1. Chapter 11: Interest Groups
AP United States Government and Politics

2. Proliferation of Interest Groups
Many kinds of cleavage in the country
Constitution makes for many access points
Public laws favor the non-profit sector
Section 501(c)(3) organizations
Section 501(c)(4) organizations
Political parties are weak

3. Birth of Interest Groups
Periods of rapid growth
Since 1960, 70 percent have established an office in Washington D.C.
1770s, independence groups
1830s and 1840s, religious, antislavery groups
1860s, craft unions
1880s and 1890s, business associations
1900s and 1910, most major lobbies of today

4. Factors Explaining Rise of Interest Groups
Broad economic developments create new interests
Farmers produce cash crops
Mass production of industries
Government policy itself
Created veterans’ groups -- wars
Encouraged formation of Farm Bureau
Launched Chamber of Commerce
Favored growth of unions

5. Factors Explaining Rise of Interest Groups
Emergence of strong leaders, usually at certain times
Expanding role of government

7. Kinds of Organizations
Interest group: any organization that seeks to influence public policy
Institutional Interests: individuals or organizations representing other organizations
Types
Businesses: example, General Motors
Trade or governmental associations
Concerns -- bread-and-butter issues concern to their clients
Clearly defined, with homogeneous groups
Diffuse, with diversified groups
Other interests -- governments, foundations, universities

8. Kinds of Organizations
Membership Interests
Americans join some groups more frequently than people in other nations
Social, business, etc., same rate as elsewhere
Unions, less likely to join
Religious or civic groups, more likely to join
Greater sense of efficacy and duty explains the tendency to join civic groups
More sympathizers do not join because:
Individuals not that significant
Benefits flow to nonmembers too

9. Kinds of Organizations
Incentives to join
Solidary incentives -- pleasure, companionship (League of Women Voters, AARP, NAACP, Rotary)
Material incentives -- money, things, services
(farm organizations, retired persons, etc)
Purpose of the organization itself --
public-interest organizations
Ideological interest groups’ appeal is controversial principles
Engage in research and bring lawsuits
Public-interest lobby

10. Kinds of Organizations
Influence of the staff
Many issues affect different members differently
Issues may be irrelevant to those joining for solidary or material benefits
Group efforts may reflect opinion of staff more than general membership

11. Interest Groups and Social Movements
Social movement is a widely shared demand for change
Environmental movement
Feminist movement: three kinds
Solidary -- LWV and others (widest support)
Purposive -- NOW, NARAL (strong position on divisive issues)
Caucus -- WEAL (material benefits)

12. Interest Groups and Social Movements
Union movement
Major movement occurred in the 1930s
Peak around 1945
Steady decline since, today about 10 percent of all workers
Explanations for the decline
Shift from industrial production to service delivery
Decline in popular approval of unions
Growth of unions composed of government workers

13. Funds for Interest Groups
Foundation grants
Expansion and cutbacks in federal grants affect interest groups
Support for projects undertaken
Large not-for-profits benefit when grants are awarded for services they provide
Efforts by Reagan and Bush to cut back and increase funds
Business and federal contracts

14. Funds for Interest Groups
Direct mail
Unique to modern interest groups through use of computers
Common Cause a classic example
Techniques
Teaser
Emotional arousal
Celebrity endorsement
Personalization of letter

15. Problem of Bias Reasons for belief in upper-class bias
More affluent more likely to join
Business or professional groups more numerous
Why these facts do not decide the issue
Describe inputs but not outputs
Business groups often divide among themselves
Important to ask what the bias is
Many conflicts are within upper middle class
Resource differentials are clues, not conclusions

17. Activities of Interest Groups Information
Single most important tactic
Nonpolitical sources insufficient
Provide detailed, current information
Most effective on narrow, technical issues
Officials also need political cues -->
ratings systems
Dissemination of information and cues via fax

18. Activities of Interest Groups Public Support: Rise of New Politics
Outsider strategy replacing insider strategy
New strategy leaders to controversy that politicians dislike
Key targets: the undecided
Some groups attack their likely allies to embarrass them
Legislators sometimes buck public opinion, unless issue important
Some groups try for grassroots support
Saccharin issue
“Dirty Dozen” environmental polluters
Few large, well-funded all-powerful interests (NRA)

19. Activities of Interest Groups Money and PACs
Money is the least effective way
to influence politicians
Campaign finance reform law of
1973 had two effects
Restricted amount interest groups can give to candidates
Made it legal for corporations and unions to create PACs
Rapid growth in PACs has not led to vote buying
More money is available on all sides
Members of Congress take money but still decide how to vote

20. Activities of Interest Groups Money and PACs
Almost any organization can create a PAC
More than half of the PACs are sponsored by corporations
Recent increase in ideological PACs; one-third liberal, two- thirds conservative
Ideological PACs raise more but spend less because of the cost of raising money
In 2000 unions and business organizations gave most

21. Activities of Interest Groups Money and PACs
Incumbents get most PAC money
Business PACs split money between
Democrats and Republicans
Democrats get most PAC money
PAC contributions small
No evidence PAC money influences votes in Congress
Most members vote their ideology
When issue is if little concern to voters, slight correlation but may be misleading
PAC money may influence in other ways, such as access
PAC money most likely to influence on client politics

22. Activities of Interest Groups The Revolving Door
Individuals leave important jobs in the federal government and go into lucrative positions in private industry
Some become lobbyists and there are concerns
Improper influence
Promise of positions upon leaving government
Some prominent examples, especially in the procurement process

23. Activities of Interest Groups Trouble
Disruption always part of American politics
Used by groups of varying ideologies
Better accepted since 1960s
History of proper persons using disruption: suffrage, civil rights, antiwar movements
Officials dread no-win situation

25. Regulating Interest Groups
Protection by First Amendment
1946 law accomplished little in requiring registration

26. Regulating Interest Groups
1995 lobby act enacted by Congress
Broadens definition of a lobbyist
Lobbyists must report twice annually
The names of clients
Their income and expenditures
The issues on which they worked
Exempts grassroots organizations
No enforcement organization created

27. Regulating Interest Groups
2007 reforms by Democrats
Gifts from registered lobbyists or firms that employ them
Reimbursement for travel costs from registered lobbyists or firms that employ them
Reimbursements for travel for trips organized or requested by registered lobbyists or firms that employ them
Impact of reforms?
Rules will probably be enforced “strictly speaking”
Exceptions, loopholes and need for clarification
Still room for evasion and abuse
Significant restraints prior to 1995 still in effect
Tax code: threat of losing exempt status
Campaign finance laws