1. Interest Groups AP Government Unit 4

2. “Linkage Institutions”
Parties, Elections, Interest Groups and the Media are all considered “linkage institutions” in our country
What is a linkage institution?
Institutions that help link, or connect, citizens to their government.
It helps give citizens a way to participate and make their voices heard as well as to learn more about their government and its leaders.

3. “Linkage Institutions”

4. What is an Interest Group??
Interest groups are organizations that seek a collective good, and which will not selectively or materially benefit the members.
“An interest group is an organization made up of people who share common objectives and who actively attempt to influence government policymakers through direct and indirect methods.”
“Interest Group is an organization of people with similar policy goals that tries to influence the political process to try to achieve those goals.”

5. What do Interest Groups do?
Try to influence public policy
Lobbyists try to persuade public officials to support (or oppose) a specific view or policy
Interest groups (typically through PACs and “Super PACs”) can influence election outcomes
Every branch and every level of government is affected by interest groups

6. Why are interest groups powerful?
Size
More members = $$$ = power
Diffusion
More area = more diversity = more power
Organization
Centralization = power
Resources
$/prestige/members

7. How do interest groups function?
Mass mailing
Litigation
Court cases
Amicus curiae brief
Mass media
Boycotting
Electioneering
Working for a candidate/party/etc
Initiative/recall/referendum
Lobbying

8. What SHOULD Interest Groups do?:
Promote interest in public affairs
Provide useful information
Serve as watchdogs
Represent the interests of citizens

9. Interest Groups have been criticized for…
Ignoring the wider interest of society
Producing confusion and deadlock in Congress
Generating so much emotion that they make reasoned discussion difficult
Having too much influence

10. Political Parties vs. Interest Groups
Nominate candidates
Want to win elections
Concerned with many issues
Interest Groups
Don’t nominate
Want to influence policies
Concerned with one issue

11. What is a Lobbyist?
A Lobbyist is someone whose task it is to influence legislation or policymaking
Generally works for an interest group
Lobbyist are employed by/acts for an organized interest group to try and sway…
Legislative branch (committees)
Executive branch (bureaucracy)

12. What do Lobbyist do? Influence government decisions (legislation)
Provide information to the government
Lobbyist = policy specialist
Testify at hearings
Help write legislation

13. Who are lobbyist? Former government employees
“Revolving Door”
Cannot lobby that from which you came
Congress to lobbyist is illegal…sort of
Iron Triangles = relationship between
Interest groups
Congressional committees/subcommittees
Government agencies

14. Lobbyist – YAY or NAY $ talks $ represented Reduce equality Polarizing
Provide useful information
Extend participation in government
Representation based on interest
1st Amendment
$ talks
$ represented
Reduce equality
Polarizing
Can further “log jams”

15. Lobbying since 1998

16. The Development of American Interest Groups
Interest groups have been part of the American political landscape since the country’s founding.
The open nature of the American government invites organized political participation.
James Madison in Federalist #10 argued that no one group should get control over other groups.

17. The Roots and Development of American Interest Groups
National Groups Emerge ( )
The beginnings of lobbying and interest groups
Anti-Slavery groups
Temperance Groups
The Grange
The Progressive Era ( )
Important groups created
Organized Labor
The American Federation of Labor (AFL) (1886)
Business and Trade Associations
The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) (1895)

18. The Roots and Development of American Interest Groups
The Rise of the Interest Group State ( )
A new sense of progressivism
ACLU, Common Cause, NAACP
Religious and Ideological Groups
Christian Coalition, Moral Majority
Business Groups, Trade and Professional Associations
Chamber of Commerce, Business Roundtable
Organized Labor
AFL-CIO
Teamsters

20. Why People Join Interest Groups
Solidary Incentives
Social contacts between groups with similar interests/experiences
League of Women Voters, NAACP, PTSA, American Legion
Material Incentives
For economic reasons
AARP, Farmers Groups, Labor Unions
Purposive Incentives
For moral causes / crusades
Right to-Life, Pro-Choice, Greenpeace

