1. Interest Groups 4/19/2012

2. Clearly Communicated Learning Objectives in Written Form Upon completion of this course, students will be able to: – discuss and critically analyze political events in the United States government – students will be able to identify and explain the role of informal institutions and their effect on policy. – students will be able to assess the 2010 and 2012 elections without resorting to partisan bickering.

3. Office Hours and Readings Chapter 7 Office Hours – No office hours today – Monday 10-2

4. THE LOGIC OF COLLECTIVE ACTION An Alternate theory of Group Formation

5. Collective Action The Writings of Mancur Olson Groups form if it is convenient Groups form for Benefits

6. Logistics of Group Formation Potential Membership – Big groups form more easily (fewer costs) – Small groups have to share less (more benefits) Geography (not as important today)

7. Direct Benefits Benefits that only members get Excludes Non-members Economic benefits are most lucrative

8. Collective benefits Benefits that the group works for.... Everyone gets No One is Denied

9. Groups that Provide Collective Benefits

10. Overcoming the Free-Rider Problem You have to offer people some incentive to join Appeal to our greed, or appeal to our ideology These are selective incentives

11. Selective Incentives Tangible Benefits Real benefits given to members by the group People outside of the group do not get the goodies The AARPAARP Ideological Benefits Moral incentives Appeals to one’s ideology Guilt-ing PeoplePeople

12. Groups that cannot offer any benefits will not be able to form

13. KINDS OF INTEREST GROUPS

14. Private Interest Groups Limit their Membership and their benefits Business Groups Labor Unions Labor

15. Public Interest Groups Concerned with that group’s perception of the general welfare of the population Anyone can join Everyone receives the benefits

16. Single Issue Groups Concerned with a single policy issue Ensures that members know what they do

17. Umbrella Groups Concerned with multiple issues within a larger policy area Potential for more resources Potential for in-fighting

18. Interest Groups Today Fragmentation Specialization Cannibalization – Greenpeace vs. Whale Wars Wars

19. COMPONENTS OF INTEREST GROUP POWER

20. Money and Size This is a recursive relationship There is a problem of being “too big”

21. Cohesion and Intensity Does the group stick together Are the members willing to fight for the interests of the group

22. Access The Number one goal of an interest group If no one hears your message, it is wasted

23. TACTICS OF INTEREST GROUPS Direct Lobbying

24. Traditional Interest group tactic All about making contacts Exchanging Resources

25. Direct Lobbying An Exchange of Resources What Resources do interest groups have for legislators? What resources do legislators have for interest groups

26. The Revolving Door 1 year moratorium People move out of Congress and on to “K” Street

27. Why former Congressmen? Familiarity Ability to get access

28. Direct Lobbying is not Cheap

29. INDIRECT LOBBYING Tactics of Interest Groups

30. What is Outsider/Indirect Lobbying Pressure from outside the beltway Pressure without direct contact

31. Tactics of Indirect Lobbying Electoral Threats Using the media to shape opinionmedia Reports and publications

32. Politicians dislike indirect tactics

33. ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL Interest groups and the electoral connection

34. Why Get involved? You want to keep people you trust in position You want to control the agenda

35. Getting the membership active Encouraging members to donate Hitlists Scorecards

36. How Much Can Members Give?

37. SPENDING MONEY

38. Money is a form of Political Speech Buckley v. Valeo At the federal level, fundraising is not capped Neither are expenditures

39. Political Action Committees The Money Giving Arm of an Interest Group Can Give $5,000 per candidate per election

40. Different PACs have different Goals Issue PACS Labor PACS Ideological PACS Leadership PACS

41. PACS Give to Safe Seats Money flows to safe seats Giving money to losers has no return on investment If I wanted to buy seats, I would give to underdogs and closer races

42. Pacs Give To Incumbents I care about the issues, not the label I want to keep my supporters in office Keep my enemies out

43. PACS Give to People Who Already Support them “Corporations Love Everyone” You want them to get reelected You want them to continue to support your ideas

44. PACS do not Give To Undecided Members Money could convince them to vote my way But what if it doesn’t Its safer to hang on to it

45. PACS do not give to their enemies My money is not going to change their votes They won’t take my money anyway

46. The Goal Of PAC Money Access A chance to meet with legislators Ensure my views are represented