOVATIONS

37. ELECTIONEERING GROUPS FORM PACs WHO CONTRIBUTE $$$
608 IN ,835 IN 2001
PACs GIVE HEAVILY TO
INCUMBENTS- WHY?

38. LABOR PAC Contributions to Federal Candidates
(so far)
TOTAL AMT.
$38,348,617
DEMOCRAT
$33,988,139
REPUBLICAN
$4,226,378
# OF PACs
205

39. Pro-Life PAC Contributions
To Candidates,
TOTAL AMT.
$162,065
DEMOCRAT
$1,650
REPUBLICAN
$160,415
# OF PACs 15

40. Education PAC $$$ to
Candidates,
TOTAL AMT.
$147,651
DEMOCRAT
$74,901
REPUBLICAN
$72,750
# OF PACs 9

43. ELECTIONEERING-ENDORSING CANDIDATES
GROUP MEMBERS WILL
USUALLY VOTE FOR WHO
THE GROUP LEADERS SAY
WHY?

44. LITIGATION

45. GO TO COURT IF LEGIS-
LATIVE PROCESS FAILS,
OR IS TOO SLOW
FILE LAW SUITS
FILE AMICUS CURIAE
SPONSOR “TEST” CASES

46. WHAT IS PROBABLY THE MOST FAMOUS INTEREST GROUP VICTORY IN COURT?
HE ARGUED
THE CASE IN
1954 BEFORE
THE SUP. CT.

47. GOING PUBLIC GROUPS WORK ON THEIR IMAGE (PR)
APPEAL TO PUBLIC OPINION- RUN ADS, POLL, PHONE, MAINTAIN A WEB SITE

48. Legislative Action Center
On these pages, you can contact your legislators about pending legislation, sign up to become a cyber-lobbyist, read updates on education-related legislation, and get the latest information about key legislative topics. Click here to enter the Legislative Action Center.

49. Texas
      = Endorsed Candidate
U.S. SENATE
(R) JOHN CORNYN
(D) RON KIRK

50. David B. Truman in The Governmental Process
“ In order to make claims,
political groups will seek
access to the key points of
decision within the
institutions of government”
David B. Truman in The
Governmental Process

51. TRUMAN SAYS SUCCESS
DEPENDS ON GROUP’S:
STRATEGIC POSITION IN SOCIETY
INTERNAL FEATURES
CONNECTIONS ALREADY EXISTING IN GOVERNMENT

52. STRATEGIC POSITION PERCEPTION OF GROUP BY PUBLIC?
TACTICS OF GROUP IN “THE RULES OF GAME”?
GROUP USEFUL FOR INFO & KNOWLEDGE?
ANY MEMBERS OF GROUP IN POLITICS?

53. WHICH GROUP IS PERCEIVED AS MORE POPULAR? WHY?

54. WHICH TACTIC IS MORE ACCEPTABLE?
State Legislative Protocol Tips On Telephoning Your Representatives- OR

55. WHICH TACTIC IS MORE ACCEPT-ABLE?

56. TACTICS THESE GROUPS EMPLOY? GOOD/BAD?

57. INTERNAL FEATURES GOALS APPROPRIATE & PRACTICAL?
ORGANIZED TO BRING ABOUT CHANGE?
RESOURCES (PEOPLE & $$$)?
LEADERS (SKILLFUL, POPULAR)?

58. WHY SO SUCCESSFUL?

59. WHY UNSUCCESSFUL?

60. WHAT FEATURES MAKES THESE GROUPS SUCCESSFUL?

61. CONNECTIONS WHO’S IN CONGRESS? W.HOUSE? AGENCIES? LEGAL DEPARTMENT?
STATE/LOCAL ACCESS?
SUBGOVERNMENTS ALREADY IN PLACE?

