Interest Groups Chapter 11 AP U.S. Government and Politics Mr. Allen

Interest Groups

Organization of people that seek to influence public policy. Organization of people that seek to influence public policy. Characteristics: Characteristics: Shared interests/goals Shared interests/goals Organized Structure Organized Structure Want to influence policy Want to influence policy Reasons there are so many: Reasons there are so many: Many cleavages in society Many cleavages in society Constitution provides access points to the government Constitution provides access points to the government Weakness of political parties Weakness of political parties

Interest Groups vs. Political Parties Interest Groups: Interest Groups: Narrow Focus Narrow Focus Issue Driven Issue Driven Ideological Ideological Political Parties: Political Parties: Broad Focus Broad Focus Election Driven Election Driven Mainstream Mainstream

Theories of Interest Group Politics “Americans are always forming associations…” “Americans are always forming associations…” Democracy in America Democracy in America Theories: Theories: Pluralist Theory Pluralist Theory Elite Theory Elite Theory Hyperpluralist Theory Hyperpluralist Theory

Birth of Interest Groups 1770’s: American Independence 1770’s: American Independence 1830’s – 1840’s: Religious & Anti-Slavery Movements 1830’s – 1840’s: Religious & Anti-Slavery Movements 1860’s – Trade Unions; Fraternal Organizations 1860’s – Trade Unions; Fraternal Organizations 1880’s – 1890’s: Business Associations 1880’s – 1890’s: Business Associations 1900’s – 1920’s: Business & Professional Associations; Charitable Organizations 1900’s – 1920’s: Business & Professional Associations; Charitable Organizations 1960’s: Environmental, Consumer & Political Reform Organizations 1960’s: Environmental, Consumer & Political Reform Organizations

Factors in the Rise of Interest Groups Broad Economic Developments Broad Economic Developments Government Policy Government Policy Emergence of Strong Leaders Emergence of Strong Leaders Expanding Role of Government Expanding Role of Government Shaping Policy Lobby Lobby Electioneering Electioneering Litigation Litigation Public Opinion Public Opinion

Kinds of Organizations Institutional Interests Institutional Interests Individuals or organizations representing other organizations Individuals or organizations representing other organizations Business/Trade/Governments/Universities Business/Trade/Governments/Universities Membership Interests Membership Interests Organizations supported by the activities and contributions of individual citizens Organizations supported by the activities and contributions of individual citizens Members require incentives Members require incentivesIncentives Solidary: Solidary: Pleasure, Status or Companionship Pleasure, Status or Companionship Material: Material: Money or services valued in monetary terms Money or services valued in monetary terms Purposive: Purposive: Appeal of stated goals Appeal of stated goals

Types of Interest Groups Economic – Business: Economic – Business: Chamber of Commerce Chamber of Commerce Economic – Labor: Economic – Labor: AFL-CIO AFL-CIO Economic – Agriculture: Economic – Agriculture: Grange Grange Profession/Trade: Profession/Trade: Screen Actors Guild Screen Actors Guild Public Interest: Public Interest: Public Citizen Public Citizen International: International: Human Rights Watch Human Rights Watch

Types of Interest Groups Single-Issue: Single-Issue: National Right to Life National Right to Life Ideological: Ideological: Conservative Caucus Conservative Caucus Civil Rights: Civil Rights: NAACP NAACP Religious: Religious: Christian Coalition Christian Coalition Government: Government: National Governor’s Association National Governor’s Association Environmental: Environmental: Greenpeace Greenpeace Community: Community: MADD MADD

Interest Groups and Social Movements Social Movements attract members with purposive incentives Social Movements attract members with purposive incentives Examples: Examples: Civil Rights Movement Civil Rights Movement Environmentalist Movement Environmentalist Movement Feminist Movement Feminist Movement Union Movement Union Movement Movements arise differently: Movements arise differently: Scandal Scandal Publicity Publicity New Generation New Generation Movement Organization: Movement Organization: Extreme Organizations = Smaller & Passionate Extreme Organizations = Smaller & Passionate Moderate Organizations = Larger & less Passionate Moderate Organizations = Larger & less Passionate Movement Incentive: Movement Incentive: Solidary: avoid issues and tactics that may divide membership Solidary: avoid issues and tactics that may divide membership Purposive: take strong positions and tackle divisive issues Purposive: take strong positions and tackle divisive issues

Funding Interest Groups After member dues there are three main sources: After member dues there are three main sources: Foundation Grants Foundation Grants Grants from various private foundations or charitable organizations. Grants from various private foundations or charitable organizations. Ex: Ford Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Ex: Ford Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Federal Grants and Contracts Federal Grants and Contracts Federal funds for a specific project of an interest group. Federal funds for a specific project of an interest group. Direct Mail Direct Mail Computers are used to mail to specialized audiences Computers are used to mail to specialized audiences Expensive Expensive Techniques: Techniques: ‘Teaser’ on envelope ‘Teaser’ on envelope Arouse emotions Arouse emotions Famous Endorsement Famous Endorsement Personalize Personalize

