Interest Groups Chapter 16

Types of Interest Groups Public interest groups (i.e. NARAL, NRA) Benefits the general population (if you agree with it…) Economic interest groups (i.e. AFL-CIO, National Association of Realtors) For the economic interest of members Governmental units, who lobby for earmarks State and local governments PACs: Political action committees Influence elections

T16-1 Comprehensive: Table 16.1, Page 512 3

Lobbying efforts Target Congress through research, testimony, money . Target bureaucratic agencies and the president. Lobby courts through sponsorship or amicus briefs. Can use grassroots techniques, such as petitions. Protests and activism.

Table 16.2- Lobbying Techniques

Election Activities Recruiting and endorsing candidates Get out the vote efforts Rating candidates and office holders Establishing PACs 4,000 registered with FEC $359 million spent on Congressional candidates PACs also can spend as much as they want independently to help candidates—for example, with heavy television advertising—as long as they do not coordinate their actions with the candidates' campaigns. http://corporate.cq.com/wmspage.cfm?parm1=233 The 2002 law, usually called McCain-Feingold, banned the broadcast, cable or satellite transmission of “electioneering communications” paid for by corporations or labor unions from their general funds in the 30 days before a presidential primary and in the 60 days before the general elections.

T16-2 Comprehensive: Analyzing Visuals, Page 526; Brief: Analyzing Visuals, Page 334 7

T14-4 Comprehensive: Figure 14.2, Page 462; Brief: Figure 12.1, Page 350 How do PACs allocate their campaign contributions? Source: Center for Responsive Politics, www.opensecrets.org/lobby, 2008. 8

What Makes a Group Successful? Leaders, to inspire membership. Patrons, for funding. Members, who are involved at varying levels. Membership helps to overcome the free rider problem.

PACs Top PACs http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/toppacs.php Top all time donors (since 1998) http://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/list.php?order

What about Corporate Lobbying??????? Growth of Lobbying :http://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/index.php Top Lobbyists http://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/top.php?indexType=s

Jack Abramoff Clients: Indian Tribes, Christian Coalition, Online Gambling business, Mariana Island textile companies. $4.5 million went to Congress and staffers in illegal gifts and donations

Honest Leadership and Open Gov Act, 2007 Gifts banned Disclosure requirements increased for campaign contributions 2 years before you can move from gov’t to becoming a lobbyist

Chapter 14 Campaigning

$$ for campaigns in 2008 $ 2 Billion each raised by Republican and Democratic Parties McCain and Obama combined: over $1.1 billion Senate incumbents: averaged $ 9.7 million Challengers: $$ 2.7 million

Campaign funds come from Parties $5,000 per election to House candidates $ 42, 600 to Senate up to 20% of candidates’ $$ in big races Individual contributions Limited to $115, 500 every 2 years including PACs Unlimited to 527s, 501c’s Still a majority of candidates $$ comes from Obama especially. Mostly under $200 contributions

Campaign Money comes from PACs: $5,000 per candidate per election, $15,000 to party. House candidates ave from PACs: $600,000 (on average 33% of total) Senate candidate ave. from PACs: $ 2 million PACs can also spend to campaign (and advertise) independently. Can advocate for a candidate, as long as they are not coordinated with the candidate. No limits on when they advertise since 2010 Citizens United Supreme Court case (prior: not within 60 days of general election, 30 days primary election) Member PACs

PAC rules Union and Corporations can’t give directly to PACs Can encourage members, employees, shareholders to contribute

Campaign funds come from Public funds for presidents Candidates own $$: unlimited

What are the individual contribution limits under BCRA? Comprehensive: Table 14.1, Page 460; Brief: Table 12.1, Page 349 What are the individual contribution limits under BCRA? 20

Soft Money for Campaigning 527 and 501(c) groups: nonprofit groups Unregulated (individuals can give as much $$ as they want) Can advertise can spend all they want on advertising as long as they don’t coordinate with campaign and are not directly endorsing Swiftboat was a 527. Some Democrats complained to the FEC, which struck down complaint. No limits on when they advertise since 2010 Citizens United Supreme Court case (prior: not within 60 days of general election and 30 of primary)

FEC and BCRA FEC created in 1978 to enforce new disclosure laws “hard money” contributions (Direct to candidate and used directly to elect) BCRA : Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act Ads limited in last month of primary election or two in general election Restricted contributions

BCRA weakened 527s, 501c: contributions and ads are up! Supreme Court Overturned ad timing restriction and limits on candidates’ own contributions Citizens United vs. FEC, 2010: struck down a provision that banned corporations, and unions from broadcasting “electioneering communications” (ads that mention candidates) close to election. 60 days general, 30 days primary. The case did not involve the federal ban on direct contributions from corporations or unions to candidate campaigns or political parties.

Presidential Funds Public funds for primaries: most don’t take And for general election: $85 million Obama didn’t take

Presidential campaigns Almost 2 years long! Who’s announced? Read about 2008 in chapter 14 and watch links . Significance of debates http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/tue-march-1-2011/indecision-2012---indecision-edition

T14-1 Comprehensive: Thinking Globally, Page 453; Brief: Thinking Globally, Page 343 26