21. Who Joins Interest Groups?
Upper class interest groups- Big Business
More affluent join and are active
White collar workers
Professional groups
Working class interest groups- Big Labor
Labor unions have been very powerful in past
The AFL-CIO broke up in 2004, cutting big labor’s power

22. Why are interest groups growing?
Economic developments
New issues, new views, new lobby
Government policies
New agencies = new entry points
Diversity
Many people = many viewpoints = many interest groups
Weakening political parties
Technology
Ease of access to potential groups

23. Let’s find out more about these groups:
The National Rifle Association
The Christian Coalition
The AARP
The NAACP
The National Organization for Women
National Right to Life Committee
The Sierra Club
American Medical Association

24. Who are They? Who Do They Support??
Interest Group
Area of Concern/Cause
Who are They? Who Do They Support??
AARP -American Association of Retired Persons
Benefits for retired people- Important voting block!
Both; Middle-aged Republicans; Very old people Democrats
AFL-CIO
Workplace issues and benefits for workers
Labor Union/Blue collar workers; Usually votes for Democrats
American Bar Association
Concerned with legal issues such as caps on awards to victims; malpractice
Lawyers; Usually Republicans but not always
ACLU-American Civil Liberties Union
Concerned with Bill of Rights and Civil Liberties
Can be both but more associated with Democrats/Libertarians
AMA- American Med. Association
Medical issues; Stem cell research; malpractice
Doctors; Usually Republicans
Amnesty International
Concerned about the treatment of prisoners worldwide; political prisoners
Usually Democrats
AIPAC
Also B'nai B'rith )
Civil rights; Interested in Israel issues
Jewish Americans; Mostly Democrats
Children's Defense Fund
Issues involving children- insurance,
Mostly Democrats
Christian Coalition
Religious issues; pro-life An important voting block!
Republicans

25. Who are They? Who Do They Support??
Interest Group
Area of Concern/Cause
Who are They? Who Do They Support??
Common Cause
Reform in government; watchdogs
Both
Focus on the Family
Family- oriented issues; pro-life
Republicans
League of Women Voters
Voting issues; Debates
Both but many are Democrats
MADD-Mothers Against Drunk Driving
Concerned about teenage driving safety; age laws
Parents/moms; Both
NAACP –Nat’l Assoc. for the Advancement of Colored People
Concerned with issues voting, and other civil rights issues; An important voting block!
African Americans; Democrats
NEA- National Education Association
Education issues; protect teacher jobs; generally against NCLB or want to reform NCLB
Teachers- High % usually vote for Democrats
NOW- Nat’l Org. for Women
Women’s issues; Pro-Choice
Women; Democrats
NRA- National Rifle Association
Pro Guns/2nd Amendment Issues; Less restrictive gun laws and gun control
Republicans/Libertarians
National Right to Life Organization
Pro- Life/ Anti Abortion
National Wilderness Society
Environmental Issues
Mostly Democrats- Some Republicans
Sierra Club
Mostly Democrats
Veterans of Foreign Wars/American Legion
Veterans; Concerned with issues about benefits
Both but generally Republicans

26. Facts About the AARP
Among those over 50, AARP members are more likely to vote than nonmembers.
% of Americans Registered to vote:
85%
% of AARP Members Registered to Vote-
90%
% of American who always vote in local elections:
50%
% of AARP Members who always vote in Local Elections-
57%
% of Americans who always vote in presidential elections
77%
% of AARP Members who always vote in presidential elections-
84%

27. Others- not on test! National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)
National Coalition for the Homeless
National Education Association (NEA)
National Endangered Species Act Reform Coalition
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
National Organization for Women (NOW)
National Recycling Coalition
National Resources Defense Council
National Right to Life
National Rifle Association
National Rural Electric Cooperative Association
National Water Resources Association
Nuclear Waste Citizens Coalition
Office & Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU)
PeaceNet
People For the American Way
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals
Physicians for a National Health Program
Planned Parenthood
Public Citizen
Public Interest Research Groups
Service Employees International Union
Sheet Metal Workers International Association
Sierra Club
Society for Electronic Access (SEA)
Society for Human Resource Management
Taxpayers Against Fraud
Teledemocracy Action News + Network
United Autoworkers Workers (UAW)
United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW)
United Mine Workers of America (UMW)
United States Space Foundation
Vietnam Veterans of America
Women's Legal and Public Policy Information
WomensNet
AFL-CIO
Alliance for Justice
American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC)
American Association for Affirmative Action (AAAA)
American Association for People with Disabilities (AAPD)
American Association of Retired Persons (AARP)
American Association of University Women (AAUW)
American Bankers Association (ABA)
American Bar Association
American Civil Liberties Union
American Chemical Society
American Conservative Union
American Farm Bureau Federation
American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME)
American Federation of Teachers (AFT)
American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA)
American Israel Public Affairs Committee
American Legion
American Petroleum Institute
American Postal Workers Union (APWU)
American Public Welfare Association (APWA)
Americans Against Political Corruption
Americans for Democratic Action
Amnesty International
Animal Rights Coalition
Catholics United for Life
Center for Democracy and Technology
Center for Public Integrity
Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI)
Children's Defense Fund
Child Labor Coalition
Child Welfare League of America
Christian Coalition
Citizens Against Government Waste
Citizens for Budget Reform (CBR)
Citizens for Tax Justice
Communications Workers of America (CWA)
Others- not on test!
GreenNet (environmental)
Greenpeace International
Habitat for Humanity
Hollywood Women's Political Committee - HWPC
International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers
International Brotherhood of Teamsters
International Union of Bricklayers & Allied Craftworkers
LaborNet
League of Conservation Voters
League of Women Voters' Voter Education Project
Majority '96
Militia Watchdog
National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League (NARAL)
National Air Traffic Controllers Association
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)
National Association for Public Interest Law
National Association of Arab Americans
National Association of Baby Boomers
National Association of Broadcasters
National Association of Community Action Agencies
National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)
ConflictNet
Concord Coalition
Congressional Accountability Project
Contract with America
Bowling Green State University Coalition Against the Contract [
"Contract on America" (book by Ann-Marie Rosato)
Council for Responsible Genetics
Death Penalty Information Center
EcoNet
Electronic Frontier Foundation
EMILY's List
Empower America
Environmental Defense Fund
Family Farm Alliance
Federation For American Immigration Reform (FAIR)
Feminist Majority Foundation Online
Friends of the Earth
Fund for Constitutional Government
Generation X Coalition
Government Purchasing Project

29. Sites for Interest Group Research
California State Chico
About.com

30. Economic Interest Groups
Most interest groups are based on economics
Businesses (create favorable environment for business to prosper)
Agriculture (work for price supports from gov’t, but also limit gov’t influence)
Labor (Call public attention to the legitimate needs of working people. Accomplishments …eight-hour work day …child labor laws …minimum wage laws ...workplace health & safety laws)
Professional (protect and advance their professional field -- to do this, they...publish journals…give awards for excellence ...communicate their opinions to gov’t officials)

31. Other Types of Interest Groups
Cause-based
(National Wildlife Federation, League of Women Voters, National Rifle Association, MADD, Emily’s List)
Concerned with the welfare of people
(AARP – senior citizens, NAACP – African Americans)
Religious Organizations
(Christian Coalition, American Jewish Congress)

32. Interest Group Techniques
Direct Techniques:
Lobby at Capitol Hill
Have private meetings
Meet at social occasions
Testify at hearings
Drafting legislation
Providing political info
Supply nomination suggestions
Indirect Techniques:
Generating Public Pressure
Use public pressure on “hot button” issues
Use constituents to call lawmakers
Build alliances with other groups

33. Interest Group Techniques
The AARP:
Look at an interest group in action:

36. What Makes an Interest Group Successful?
Leaders – having a prominent leader aids in the reputation of the group and enhances a group's ability to attain its goals.
Patrons and Funding – funding is critical. Without money, it is hard to get your message out.
Members – a group must have members to be successful. Organizing members allows for strength in numbers and pooling of financial support.

