Interest Groups Past and Present: The “Mischiefs of Faction” A Nation of Interests The founders of the Republic referred to what are present day interest groups as Factions. James Madison foresaw “factions” as an inevitable development, with tendency toward “instability and injustice.” Interest groups are also sometimes called “special interests.” Some Americans identify with groups distinguished by race, gender, ethnicity, age, occupation, or sexual orientation. Others form groups based on common issues or interests, i.e. gun control, tax reduction, education. Such groups or associations that seek to influence government in some way are called Interest Groups.

Interest Groups Past and Present: The “Mischiefs of Faction” Social Movements – a large body of people who are interested in a common issue, idea, or concern that is of continuing significance and who are willing to take action to support or oppose it. Interest groups sometimes begin as movements. Social movements represent groups that have felt unrepresented by government. How do they differ? Interest groups usually work within the framework of government and employ tactics such as lobbying to achieve their goals. Movements seek to change attitudes or institutions, not just policies.

Types of Interest Groups Economic Interest Groups Business – large corporations, including multinationals Trade and Other Associations – businesses with similar interests join together as associations which are as diverse as the product and services they provide. Labor – workers’ associations with shared interests, ranging from professional standards to wage and working conditions. Examples: American Farm Bureau Federation, United Farm Workers Association, AFL-CIO.

Types of Interest Groups (continued) Economic Interest Groups (continued) Professional Associations – professional associations with shared interests. Examples: American Medical Association, American Bar Association, American Federation of Teachers, American Realtors Assoc. Ideological or Single-Issue Interest Groups Public Interest Groups (PIRGs) Seek to influence policy on Capitol Hill and in several state legislatures on environmental issues, safe energy, and consumer protection. Foreign Policy Interest Groups Nongovernmental Organizations (NGOs )

Types of Interest Groups (continued) Government & Government Employee Interest Groups Governments are themselves important interest groups. Government employees form a large and well-organized group. Public employees are increasingly important to organized labor because they constitute the fastest- growing unions. Other Interest Groups Veteran’s groups Nationality groups Religious organizations Environmental groups

The Christian Coalition distributes voter guides before elections as one means of influencing politics Types of Interest Groups: Ideological or Single-Interest Groups

The National Rifle Association 36 million members Offers a wide array of material benefits like insurance and magazines One of the most influential lobbying groups in D.C. AARP : The Nation’s Most Powerful Interest Group

Types of Interest Groups: Public Interest Groups Ralph Nader - Ran for president as Green Party candidate in 1996 and 2000 and as independent in 2004 Foreign Policy Interest Groups Council on Foreign Relations American-Israel Political Action Committee Public Sector Interest Groups National Governors Association National League of Cities National Educational Association

Other Interest Groups - Some Environmental Groups and How They Do Business

Major Organized Interest Groups

Characteristics and Power of Interest Groups Collective Action: Refers to how groups form and organize to pursue their goals or objectives, including how to get individuals and groups to participate and cooperate. Public Choice: Synonymous with “collective action.” Public choice specifically studies how government officials, politicians, and voters respond to positive and negative incentives.

Size and Resources Incentive to participate Cohesiveness Leadership Techniques Publicity and Mass Media Appeals Mass Mailing Direct Contact with Government Federal Register – an official document, published every weekday, listing the new and proposed regulations of executive departments and regulatory agencies. Organized groups have ready access to this to influence Congress. - Inspirational leadership can be instrumental in building membership Characteristics and Power of Interest Groups

Interest Groups: Size and Resources Resources can be used to provide selective benefits, which can be used to overcome organizational barriers Material benefits Solidarity benefits Purposive benefits Interest Groups: Cohesiveness Types of members in an organization Small number of formal members People intensely involved with the group People who are members in name only

Bruce S. Gordon In 2005 elected the president and CEO of the NAACP Successful businessman who was named one of the “50 most Powerful Black Executives” in 2002 by Fortune magazine Leadership Profile Marian Wright Edelman: Lobbyist for the Poor Founder and president of the Children’s Defense Fund

Techniques (continued) Litigation Amicus curiae (“friends of the court”) briefs – filed by an individual or organization to present arguments in addition to those presented by the immediate parties to a case. Election Activities Forming a Political Party Lobbying Protest Candidate Support Characteristics and Power of Interest Groups

