1. Interest Group Tactics
Linkage Institutions

2. How do interest groups attempt to influence?
Linkage Institutions
Interest Groups
How do interest groups attempt to influence?

3. Grass Roots Activism
Interest Groups

4. Interest Groups Grassroots Propaganda
Interest Groups attempt to influence the public
The want to change people’s minds about an issue
100
Ultimately, the people influenced by the group will put pressure on their own policy makers
The group has influenced policy by influencing people’s opinions

5. Interest Groups Grassroots Grass Roots Mobilizing
Grass Roots activities attempt to appeal to and organize average people
The group also benefits by potentially adding new members to the actual group
100
The group will be able to raise more money for group activities from the people who join their group
Mobilization is about other people seeing how much support there
is for the group’s interests

6. GreenPeace is an environmental interest group
Interest Groups
Grassroots
Grassroots
GreenPeace is an environmental interest group
They posted these advertisements near the Canadian Museum of Natural History
100
It gives people specialized information about a topic they likely know little about
It includes ways to get involved with the group, including fund raising.

7. Interest Groups Grassroots Grassroots
PETA is a group that advocates for animal rights to be protected
They placed this ad in a variety of magazines
100
It appeals to people’s emotions to try to change their mind about a policy
It includes ways to get
involved with the group

8. Interest Groups Grassroots Grassroots
Commercials are made to appeal to the average person or regular voters
A person who sees these ads may get upset about policy stances
100
The interest group made the ads so people would see, now people may be contact their policy makers
The group has informed regular people, who let policy makers know what their preferences are.

9. Lobbying
Interest Groups

10. Interest groups attempt to influence policy makers
Lobbying
Lobbying
Interest groups attempt to influence policy makers
They discuss policy with policy makers and hope to sway that person to make the policy the group wants.
They are the policy specialists while the policy makers tend to be policy generalists.

11. Interest Groups Lobbying Lobbying
Lobbyists are an important source of specialized information.
They may recommend actual policy changes
They may recommend strategies for getting policies passed.
They may recommend campaign strategies for people seeking election

12. This means that interest groups are writing the laws
Lobbying
Lobbying
In many cases lobbyists and interest groups actually write the laws themselves
They give these pre-written bills to members of Congress or local officials
The policy makers propose the bill from the interest group and it goes through the lawmaking process as if they had written it themselves.
This means that interest groups are writing the laws

13. Interest Groups Lobbying Lobbyist
A regular paid employee or an interest group (or corporation or union)
They speak with government officials on behalf of their group
An actual lobbyist must be registered with the government and records of who they meet with are kept

14. Interest Groups Lobbying Lobbyist
Some lobbyists are so good at it (because they have established relationships with policy makers)
Instead of being a lobbyist for a particular group, they are “mercenaries”
Any group can hire them temporarily to lobby with policy makers on the group’s behalf
This allows even small groups to take advantage of close relationships with policy makers

15. Interest Groups Lobbying Regulating Lobbyists
Lobbying Disclosure Act – lobbyists must register with the government
They must also indicate who they represent
This information is available to the public so anybody can see who groups are trying to influence
This is not very effective

16. Interest Groups Lobbying Regulating Lobbyists
If you spend less than 20% of your time lobbying – you don’t have to register
If you contribute less than $10,000 you don’t have to register
Enforcing this law is the responsibility of the Office of the Clerk of the Senate – which is way too busy to look into corruption
Who do you think influenced these provisions of the laws?

17. Electioneering
Interest Groups

18. Interest Groups Electioneering Electioneering
Groups attempt to influence the outcome of elections
This is where groups have a preference in WHO runs the government because of WHAT they promise to do
They group wants to help those candidates that share policy
goals with the groups.

19. Interest Groups Electioneering Electioneering
Specifically endorse a candidate
Donate money to a candidate’s campaign through a PAC
Encourage people to vote for candidates that support their policies
Issue candidate “report cards” to help group members know how the candidates have acted in accordance to group wishes

20. Interest groups will often donate money to both candidates in a race
Electioneering
Electioneering
Interest groups who donate money to candidates expect access to that candidate if that person wins
A person who took money from a group is more likely to meet with that group once in office
Interest groups will often donate money to both candidates in a race
Groups expect the candidate to support policies that the group would like once they are in office.

21. Litigation
Interest Groups

22. Interest Group Litigation Litigation
Groups use the court system to get policies changed
This may be the last resort for a group that is unable to sway opinion
The group may attack a law that they see as unconstitutional

23. Interest Group Litigation Litigation
Brown V Board is our best example of litigation
They were the lawyers in the case (Thurgood Marshall)
They wanted to challenge segregation laws in court
They went out and found a plaintiff (Brown) they could represent to make arguments before federal courts about this policy issue

24. The group is not a litigant in the case
Interest Group
Litigation
Litigation
Groups use amicus curiae briefs to attempt to sway court cases they are not directly involved in
The group is not a litigant in the case
They submit a “brief” of “expert information” for the court to consider when listening to the case
The goal of the group is to influence the outcome of the case : the decision of the judge or the jury – which is a form of changing policy

25. Interest Group Litigation Class Action
Class Action Lawsuits allow a small group of people to sue and represent all people who have been impacted in a similar way.
The few people actually suing represent a “class” of all people harmed
The interest group will reach out and try to find all people that belong to the class
Any settlement is divided among all the people who joined the class.

26. Interest Group Litigation Class Action Suits
Tobacco Industry – tobacco users formed a class action because tobacco companies hid information about tobacco causing diseases, settled for $205B in settlements to states
Blockbuster Video – years of unfair fees led to class action for all customers, each winning free rentals.
Red Bull – made false health claims, customers sued, everybody won free Red Bull or $4.
ATT – charged customers without their consent for text services. 2 million customers are receiving refunds currently- average $31.

27. Bigly Ideas
Beliefs & Behaviors

28. Grassroots mobilization
History
Wrap Up
Grassroots mobilization
Lobbying
Litigation
Electioneering
Focus on these things: