Interest Groups AP Government Unit 4. “An interest group is an organization made up of people who share common objectives and who actively attempt to.

Interest Groups Interest Groups AP GovernmentAP Government

Unit 4Unit 4

•“An interest group is an organization made up of people who share common objectives and who actively attempt to influence government policymakers through direct and indirect methods.”

•““Interest GroupInterest Group is an organization of people is an organization of people with similar policy goals that tries to influence with similar policy goals that tries to influence the political process to try to achieve those the political process to try to achieve those goals.”goals.”

What is an Interest Group??What is an Interest Group??

What do Interest Groups do?What do Interest Groups do?

Try to influence public policyTry to influence public policy Lobbyists try and persuade public officials to Lobbyists try and persuade public officials to

believe a specific view believe a specific view Every branch and every level of government Every branch and every level of government

is affected by interest groupsis affected by interest groups

The Roots and Development The Roots and Development of American Interest Groupsof American Interest Groups

National Groups Emerge (1830-80)National Groups Emerge (1830-80) Progressive Era (1890-1920)Progressive Era (1890-1920)

Organized Labor – the American Federation of Labor (AFL) Organized Labor – the American Federation of Labor (AFL) (1886)(1886)

Business and Trade Associations – The National Business and Trade Associations – The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) (1895)Association of Manufacturers (NAM) (1895)

The Rise of the Interest Group State (1960s and The Rise of the Interest Group State (1960s and 1970s)1970s) Religious and Ideological GroupsReligious and Ideological Groups Business Groups, Trade and Professional AssociationsBusiness Groups, Trade and Professional Associations Organized LaborOrganized Labor

The Development of The Development of American Interest GroupsAmerican Interest Groups

Interest groups have been part of the American Interest groups have been part of the American political landscape since the country’s founding. political landscape since the country’s founding. James Madison in James Madison in Federalist #10Federalist #10 argued for a argued for a

proliferation of groups so that no one group could get proliferation of groups so that no one group could get hegemony over the other groups.hegemony over the other groups.

The open nature of the American government The open nature of the American government invites organized political participation.invites organized political participation.

Interest Groups should:Interest Groups should:

• Promote interest in public affairs

• Provide useful information

• Serve as watchdogs

• Represent the interest of Citizens

Why People Join Interest Groups

1. Solidary Incentives• For the social contacts• League of Women Voters, NAACP,

PTSA, American Legion

2. Material Incentives• For economic reasons • AARP, Farmers Groups, Labor Unions

3. Purposive Incentives• For moral causes / crusades• Right to-Life, Pro-Choice, Greenpeace

Who Joins Interest Groups?Who Joins Interest Groups?

Upper class interest groups- Big BusinessUpper class interest groups- Big BusinessMore affluent join and are activeMore affluent join and are activeWhite collar workersWhite collar workersProfessional groupsProfessional groups

Working class interest groups- Big LaborWorking class interest groups- Big LaborLabor unions have been very powerful in pastLabor unions have been very powerful in pastThe AFL-CIO broke up in 2004, cutting big The AFL-CIO broke up in 2004, cutting big

labor’s powerlabor’s power

Political Parties vs. Interest Groups

Political Parties

• Nominate candidates

• What to win elections

• Concerned with many issues

Interest Groups

• Don’t nominate

• Want to influence policies

• Concerned with one issue

Economic Interest Groups

• Most interest groups are based on economics • Businesses (create favorable environment for

business to prosper) • Agriculture (work for price supports from gov’t, but

also limit gov’t influence) • Labor (Call public attention to the legitimate needs

of working people. Accomplishments …eight-hour work day …child labor laws …minimum wage laws ...workplace health & safety laws)

• Professional (protect and advance their professional field -- to do this, they...publish journals…give awards for excellence ...communicate their opinions to gov’t officials)

Other Types

• Cause-based• (National Wildlife Federation, League of Women

Voters, National Rifle Association, MADD)

• Concerned with the welfare of people• (AARP – senior citizens, NAACP – African

Americans)

• Religious Organizations • (Christian Coalition, American Jewish Congress)

Honest LobbyistsHonest LobbyistsA lobbyist must be A lobbyist must be honest and truthfulhonest and truthful if he if he

or she wants to remain effective.or she wants to remain effective.Access to lawmakers is critical and if a lobbyist Access to lawmakers is critical and if a lobbyist

gets a reputation of being untruthful or gets a reputation of being untruthful or disingenuous legislators doors will close. disingenuous legislators doors will close.

Good lobbyists will also make lawmakers Good lobbyists will also make lawmakers aware of the aware of the downsides of a billdownsides of a bill and the and the arguments on the other side as well.arguments on the other side as well.And I have some swamp land in Florida for And I have some swamp land in Florida for

sale…sale…

LobbyistsLobbyistsA A LobbyistLobbyist is someone whose task it is to is someone whose task it is to

influence legislation or policymakinginfluence legislation or policymakingLobbyists are hired by: Lobbyists are hired by:

BusinessesBusinessesTrade associationsTrade associationsColleges or universitiesColleges or universitiesForeign countriesForeign countriesAnyone else wanting their voice heard on policy Anyone else wanting their voice heard on policy

matters matters (Health issues, parent issues…)(Health issues, parent issues…)

