Interest Groups

Characteristics of Interest groups  Interest group: organized group of people that make policy related appeals to the government. (includes membership organizations, businesses, corporations, universities and other institutions that do not accept “members.”) Groups are formed by individuals to increase the likelihood that their views will be heard and dealt with. Sometimes referred to as lobbies.

1. Interest groups enhance Democracy  Enormous #’s of interest groups, millions of Americans are part of 1 or more groups.  Represent the interests of large #’s of people and encourage political action thus enhancing democracy.  Educate members about issues.  Groups lobby congress, engage in litigation, represent general interests, mobilize members, and monitor government programs

2. Represent the evils of faction  “…The public good is disregarded in the conflict of rival factions…citizens… who are united and actuated by some common impulse of passion, or of interest, adverse to the rights of other citizens, or to the permanent and aggregate interests of the community.”

2. cont  These groups thrive because of freedom – allowing Americans to organize and express their views.  The Dilemma: if the gov has the power to regulate interest groups, then they also have the power to suppress freedoms  A good Const encourages a multitude of interests so that on 1 interest can monopolize gov interests. (This concept is know as Pluralism all interests are free to compete for interest)  Deck is stacked in favor of those who can organize and wield the economic, social and institutional resources

3. Org interests are 1 st ly Economic  The predominant groups are supported by producers or manufactures in economic sectors. IE; National Petroleum Refiners Ass. American Farm Bureau Federation, Federation of Independent Business, ect.  Labor organizations are also prominent – Unions  Professional lobbies- American Bar Ass, American Medical Ass, American Bankers, ect  Public interest groups – Union of concerned scientists, Ect. Also includes “research” groups like brooking inst. And others

4. All groups require money, leadership, members  Groups must attract and keep members. Appeal to people by promoting political goals or policies, providing social and economic benefits. (AARP)  Need a financial structure to sustain the organization- membership dues and donations. Selling “other” services – vacations, insurance, coupons ect.  Must have leadership and command structure: can be simple or elaborate (NRA vs. N.O.R.M.A.L.  Must have an agency that carries out tasks – be it research, public relations, or lobbying.

5. Membership has upper class bias  People with higher socioeconomic status are more likely to be involved in action groups due to extra time, money and education to be concerned about issues and concerns.  Interest groups also have a working class base: labor organizations, welfare rights organizations. The majority of interest groups represent the middle class and cover the interests of the “haves.”  Lower classes generally have to be associated with political parties on a major scale to effect change – as we learned parties mobilize and organize the populace into a meaningful bloc.

6. Groups are a response to change in political environments  As government expands so will interest groups.  groups formed in response to government intervention in monopoly cases.  In the last 35 yrs there has been an increase in the number of interest groups and an increase in the ways in which they can influence governance. This is a result of increased regulation of automotive industry, oil, gas, education and healthcare.  Groups were formed to work against groups that were formed to protect those interests, spurning numerous action groups.

How and why do interest groups form ? Next 2 slides

Facilitating Cooperation Facilitating Cooperation  People pursuing common interest or goals (collective action of sorts)  The “prisoners’ dilemma” – the rational that individual behavior does not always lead to rational collective results.  Collective Actions  Selective Benefits: solutions to collective action problems (on the next slide)

Selective benefits: A solutions to collective action problems  To deal with free riding, selective benefits help to deal with problems of collective action  Informational benefits: widespread and most offered, Info is provided through meetings, conferences, newsletters and periodicals to those who pay dues.  Material Benefits: special goods, services, even money.  Solidary Benefits: Networking and conscious raising.  Purposive benefits: Offer no incentives other that the cause or mission of the group.

Interest groups and their influence on policy  Lobbying: An attempt by a group to influence the policy process through the manipulation of gov officials.  Policy groups are akin to terrorists- with exceptions.  Lobbying acts of 1946 and 95 regulate and require disclosure of representatives and the who, what and how much.  Sierra Club – operates with inside and outside strategies

Direct Lobbying  Involves “pestering” legislators with facts about issues, claims and public support. They provide factual information that may not be provided by staffers or committees.  Lobbyists must also “provide” something other than finances, or representatives will not want to meet with them – Thus lobbyists and legislators are symbiotically involved in the governing process.

Lobbying and Exec branch  Even if a group is successful and gets leg introduced it can still be vetoed, so they are not guaranteed success.  40% of groups contact leg and exec branch  13% only contact leg  16% only contact exec  The administrative procedure act fosters “involvement” in rule making. Allows for opportunities to express views prior to implementation of federal legislation.

Cultivating Access  Dairy Farmers – great example for a quiz  Access is a result of time and effort spent cultivating a position within the government. This method requires sacrificing short run influence for long run effect – spending time building the network back home to have an effective base, rather than “pestering” legislators.  Lobbying is no longer a business deduction for tax purposes.

Electoral politics  PACS: giving financial support to candidates. This support can sometimes be outright bribery. Congress occasionally attempts to regulate this FECA 71.  Watergate scandal  Pacs and contributions – increase in # of pacs due to limiting their spending limits.  ,800,000 $  ,305,553 $  There have been many “minimovements” to regulate finance

 McCain-Fiengold bill introduced in 96. Was meant to eliminate pacs, did an about face in passage and eliminated unrestricted soft money donations to national parties. And as a result many new organizations were formed, often by former party leaders.  Policies and legislation often only make progress because of outside interest, pressure and funding.