Interest Group Bias Belief: Belief: Active interest groups reflect an upper-class bias. Active interest groups reflect an upper-class bias. Reasons: Reasons: 1) Affluent citizens are more likely to join 1) Affluent citizens are more likely to join 2) Business/Professional groups are more numerous and raise more money than public interest groups 2) Business/Professional groups are more numerous and raise more money than public interest groups Does not answer question of upper-class bias Does not answer question of upper-class bias 1) Describe inputs not outputs 1) Describe inputs not outputs 2) Business interest are divided among themselves 2) Business interest are divided among themselves Most conflicts are within upper-middle class Most conflicts are within upper-middle class Political resources are clues to political outcomes Political resources are clues to political outcomes Not conclusions Not conclusions

Interest Group Activities Supply Credible Information Supply Credible Information Generate Public Support Generate Public Support Money and PAC’s Money and PAC’s “Revolving Door” “Revolving Door” Display, Disruption, Violence Display, Disruption, Violence

Gathering Information Most Important Tactic Most Important Tactic Legislators take on many issues and cannot be experts on all Legislators take on many issues and cannot be experts on all Lobbyist: Lobbyist: Specialists who gather information and present it in a organized, persuasive and factual manner Specialists who gather information and present it in a organized, persuasive and factual manner Political Cues: Political Cues: Signal telling legislators what is at stake and how that issue fits into his/her own beliefs Signal telling legislators what is at stake and how that issue fits into his/her own beliefs Ratings: Ratings: Assessment of legislator’s voting record on issues important to an interest group Assessment of legislator’s voting record on issues important to an interest group

Public Support Methods of Lobbying: Methods of Lobbying: Old Method: Insider Strategy Old Method: Insider Strategy Face-to-face contact Face-to-face contact New Method: Outsider Strategy New Method: Outsider Strategy Use of technology to mobilize the ‘issue public’ Use of technology to mobilize the ‘issue public’ Grassroot Lobbying Grassroot Lobbying Legislators deal with interest groups that agree with them Legislators deal with interest groups that agree with them Want to avoid controversy Want to avoid controversy Lobbyist target undecided/wavering legislators Lobbyist target undecided/wavering legislators Some will attack potential/actual allies Some will attack potential/actual allies

Money and PAC’s Campaign Finance Reform Law: 1973 Campaign Finance Reform Law: 1973 Restricted the amount any interest group can give to a candidate for federal office Restricted the amount any interest group can give to a candidate for federal office Encouraged growth of political action committees (PAC’s) Encouraged growth of political action committees (PAC’s) Both parties utilize PAC money Both parties utilize PAC money Democrats – labor PAC’s Democrats – labor PAC’s Republicans – business PAC’s Republicans – business PAC’s Incumbents receive more PAC contributions Incumbents receive more PAC contributions Ideological PAC’s: Ideological PAC’s: Raise most money yet contribute least to campaigns Raise most money yet contribute least to campaigns No evidence that PAC money influences voting No evidence that PAC money influences voting Most vote ideologically or with their constituents Most vote ideologically or with their constituents Money does buy access Money does buy access

‘Revolving Door’ Federal officials use of position to favor a corporation in exchange for future employment Federal officials use of position to favor a corporation in exchange for future employment

Display, Disruption, Violence Dates to American Independence Dates to American Independence Used by both sides of ideological spectrum Used by both sides of ideological spectrum Left: Feminists, welfare mothers, autoworkers, public housing tenants Left: Feminists, welfare mothers, autoworkers, public housing tenants SDS, Weather Underground, AIM SDS, Weather Underground, AIM Right: opposition of busing, right-to-life Right: opposition of busing, right-to-life KKK KKK Goals: Goals: Disruption to force negotiation Disruption to force negotiation Enlist sympathies of third parties (media, etc.) Enlist sympathies of third parties (media, etc.) Tempt police to attack and create martyrs Tempt police to attack and create martyrs Creates no-win situations for Government officials Creates no-win situations for Government officials Government is criticized whether they negotiate or not Government is criticized whether they negotiate or not

Regulating Interest Groups First Amendment Protection First Amendment Protection Political speech & Petition of Government Political speech & Petition of Government Federal Regulation of Lobbying Act: 1946 Federal Regulation of Lobbying Act: 1946 Required registration and quarterly financial reports Required registration and quarterly financial reports Supreme Court restricted its application to direct contact with Congressmen Supreme Court restricted its application to direct contact with Congressmen ‘Grassroot’ activity was not restricted ‘Grassroot’ activity was not restricted Lobbying Disclosure Act: 1995 Lobbying Disclosure Act: 1995 Tightened registration and disclosure requirements Tightened registration and disclosure requirements Broader definition of Lobbyists Broader definition of Lobbyists Tax Code Tax Code Non-profits lose tax exemption and deduction if a ‘substantial part’ of group activities is lobbying Non-profits lose tax exemption and deduction if a ‘substantial part’ of group activities is lobbying Campaign Finance Law Campaign Finance Law PAC is limited to $5,000 contribution on a candidate PAC is limited to $5,000 contribution on a candidate