1. AM GOV 2012 Joseph A. Losco Ralph E. Baker

2. INTEREST GROUPS IN AMERICA Chapter 8

3. As You Read What are interest groups and what types of interests do they represent? What are interest groups and what types of interests do they represent? Why might someone join an interest group? Why might someone join an interest group? What do interest groups do? What do interest groups do? © 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

4. ORGANIZED INTERESTS: WHO ARE THEY? An interest group is a formally organized association that seeks to influence public policy. An interest group is a formally organized association that seeks to influence public policy. Interest groups include diverse organizations such as corporations, labor unions, and civil rights groups that reflect the spectrum of interests that make up our pluralistic society. Interest groups include diverse organizations such as corporations, labor unions, and civil rights groups that reflect the spectrum of interests that make up our pluralistic society. Better educated and wealthier Americans are more active in interest group politics. Better educated and wealthier Americans are more active in interest group politics. © 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

5. THE ROOTS OF INTEREST GROUP POLITICS IN AMERICA By the early 1800s, voluntary associations were well established in the United States. By the early 1800s, voluntary associations were well established in the United States. Economic change and advances in transportation brought rapid growth in the number of voluntary and political organizations in the mid-1800s. Economic change and advances in transportation brought rapid growth in the number of voluntary and political organizations in the mid-1800s. Labor unions and other voluntary associations supporting workers appeared in the late 1800s. Labor unions and other voluntary associations supporting workers appeared in the late 1800s. © 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

6. THE ROOTS OF INTEREST GROUP POLITICS IN AMERICA The New Deal spawned hundreds of interest groups with a stake in federal policies. The New Deal spawned hundreds of interest groups with a stake in federal policies. The civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s led to an explosion in Washington-based advocacy groups. The civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s led to an explosion in Washington-based advocacy groups. Advocacy groups protect individuals and their rights but have contributed to a more passive role for citizens. Advocacy groups protect individuals and their rights but have contributed to a more passive role for citizens. © 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

7. WHOSE INTERESTS ARE REPRESENTED? The largest interest group is composed of trade associations, particularly business interests. The largest interest group is composed of trade associations, particularly business interests. Professional associations, labor unions, and education groups also maintain a strong presence in Washington. Professional associations, labor unions, and education groups also maintain a strong presence in Washington. Virtually every nation in the world maintains a Washington office to oversee its relations with U.S. leaders. Virtually every nation in the world maintains a Washington office to oversee its relations with U.S. leaders. © 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

8. WHOSE INTERESTS ARE REPRESENTED? Over 40 percent of all Washington lobbyists represent business interests. Over 40 percent of all Washington lobbyists represent business interests. Many interests at the bottom of the economic spectrum enjoy minimal or no representation at all. Many interests at the bottom of the economic spectrum enjoy minimal or no representation at all. © 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

9. WHY JOIN? Interest groups employ various incentives to sustain membership and commitment. Interest groups employ various incentives to sustain membership and commitment. Incentives include: material benefits; solidary incentives (building friendships and networking opportunities); and purposive incentives—the individual satisfaction of working to make change. Incentives include: material benefits; solidary incentives (building friendships and networking opportunities); and purposive incentives—the individual satisfaction of working to make change. © 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

10. WHY JOIN? Contrary to rational choice theory, interest group leaders rank material benefits to be the least important incentives. Contrary to rational choice theory, interest group leaders rank material benefits to be the least important incentives. Leaders of all kinds of groups rank purposive incentives highest, with solidary incentives close behind. Leaders of all kinds of groups rank purposive incentives highest, with solidary incentives close behind. © 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

11. INTEREST GROUP STRATEGIES A strategy is a group’s overall plan; the specific actions it undertakes are tactics. A strategy is a group’s overall plan; the specific actions it undertakes are tactics. Inside strategies emphasize direct personal encounters with public officials. Inside strategies emphasize direct personal encounters with public officials. Outside strategies are activities that show popular support for a cause and indirectly create public pressure on elected officials. Outside strategies are activities that show popular support for a cause and indirectly create public pressure on elected officials. Resources useful in advancing a group’s cause include money, numbers, prestige, and leadership. Resources useful in advancing a group’s cause include money, numbers, prestige, and leadership. © 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

12. LOBBYING AND OTHER TACTICS Lobbying is increasingly the province of permanent and salaried professionals. Lobbying is increasingly the province of permanent and salaried professionals. Former government workers are well suited to be lobbyists. Former government workers are well suited to be lobbyists. They have specialized knowledge in a policy area They have specialized knowledge in a policy area They have a thorough knowledge of the political process They have a thorough knowledge of the political process Former lawmakers and staffers often join firms that lobbied them when they were in government. Former lawmakers and staffers often join firms that lobbied them when they were in government. © 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

13. LOBBYING AND OTHER TACTICS Members of Congress value lobbyists because of the resources they provide, like electoral support in the form of campaign contributions and information. Members of Congress value lobbyists because of the resources they provide, like electoral support in the form of campaign contributions and information. Opportunities for lobbying Congress have increased in recent years due to rule changes that make individual members more important. Opportunities for lobbying Congress have increased in recent years due to rule changes that make individual members more important. The expansion of the federal bureaucracy greatly increased lobbying aimed at cabinet departments and executive agencies. The expansion of the federal bureaucracy greatly increased lobbying aimed at cabinet departments and executive agencies. Small groups of experts called issue networks may dominate policy creation and implementation. Small groups of experts called issue networks may dominate policy creation and implementation. © 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