37. Where does ALL the $$ Come From in Interest Groups??
Member dues
Federal grants
Direct mail appeals for cash
Internet sites
Dinners and fundraisers
PAC’s !!!!

38. Political Action Committees
A popular term for a political committee organized for the purpose of raising and spending money to elect and defeat candidates.
Most PACS represent business, labor or ideological interests.
PACS are the so-called “political arms” of interest groups
PACS are used to elect or defeat government officials and promote legislation
The “revolving door”
PACS hire former members of Congress to lobby their old friends, committees, etc…
This is legal but …Is this Ethical???

39. The Birth of PACS
In 1944, the Congress of Industrial Organizations, (CIO) wanted to help President Franklin Roosevelt get re-elected.
Standing in their way was the Smith Connally Act of 1943, which made it illegal for labor unions to contribute funds to federal candidates.
The CIO then urged individual union members to voluntarily contribute money directly to the Roosevelt campaign.
It worked very well and PACs, or political action committees were born.

40. Political Action Committees (PAC’s)
A PAC must register six months in advance, have at least fifty contributors, and give to at least five candidates.
Corporations, unions, or other associations may establish PAC’s.
There are over 4,000 PACs registered with the Federal Election Commission.
PAC’s gave over
$217 million to congressional candidates in 1996
$373 million in 2010!!!

41. Money from PACS
PACs may receive up to $5,000 from any one individual, PAC or party committee per calendar year.
PACs can give $5,000 to a candidate committee per election (primary, general or special).
They can also give up to $15,000 annually to any national party committee, and $5,000 annually to any other PAC.
PACS support candidates with campaign money
½ sponsored by corporations; 1/10 by unions
1/3 liberal and 2/3 conservative (2001)
Incumbents get the most PAC money!!

42. Money Limits
Individuals can give up to $2600 to a candidate but PACS can give $5,000 to a candidate
Federal money will match presidential campaign money but….
Parties need at least 5% of vote in previous year for presidential candidate to receive funds
If that doesn’t happen you need PAC’s!!!

43. Important PAC’s The Laborers International Union of North America
The National Association of Realtors
The National Rifle Association (NRA)
Microsoft Corp
Exxon Mobil
EMILY’s List- Early money is like yeast – makes the Dough rise (Democratic women)
Human Rights Campaign

45. If you give you shall receive!!
Where does all the $$ Go?
AKA
If you give you shall receive!!

46. Super PACs
Super PACs are a new kind of political action committee created in July 2010 following the outcome of a federal court case known as SpeechNow.org v. Federal Election Commission (after the Citizens United case).
Technically they are known as “independent expenditure-only committees”

47. Super PACs Super PACs may raise unlimited sums of money from
Corporations
Unions
Associations and individuals
They spend unlimited sums to overtly advocate for or against political candidates.
Unlike traditional PACs, Super PACs are prohibited from donating money directly to political candidates.
Super PACs must, however, report their donors to the Federal Election Commission on a monthly or quarterly basis -- the Super PAC's choice -- as a traditional PAC would

50. Birth of a Super PAC

51. Great Site for Research

52. Acts Regulating Lobbyists
1946 Federal Regulation of Lobbying Act
Lobbyists must register and file reports
1978 Ethics in Government Act
Officials must disclose finances and employment after leaving government service
1995 The Lobbying Disclosure Act
Must Register and Report clients
Estimate how much they are paid and report the % to the government
FYI- Approximately 4 Million Dollars were spent lobbying EACH member of Congress in 2005!

53. Jack Abramoff Scandal
“Super-Lobbyist” Abramoff plead guilty to corruption charges in 2006
Abramoff pleaded guilty to defrauding the Native American tribes that were his clients, to tax evasion and to conspiring to bribe public officials
He illegally gave gifts and made campaign donations to legislators in return for votes or support of legislation
Several federal officials were also accused and found guilty in the scandal

55. CARTOONS!!!