Other Techniques

The Influence of Lobbyists Who are the Lobbyists? A person or persons employed by and acting for an organized interest group or corporation to try to influence policy decisions and positions in the executive and legislative branches. What do Lobbyists Do? Engage in activities aimed at influencing public officials, especially legislators and the policies they enact. Lobbyists primarily provide money for campaigns. The Iron Triangle

The Influence of Lobbyists Who Are the Lobbyists? Lobbyists are former public servants. Lobbyists are experienced in government. Lobbyists often go to work for one of the interests they dealt with while in government. What Do Lobbyists Do? Many lobbyists participate in issue networks or relationships among interest groups, congressional committees, subcommittees, and government agencies that share a common policy concern. Interest groups provide money for incumbents. Interest groups provide information.

The Influence of Lobbyists What Do Lobbyists Do? (cont.) Interest groups sometimes attempt to influence legislators and regulators by going directly to the people and urging them to contact public officials. Interest groups seek to influence politics and public policy by spending money on elections in several ways. to candidates for their election campaigns, especially in contested races. to political parties. to other interest groups. to the members of their group, including employees. Money and Politics

The Growth of Political Action Committees PACs PACs – the political arm of an interest group that is legally entitled to raise funds on a voluntary basis from members, stockholders, or employees in order to contribute to favored candidates or political parties. Types of PACs: Corporations Trade and health organizations Labor unions Ideological organizations

Political Action Committees (cont.) More recently, elected officials have begun to form their own PACs called Leadership PACs. Leaderships PACs are formed by an officeholder who collects contributions from individuals and other PACs and then makes contributions to other candidates and political parties. PACs are important not only because they contribute such a large share of the money congressional candidates raise for their campaigns but also because they contribute so disproportionately to incumbents. Money and Politics

Professional Associations - PACs That Gave the Most to during the election cycle (millions of dollars) Total PACamount DemocratsRepublicans Operating Engineers Union %14% International Brotherhood of Electrical Worker AT&T National Association of Realtors Machinists-Aerospace Workers American Association for Justice American Bankers Association National Beer Wholesalers Association Laborers Union International Association of Fire Fighters Source: Center for Responsive Politics based on data released by the Federal Elections Commission, April 28, 2008

PAC Contributions to Congressional Candidates 1998–2008. Contributions to Candidates for U.S. Congress, 1975–2008 (in Millions).

Political Action Committees (cont.) The law limits the amount of money that PACs, like individuals, can contribute to any single candidate in an election cycle. The Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA) – AKA McCain-Feingold Act (2002) doubled individual contribution limits and mandated that they increase with inflation while leaving PAC contribution limits unchanged. Money and Politics

Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act  Passed in 2002 to update FECA of  Outlaws use of soft money.  Limits individual and political action committee funds.  Political parties become larger players.  Allows donations from “leadership PACs.”  Does not regulate use of personal money.  Regulates the use of public and matching funds. Contribution Limits

Other Modes of Electioneering (cont.) Until the 2004 election cycle, interest groups and individuals could avoid the contribution limitation to political parties by contributing so-called soft money to political parties. Soft money is money raised in unlimited amounts by political parties for party-building purposes. Issue Ads: Interest groups could also help fund so-called issue ads supporting or opposing candidates as long as the ads did not use certain words. Independent Expenditures The Supreme Court has ruled that individuals, groups, and parties can spend unlimited amounts in campaigns for or against candidates as long as they operate independently from the candidates. When an individual, group, or party does so, they are making an independent expenditure.

Campaigning Through Other Groups Interest groups found a way to circumvent disclosure and contribution limits through issue advocacy. Use of ads that avoided the words “vote for” or “elect” but which were clearly for one candidate Money and Politics In this image from one of Swift Boat Veterans for Truth’s television advertisements, then- presidential nominee John Kerry’s patriotism and Vietnam War record are called into question.

The Effectiveness of Interest Group Activity in Elections Tendency of PACs to give money to incumbents has meant that challengers face real difficulties in getting their campaigns funded. “Too often, members’ first thought is not what is right or what they believe, but how it will affect fundraising. Who, after all, can seriously contend that a $100,000 donation does not alter the way one thinks about--and quite possibly votes on--an issue?” - Former U. S. Senator Alan Simpson (R- WY)