14. LOBBYING AND OTHER TACTICS Congress has passed several laws regulating lobbying activity, including a ban on accepting gifts, meals, or trips from lobbyists. Congress has passed several laws regulating lobbying activity, including a ban on accepting gifts, meals, or trips from lobbyists. Congress has attempted to regulate campaign financing and political contributions by individuals, political parties, and political action committees. Congress has attempted to regulate campaign financing and political contributions by individuals, political parties, and political action committees. Interest groups often form tax-exempt organizations, or 527 groups, to engage in various political activities. Interest groups often form tax-exempt organizations, or 527 groups, to engage in various political activities. © 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

15. LOBBYING AND OTHER TACTICS Some interest groups initiate litigation as a tactic to advance their goals. Some interest groups initiate litigation as a tactic to advance their goals. Litigation is expensive, so groups with abundant financial resources are most likely to undertake it. Litigation is expensive, so groups with abundant financial resources are most likely to undertake it. Most of the recent important Supreme Court cases have been test cases brought by organized interests in an attempt to set new precedents. Most of the recent important Supreme Court cases have been test cases brought by organized interests in an attempt to set new precedents. © 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

16. LOBBYING AND OTHER TACTICS Grassroots mobilization involves organizing citizens to exert direct pressure on public officials for or against a policy. Grassroots mobilization involves organizing citizens to exert direct pressure on public officials for or against a policy. Mobilizing the grass tops involves setting up meetings between high-profile constituents and members of Congress. Mobilizing the grass tops involves setting up meetings between high-profile constituents and members of Congress. Astroturf lobbying involves using deceptive practices and lack of transparency to manufacture grassroots support for an issue. Astroturf lobbying involves using deceptive practices and lack of transparency to manufacture grassroots support for an issue. © 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

17. LOBBYING AND OTHER TACTICS Organized groups may form coalitions to expand access to resources and information, increase their visibility, and enlarge the scope of their influence. Organized groups may form coalitions to expand access to resources and information, increase their visibility, and enlarge the scope of their influence. Protests, which have always been a part of U.S. politics, are the ultimate form of grassroots activity. Protests, which have always been a part of U.S. politics, are the ultimate form of grassroots activity. Protest usually accompanies issues that are highly charged emotionally Protest usually accompanies issues that are highly charged emotionally Protest is a common tactic among those with few resources and little direct access to power Protest is a common tactic among those with few resources and little direct access to power © 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

18. INTEREST GROUPS AND CITIZEN ENGAGEMENT TODAY Voluntary associations of earlier eras emphasized local organization and citizen training; interest group politics today is often run by professionals in Washington. Voluntary associations of earlier eras emphasized local organization and citizen training; interest group politics today is often run by professionals in Washington. These changes in the patterns of interest group activities may be turning citizens from “participants” to “mailing lists.” These changes in the patterns of interest group activities may be turning citizens from “participants” to “mailing lists.” © 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

19. Which Interests Are Best Represented? © 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

20. Exercising Influence: Interest Group Tactics © 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Testifying at hearings99 % Contacting government officials directly to present your point of view98 Engaging in informal contacts with officials95 Presenting research results or technical information92 Sending letters to members of your organization re: your activities92 Entering into coalitions with other organizations90 Attempting to shape the implementation of policies89 Talking with people from the press and the media86 Consulting with government officials to plan legislative strategy85 Helping to draft legislation85 Inspiring letter-writing campaigns84 Shaping the government’s agenda with new issues and others84 Mounting grassroots lobbying efforts80 Having influential constituents contact their congressperson’s office80 Helping to draft regulations, rules, or guidelines78 Serving on advisory commissions and boards76 Alerting congresspersons to the effects of a bill on their districts75 Filing suit or otherwise engaging in litigation72 Making financial contributions to electoral campaigns58 Doing favors for officials who need assistance56 Attempting to influence appointments to public office53

21. Iron Triangle Diagram © 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

22. PAC Spending Limits and Regulations © 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

23. PAC Expenditures, 1989-2010 © 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

24. Who Gives to Republicans? Who Gives to Democrats? © 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

25. Americans for Democratic Action Ratings for Senators in First Session of 110th Congress (2007) © 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

26. Hot or Not? Should the government place stricter limits on lobbying expenditures?

27. Get Involved In addition to their constituents, what interests do your U.S. representative and senators represent? How much money did they raise in the last election cycle and where did it come from? You can search financial records that reveal this information easily at www.opensecrets.org. The site provides access to the source of both individual and PAC funds. Once you have this data, you can check voting records to discover whether or not they voted for issues supported by major backers. www.opensecrets.org © 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

28. Get Involved Find an interest group that addresses the issues that are most important to you and communicate with that group about opportunities for working with it to advance your cause. Does the group have a local chapter? If not, find out how to start one yourself and develop plans for taking your issue to your congressional representative on behalf of the organization. © 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

29. Summary What are interest groups and what types of interests do they represent? What are interest groups and what types of interests do they represent? Interest groups are voluntary associations that seek to create and promote advantages for their members. They represent myriad specific interests, but those representing the wealthy and better educated are more numerous. © 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

30. Summary Why might someone join an interest group? Why might someone join an interest group? Someone might join an interest group to receive material advantages like discounts for products or services, social support from others with similar backgrounds or interests, or because they believe strongly in a cause they seek to advance. © 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

31. Summary What do interest groups do? What do interest groups do? Interest groups try to influence government policies through tactics like lobbying, financing campaigns, filing suits in court, working to create grassroots support, protesting, and forming alliances with others to advance their cause. © 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.