1. Interest Groups and American Politics
Chapter 11

2. Proliferation of Interest Groups
Four reasons why interest groups are so common in the United States.
The more divisions there are in a society, the greater the variety of interests that will exist.
Our system of government multiplies the number of points at which interest groups can gain access to the government.
Public laws exist that permit certain nonprofit groups to own property without paying taxes on it.
Political parties are weaker, so interest groups can operate directly on the government.

3. Types of nonprofit organizations
Section 501 (c) (3) organizations
May legally address political matters, but may not lobby or campaign.
Donations to these are tax deductible.
NOW Foundation
Section 501 (c) (4) organizations
Permitted to lobby and campaign
Donations to these are not tax deductible
NOW (half million members with 550 chapters)

4. History of Interest Groups
1770s- Groups for independence
1830s-1840s- religious associations and rise of antislavery movement
1860s- Trade unions, Grange
1880s-1890s- Business associations
Early 20th Century- (Chamber of Commerce, AMA, NAACP, Urban League, American Jewish Committee)

5. History of Interest Groups
Roughly 70% of interest groups established their Washington offices after 1960, half after 1970.
Wave of interest groups in the 1960s led to emergence of environmental, consumer, and political reform organizations

6. Reasons for rise of interest groups
Broad economic developments create new interests and redefine old ones
Government policy creates interest groups
Enthusiastic young organizational entrepreneurs arise at certain times to exercise leadership on certain issues
When the government undertakes more activities, more organized groups will become interested in those activities.

7. Types of Interest Groups
Institutional Interests
Individuals or organizations that represent other organizations
When groups that make up the organization aren’t diverse, the interest group can carry out clear policies that reflect the interests of its clients.
Chamber of Commerce example
Large and diverse membership, so it can only speak out clearly on issues where most businesses take the same position.

8. Types of Interest Groups
Membership Interests
Groups like the NRA, NAACP, Sierra Club, AARP
Most people who are sympathetic to these groups do not join.
They will not join unless they get something out of joining.

9. Reasons to join interest groups
Incentives- Something of value one cannot get without joining an organization
Solidary incentives- social rewards that lead people to join political organizations
Material incentives- Money or services that can be valued in monetary terms that lead people to join political organizations.
Purposive incentives- A benefit that comes from serving the cause or principle of an organization

10. Ideological interest group vs. public-interest lobby
Ideological interest groups
American Conservative Union (ACU)
Americans for Democratic Action (ADA)
Gain members by appealing to ideological principles.
Public-interest lobbies
A political organization whose goals will principally benefit nonmembers.
American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
Nader’s groups
Tend to have largest support when issues are hot. These organizations have a powerful interest to stay in the public eye, otherwise they lose membership and support.

11. Interest Groups and Social Movements
Civil Rights in the 1960s
Environmental Movement in the 1970s
Feminist Movement in many different time periods (1830s, 1890s, 1920s, 1960s)
Modern day social movements tend to be more liberal, but in the past this was not always the case.

12. Environmental Movement
Sierra Club begins in the 1890s with the conservation movement
Wilderness Society and National Wildlife Federation in the 1930s- Conservation
Environmental Defense Fund and Environmental Action in the 1960s and 1970s.

13. Feminist Movement Three kinds of feminist organizations
Solidary (League of Women Voters)
Purposive (NOW and NARAL)
Caucus- These take on specific issues that have material benefit to women.
Women’s Equity Action League (WEAL)
National Women’s Political Caucus
National Federation of Republican Women

14. Union Movement
As the social movement behind labor reform has died out, the organizations that fought for the reforms still remain.
Labor Union membership has been falling for sometime (2.2 million decline from )
Only 10% of workers today covered by unions
Government workers and teachers still have large numbers in unions, and teachers are still the most significant unions in terms of lobbying.

15. Funds for Interest Groups
Foundation grants are a large source of funding, especially for liberal public-interest lobbying groups.
Federal Grants and Contracts
Expansions and cutbacks can help and hurt interest groups
Money is not given to support lobbying, but to support projects groups undertake.

16. Federal Grants and Contracts
When money is won by a group, it allows them to provide services or create projects that will help support the organization as a whole.
This puts organizations in a position to press Congress for policies the group favors, including policies that will give them more grants and contracts.
This is why recipients of federal grants and contracts rarely change. (Self-perpetuating cycle)

17. Federal Grants
The groups that receive most of federal grants and contracts rarely have to undergo performance audits to see how effectively they are using money.
BUSINESSES still receive far more money through federal contracts than nonprofit groups, and large corporations still get the most.
Lockheed Martin- biggest federal contractor

18. Direct Mail Unique to the modern interest group
To bring in more money than the groups spends on the mailing, usually at least 2 percent of the names on the list must send in money.
Tactics used to get money through mailings
Teasers
Emotional Arousal
Celebrity Endorsements
Personalization of the Letter

19. The Problem of Bias with Interest Groups
Upper-class Bias
Well-off people are more likely than the poor to join and be active in interest groups
Professional and Business interest groups are more numerous and usually take in more money than other groups.
This idea only takes into account inputs.
Business-oriented interest groups are often divided among themselves.

20. What is the bias in American politics and interest groups?
Most conflicts over policy are conflicts within the upper middle class, or among the political elites
Interest groups activity represents the divide among the upper middle class more than anything else.
Political resources are extremely important, but they are only clues.

21. Activities of Interest Groups
Information
Single most important tactic is supplying credible information
Presenting material in an organized, persuasive, and factual manner.
Having the confidence of legislators is essential for a lobbyists success
Information is most successful on narrow or technical issues.
Political Cues- signals that tell a legislator what values are at stake in a vote, and how the issue fits into his/her political party agenda.
Ratings systems done by interest groups help create public support for legislators. Can be helpful to voters, but are many times biased.

22. Public Support
While an insider strategy is still valuable, the outsider strategy is becoming increasingly used by groups.
Grassroots lobbying
Lobbyists target undecided or wavering legislators and try to persuade them public opinion on an issue is in one direction.
Legislators will sometimes go against public opinion unless it is an issue that could mean losing the next election.
“Dirty Dozen”
In American politics, no interest group is a lobby that cannot be beaten. The media may portray a group as invincible, but this is rarely, if ever, the case.

23. Money and PACs
Money is actually one of the least effective ways for an interest group to influence politicians
Two effects of campaign finance law (1973)
Restricted amounts interest groups can give to candidates
Made it legal for corporations and unions to create PACs

24. Money and PACs
Both parties have become dependent on PAC money, yet the typical PAC contribution is being spread out over many candidates, and the amount of money any one PAC can give is small
Business PACs split money between Democrats and Republicans
Influence of money shows up in other ways than votes
Access to legislators

25. The Revolving Door
People leaving jobs in the federal government to go work as lobbyists or consultants for private firms and industries.
No clear pattern of abuse in this system, but from time to time it does happen.

26. Interest Groups and Trouble
Both sides of the political aisle have used disruption, display, even violence to get views across
Suffrage, civil rights, some antiwar movements (civil disobedience) are proper ways of using disruption.
Creates a no-win situation for politicians
If you ignore the disruption, you are arrogant or insensitive.
If you give in to demonstrators, it encourages more demonstrations.
Call in police and you risk violence and injuries (Bad Publicity)

27. Regulation of Interest Groups
Interest Group Activity is protected by the First Amendment
1946 Federal Regulation of Lobbying Act did very little in real effect.
In 1995, Congress passed a bill to tighten regulations
Broadened the definition of a lobbyist
Lobbyists are required to report names of clients, income and expenditures, and their issues twice a year
Grassroots organizations are exempted.
No organization for enforcement.