1. Prentice Hall PoliticalScienceInteractive
Magleby et al.
Government by the People
Chapter 6
Interest Groups: The Politics of Influence
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2. A Nation of Interests Interest Groups Movement
A collection of people who share some common interest or attitude and seek to influence government for specific ends. Interest groups usually work within the framework of government and employ tactics such as lobbying to achieve their goals.
Movement
A large body of people interested in a common issue, idea, or concern that is of continuing significance and who are willing to take action. Movements seek to change attitudes or institutions, not just politics.
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3. Types of Interest Groups: Economic Interest Groups
Business
Trade and other associations
Labor
Professional associations
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4. Union Membership in the United States Compared to Other Countries
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5. Types of Interest Groups: Ideological or Single-Interest Groups
The Christian Coalition distributes voter guides before elections as one means of influencing politics
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6. Types of Interest Groups: Public Interest Groups
Ralph Nader
Unsafe at Any Speed
(1965)
Founded Public Citizen; “Nader’s Raiders”
Ran for president as Green Party candidate in 1996 and 2000 and as independent in 2004
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7. Foreign Policy Interest Groups Public Sector Interest Groups
Types of Interest Groups: Foreign Policy and Public Sector Interest Groups
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
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8. Interest Groups: Size and Resources
Resources can be used to provide selective benefits, which can be used to overcome organizational barriers
Material benefits
Solidary benefits
Purposive benefits
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9. 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
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10. Interest Groups: Leadership
Inspirational leadership can
be instrumental in building
membership
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11. Interest Groups: Techniques
Mass Mailing
Publicity and Mass Appeals
Influence on Rule Making
Litigation
Election Activities
Forming a Political Party
Cooperative Lobbying
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12. Who are the Lobbyists? The Iron Triangle Interest groups
Bureaucratic leaders and experts
Congress members
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13. What Do Lobbyists Do? Techniques Socializing Providing information
Grass-roots mobilization
Protests and demonstrations
Coalition building
Boycotts
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14. Money and Politics PAC Soft Money Hard Money
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 funds to favored candidates or political parties
Soft Money
Money raised in unlimited amounts by political parties for party-building purposes
Hard Money
Political contributions given to a party, candidate or interest group, that are limited in amount and fully disclosed
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15. PACs that Gave the Most to Federal Candidates, 2000-2004 (Millions of Dollars)
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16. How PACs Invest Their Money
An effort to support liberal Democratic women candidates by infusing early money into their campaigns
Stands for Early Money is Like Yeast because “it makes the dough rise”
EMILY’s List
Senator Barbara Milkulski was an early beneficiary of EMILY’s LIST
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17. Soft Money and Issue Advocacy
The 1996 election was a watershed in the involvement of interest groups and individuals in financing campaigns
Use of soft money for candidate-specific electioneering
Use of ads that avoided the words “vote for” or “elect” but which were clearly for one candidate
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18. BCRA and Interest Group Electioneering
The Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act was passed and signed into law by President George W. Bush in February, 2002
Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wisc., and Rep. Christopher Shays (R-Conn.)
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19. 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)
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20. Federal and State Regulation
Serious campaign finance reform began in the 1970s with the Federal Election Campaign Act (1971)
Buckley v. Valeo challenged the constitutionality of campaign finance limits
Now, politicians must get small amounts of money from many sources, with an exception for “soft” money
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