62. WHICH HAS BETTER CONNECTIONS? WHY?

63. GROUPS- GOOD FOR DEMOCRACY?
ANOTHER WAY TO PARTICIPATE & INFLUENCE POLICY
KEEPS AN EYE ON GOVT., ACCOUNTABILITY

64. GROUPS- BAD? TOO MANY- HYPERPLURALISM & GRIDLOCK
UNFAIR ADVANTAGE BECAUSE OF $$$, REPRESENTATION TO THOSE WHO CAN PAY

65. “IRON TRIANGLE” OR
“SUB-GOVERNMENTS”

66. Lobbying is
The process by which interest groups attempt to influence the decisions of policymakers
Lobbyists are people who attempt to persuade policymakers to support the goals of an interest group
Direct lobbying is using personal contracts between lobbyists and policymakers
Grassroots lobbying: interested group members and others outside the organization write letters, send s, and make phone calls to influence policymakers
Coalition lobbying: several interest groups with common goals join together to influence policymakers

67. Lobbying congress Approx. 30,000 lobbyists currently work in DC
Testify befor3e congressional committees
Provide information on technical issues
Meet informally with congressional aides
Bring influential constituents to DC to discuss topics with Congresspeople

68. Lobbying the Executive branch
Present a point of view to the Executive office and the President
Most presidents have a staff position to allow interest group access
Pay particular attention to establishing contacts within regulatory agencies

69. Lobbying the courts No informal meetings with judges
May take their case to court if they fail in Congress
NAACP sponsored the Brown v Board of Education case
Amicus curiae (friend of the court) brief
Written arguments to a court supporting one side of the case
Play a role in who is nominated and approved for court positions

70. Contributing money to candidates
Influence elections
Encouraging people to vote
Influence party platforms
Campaigning and
Contributing money

71. Political Action Committee PAC
Raises money to contribute to campaigns
Limited to 5,000 per candidate per election
Over 5,000
Large role in incumbent elections, giving money to congressmen and women who support legislation that is supported by the interest group
superPACs
PAC that does not directly contribute to a individual campaign nor coordinate with an individual campaign

72. Shaping public opinion
Public relation campaigns
Advertisements to influence the publics actions
Highly visible protest campaigns
Grassroots initiatives

73. Regulating interest groups
1946 Federal Regulation of Lobbying Act
Lobbyists who were seeking to influence policy had to register with the Clerk of the House of Representatives or the secretary of the Senate
1995 Lobbying Disclosure Act
Required registering if lobbying was directed at
Members of congress
Congressional staff
Policymakers within the Executive branch
Disclosure of activities and clients of lobbyists

74. Factors that contribute to the success of interest groups
Size
Encourage members to legislatures, work in election campaigns, and participate in public protests
Prone to free rider problem, why should I participate when I can benefit from membership witout participation
Larger a group larger this problem can be
Intensity
Passionately committed activist tend to be more successful
A narrow single focus allows them to mobilize members for a specific policy goal
Financial resources
Money is needed to hire lobbyists, support PACs write amicus curiae briefs and pay for other activities
Large quantities of money can compensate for lack of size and intensity

75. Interest groups and Theories of American democracy
Theories about who has power and influence over public policy and decision making at the local, state and national levels of government
Traditional democratic theory
Government depends on the consent of the governed, which may be given directly or through representatives; may include criteria for the measure of “how democratic”
Pluralist theory
Argues that many interest groups compete for power in a large number of policy areas.
Believe that public policies emerge from bargaining and compromise among competing groups.
Point out that interest groups lacking money can use their size and intensity to achieve their goals

76. Hyper pluralist theory
Too many interest groups competing for influence over policymakers
When policy makers try to appease too many groups the policy they make is often confusing and impractical or contradictory
As a result legislators avoid making hard decisions that are in the national interest
IE public health groups have successfully lobbied for an anti smoking campaign, however the tobacco growers have lobbied for subsidies to support their crops
Power elite theory
A small number of super rich individuals, powerful corporate interest groups, and large financial institutions dominate key policy areas
PACs encourage a close connection between money and politics. Business PACs command immense financial resources that give them both access and influence over policy makers
Recent financial crisis where average citizens received small stimulus checks and wall street bankers received huge bailouts
Bureaucratic theory
Hierarchical structur3e and standardized procedures of modern governments allow bureaucrats, who carry out the day-to-day workings of government, to hold the real power over public policy