Special Interest Groups – Lobbyists and PACS Barrons – Chp 14Barrons – Chp 14

Interest Groups Different classifications Different classifications Economic Economic Occupational Occupational Environmental Environmental Minority Minority Main role: influence public policy and the policy makers through lobbying efforts, formation of PACs and legal action Main role: influence public policy and the policy makers through lobbying efforts, formation of PACs and legal action Take place w/in the context of a pluralist, hyperpluralist, and elite society Take place w/in the context of a pluralist, hyperpluralist, and elite society

Group Theory (chp 1) Pluralism Pluralism Different factions vying for control of the policy agenda Different factions vying for control of the policy agenda result: no single group emerges, forcing the groups to compromise result: no single group emerges, forcing the groups to compromise Centrist position is achieved Centrist position is achieved Elite (class) Elite (class) Upper economic class strata of society controls the policy agenda Upper economic class strata of society controls the policy agenda Controls the linkage institutions of government Controls the linkage institutions of government Hyperpluralism Hyperpluralism There are so many strong groups and factions that the government can no longer function There are so many strong groups and factions that the government can no longer function

Interest or Linkage Groups Public or private affiliation or committee with a goal of disseminating the memberships viewpoint attempts to persuade public policymakers to respond to the groups perspective attempts to persuade public policymakers to respond to the groups perspective Goals carried out by special interests – lobbyists and PACS Goals carried out by special interests – lobbyists and PACS Differences between political parties and interest groups Differences between political parties and interest groups IG’s don’t nominate candidates for political office IG’s don’t nominate candidates for political office Function is to influence office holders, not to gain office, therefore there only responsible to their narrow constituency Function is to influence office holders, not to gain office, therefore there only responsible to their narrow constituency Anyone can join interest groups, with similar attitudes and goals Anyone can join interest groups, with similar attitudes and goals

Interest or Linkage Groups Criticisms and advocates of interest groups Criticisms and advocates of interest groups Advocates: additional check and balance to the legislative system Advocates: additional check and balance to the legislative system Critics: partly responsible for gridlock, gain access to officials as a tradeoff for political contributions Critics: partly responsible for gridlock, gain access to officials as a tradeoff for political contributions Interest groups – internal function of attracting a keeping a viable membership Interest groups – internal function of attracting a keeping a viable membership Accomplish by making promises to their membership – “we will succeed in our political goals” Will benefit the political, economic, or social needs of the members

Interest or Linkage Groups Different linkage groups compete with one another in a manner that is consistent with pluralist theory competition among groups is healthy, clarifies information prevents anyone group from dominating competition among groups is healthy, clarifies information prevents anyone group from dominating Critics of Elite Theory Critics of Elite Theory Power is concentrated by the largest and richest organizations Power is concentrated by the largest and richest organizations Unequal nature of the power of groups Unequal nature of the power of groups $ talks, large groups have the most influence $ talks, large groups have the most influence

Interest or Linkage Groups Madison – Federalist 51: factions….. Principal task of government is to regulate the various interests Madison – Federalist 51: factions….. Principal task of government is to regulate the various interests Led to his development of the separation of powers Led to his development of the separation of powers Three branches State & Federal Formation of political parties became an additional balance de Tocqueville, “in no country in the world is the principle of association been more successfully used then in America". Examples of interest groups: suffragettes, prohibitionists, labor unions. - -NAACP, AFL-CIO. The number of interest groups has grown as well as the size, become specialized. Economic and occupational, energy and environmental, religious racial gender and ethnic, political professional NIdea logical. `

Interest or Linkage Groups The number of interest groups has grown as well as the size, become specialized. Economic and occupational, energy and environmental, religious Racial, gender and ethnic, political professional ideological.

Interest or Linkage Groups Most groups have headquarters in Washington DC. They hire lobby lobbyists to make contacts with senators and representatives. Get their views placed on political agendas through the following techniques: testifying at congressional hearings, contacting government officials, providing research information, sending letters to their members, trying to influence the press, suggesting and supporting legislation, hiring lobbyists, giving senators and representatives feedback from constituents, making contributions through PACs, taking congressmen on trips or to dinner, endorsing candidates & working on campaigns.

Interest or Linkage Groups Use their expertise to give elected officials additional information related to problems. Their agendas are known. Lobbyist: the primary instrument for fostering special interest groups goals to policymakers. To be successful they use the following techniques: knowing the issues inside and out as well as the people involved, understanding the goals of the group, being truthful with the people they deal with, working closely with the interest group that hired them, keeping the people are trying to convince in their corner,

Interest or Linkage Groups PACs-raise money from the special interest groups constituents, make contributions to political campaigns. The amount of money is skyrocketed sense the federal election campaigns acts (FECA) were passed in the early 70s. The amount of money spent on house and senatorial candidates in 2006 over 800 hundred million dollars