1. Interest Groups

2. What aspects of our government encourages a multiplicity of interest grps. to organize?

3. Understanding Interest Groups & Democracy
James Madison’s solution to the problems posed by interest groups was to create a wide-open system in which groups compete---CREATE A REPUBLIC—FEDERALIST #10

4. The Role and Reputation of Interest Groups
An organization of people with shared policy goals entering the policy process at several points to try to achieve those goals
Political Parties fight election battles, Interest Groups don’t - but they may choose sides
Interest Groups are policy specialists, Political Parties are policy generalists.

5. Functions of Interest Groups
Awareness and Education on Issues
Linkage Between People and Government
Provide Information to Government to Enhance Public Policy
Promote Political Participation

6. Types of Interest Groups
Economic Interests
Labor
Agriculture
Business

7. Types of Interest Groups
Environmental

8. Types of Interest Groups
Equality Interests

9. Types of Interest Groups
Public Interest Groups

10. Financial Resources Foundation grants Federal grants and contracts
Established by prominent families or corporations for philanthropy
Ford foundation, Rockefeller Family Fund
Federal grants and contracts
Funds to support a project
Community-development
Direct solicitation

11. Financial Resources Not all groups have equal amounts of money
Monetary donations usually translate into access to the politicians - a phone call, a meeting, etc
There is a bias towards the wealthier groups

12. Strategies of Interest Groups
Interest groups try to influence policy in the following ways:
Influencing Elections
Lobbying
Litigation
Going Public

13. Influencing Elections
Encourage members to vote
Influence party platforms and nominating conventions
Political Action Committees (PACs)
Private groups organized to elect certain candidates or spearhead specific issues
Political and financial arms of interest groups
Regulated by FEC and states regarding public disclosure and finances

14. 527’s New kind of interest group—2004 election
Can receive and spend unlimited amounts of uncoordinated money
Take stands on issues but cannot directly endorse or contribute to candidates

15. Influencing Elections
Super PACs
Started as a result of Citizens United v. FEC
Can spend unlimited amounts of money on political ads both favorable or negative
Cannot directly contribute funds to candidate

16. How Groups Try to Shape Policy
Lobbying
“communication by someone other than a citizen acting on his own behalf, directed to a governmental decisionmaker with the hope of influencing his decision.” (Lester Milbrath)

17. Lobbying/Lobbyists Paid representatives of an interest group
Usually lawyers, former congressional staffers, ex-legislators
Provide data and information to influence policymakers
Testify in committees and executive agencies
Campaign contributions
Grassroots lobbying
Coalition lobbying
D.C. street home to numerous lobby firms

18. Lobbying
Gives legislators political cues---signal telling the official what values are at stake
Ratings game—designed to generate public support for or against various legislators; describe a members voting record

19. Lobbying Institutions of Govt.
President
Desegregation of Military
Court System
Brown v. BOE
Congress
Civil Rights Act of 1964

20. Regulating Interest Groups
Federal Regulation of Lobbying Act of 1946
Required lobbyists to register with Congress if influenced legislation
Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995
Required lobbyists to register if influencing congressional members, congressional staffers, and executive agencies
Disclose information on members, activities, and finances

21. Litigation
If an interest group fails in one arena, the courts may be able to provide a remedy
Bring a lawsuit against businesses or corporations
Interest groups can file amicus curiae briefs in court cases to support their position
Class Action lawsuits permit small groups of people to try and correct a situation on behalf of a much larger group.

22. Going Public Direct mailings, media ads, internet blogs
May address issue through criticism
May address issue with favorable promotions
Increase attention and support to issues

23. Public Support
Protest, picketing, and violence have always been apart of politics but became more acceptable in the 1960s
Goal is to disrupt an institution and force negotiations, enlist the support of other, or to create martyrs to draw public concern and support

24. Effectiveness of Interest Groups
Size
Small groups more successful than large groups
Free rider problem
Intensity
Single issue v. broad
Financial resources
Fund-raising is crucial as this is an expensive business

25. The “Revolving Door”
When govt. officials quit their jobs to take positions as lobbyists or consultants to businesses—leads to corruption
Fear they may give private interests unfair influence over govt. decisions