∞ Legislators don’t have time to compile information ∞ Lobbyists present info in an organized, persuasive, factual manner ∞ Client politics – nature of issue could give advantage to suppliers of certain information but burden on suppliers of contrary information

∞ Political cue: tells official what values are at stake and if issue fits into their set of political beliefs ∞ Ratings: assess a representative’s voting record on issues important to an interest group

∞ Insider strategy: lobbyists work closely with key members of Congress ∞ Outsider strategy: designed to generate public pressure directly on government officials (grassroots lobbying) ∞ Issue public: public directly affected by government policy ∞ Members interest groups work with legislators with whom they agree ∞ Only few issues are so important that member of Congress would think that to ignore public opinion would mean losing election

∞ Lobbyists try direct-mail campaigns to arouse small, passionate group to write letters/vote ∞ “Dirty Dozen” – Congressmen votes against bills to help environment; lost them their re-election ∞ Large, well-funded interest groups rarely all- powerful

∞ Money one of less effective ways to advance groups’ causes ∞ Campaign finance reform law of 1973: restricted amount any interest could give candidate; legal for corporations/labor unions to form political action committees (PACs) to make contributions ∞ 2004, top ten PACs were labor unions, business organizations, groups representing doctors, lawyers, realtors, government employees

∞ Rise of ideological PACs (+1,000: ⅓ liberal, ⅔ conservative) ∞ Make more money but give less since the way they raise it is expensive ∞ Most PACs spend small sums of money over many candidates

∞ Hundreds leave government for jobs in private industry ∞ Michael K. Deaver (deputy chief of staff under Reagan) used former government contacts to help clients of public relation firm ∞ Works other way: Ex – lawyers of Federal Trade Commission might feel will be rewarded for being especially vigorous/effective prosecutors

∞ Both ends of political spectrum used disruption ∞ Feminists, antislavery, blacks: sit-ins to bombings ∞ Ku Klux Klan: terror, intimidation, murder ∞ Officials find selves in no-win situations