Interest Group TechniquesInterest Group TechniquesDirect TechniquesDirect Techniques:: Lobby at Capitol HillLobby at Capitol Hill Have private meetingsHave private meetings Meet at social occasionsMeet at social occasions Testify at hearingsTestify at hearings Drafting legislationDrafting legislation Providing political infoProviding political info Supply nomination Supply nomination

suggestionssuggestions

Indirect TechniquesIndirect Techniques:: Generating Public Generating Public

PressurePressure Use public pressure on Use public pressure on

“hot button” issues“hot button” issues Use constituents to call Use constituents to call

lawmakerslawmakers Build alliances with other Build alliances with other

groupsgroups

Interest Groups have been Interest Groups have been criticized for…criticized for…

Ignoring the Ignoring the wider interestwider interest of of societysociety

Producing confusion and Producing confusion and deadlock deadlock in Congressin Congress

Generating Generating so much emotionso much emotion that that they make reasoned discussion they make reasoned discussion difficultdifficult

Having Having too much influencetoo much influence

What Makes an Interest What Makes an Interest Group Successful?Group Successful?

1.1. Leaders Leaders – having a prominent leader aids in – having a prominent leader aids in the reputation of the group and enhances a the reputation of the group and enhances a group's ability to attain its goals.group's ability to attain its goals.

2.2. Patrons and FundingPatrons and Funding – funding is critical. – funding is critical. Without money, it is hard to get your message Without money, it is hard to get your message out.out.

3.3. Members Members – a group must have members to – a group must have members to be successful. Organizing members allows be successful. Organizing members allows for strength in numbers and pooling of for strength in numbers and pooling of financial support.financial support.

Important Interest Groups to KnowImportant Interest Groups to Know

AARP-AARP- American Association of Retired American Association of Retired personspersons

NRA- NRA- National Rifle AssociationNational Rifle AssociationACLUACLU- American Civil Liberties Union- American Civil Liberties UnionNAACPNAACP- National Association for the - National Association for the

Advancement of Colored PeopleAdvancement of Colored PeopleSierra Club-Sierra Club- Environmental advocate Environmental advocate

groupgroupAFL-CIOAFL-CIO- American Federation of Labor- American Federation of Labor

Others- and Links!Others- and Links!

AFL-CIO Alliance for Justice American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) American Association for Affirmative Action (AAAA) American Association for People with Disabilities (AAPD) American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) American Association of University Women (AAUW) American Bankers Association (ABA) American Bar Association American Civil Liberties Union American Chemical Society American Conservative Union American Farm Bureau Federation American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Empl

oyees (AFSCME)

American Federation of Teachers (AFT) American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (A

HEPA)

American Israel Public Affairs Committee American Legion American Petroleum Institute American Postal Workers Union (APWU) American Public Welfare Association (APWA) Americans Against Political Corruption Americans for Democratic Action Amnesty International Animal Rights Coalition Catholics United for Life Center for Democracy and Technology Center for Public Integrity Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) Children's Defense Fund Child Labor Coalition Child Welfare League of America Christian Coalition Citizens Against Government Waste Citizens for Budget Reform (CBR) Citizens for Tax Justice Communications Workers of America (CWA)

ConflictNet Concord Coalition Congressional Accountability Proj

ect

Contract with America Bowling Green State University C

oalition Against the Contract [ [

"Contract on America" (book by Ann-Marie Rosato)

Council for Responsible Genetics Death Penalty Information Center EcoNet Electronic Frontier Foundation EMILY's List Empower America Environmental Defense Fund Family Farm Alliance Federation For American Immigra

tion Reform (FAIR)

Feminist Majority Foundation Online

Friends of the Earth Fund for Constitutional Governme

nt

Generation X Coalition Government Purchasing Project

National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)

National Coalition for the Homeless

National Education Association (NEA)

National Endangered Species Act Reform Coalition

National Gay and Lesbian Task Force

National Organization for Women (NOW)

National Recycling Coalition National Resources Defense Cou

ncil

National Right to Life National Rifle Association National Rural Electric Cooperativ

e Association

National Water Resources Association

Nuclear Waste Citizens Coalition Office & Professional Employees

International Union (OPEIU)

PeaceNet People For the American Way People for the Ethical Treatment

of Animals

Physicians for a National Health Program

Planned Parenthood Public Citizen Public Interest Research Groups Service Employees International

Union

Sheet Metal Workers International Association

Sierra Club Society for Electronic Access (SE

A)

Society for Human Resource Management

Taxpayers Against Fraud Teledemocracy Action News + N

etwork

United Autoworkers Workers (UAW)

United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW)

United Mine Workers of America (UMW)

United States Space Foundation Vietnam Veterans of America Women's Legal and Public Policy

Information

WomensNet

GreenNet (environmental) Greenpeace International Habitat for Humanity Hollywood Women's Political Co

mmittee - HWPC

International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers

International Brotherhood of Teamsters

International Union of Bricklayers & Allied Craftworkers

LaborNet League of Conservation Voters League of Women Voters' Voter

Education Project

Majority '96 Militia Watchdog Militia Watchdog National Abortion and National Abortion and

Reproductive Rights Action Reproductive Rights Action League (NARAL) League (NARAL)

National Air Traffic Controllers National Air Traffic Controllers Association Association

National Association for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) (NAACP)

National Association for Public National Association for Public Interest Law Interest Law

National Association of Arab National Association of Arab Americans Americans

National Association of Baby National Association of Baby Boomers Boomers

National Association of National Association of Broadcasters Broadcasters

National Association of National Association of Community Action Agencies Community Action Agencies

National Association of Home National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Builders (NAHB)

Political Action CommitteesPolitical Action CommitteesPACSPACS are the so-called “political arms” of are the so-called “political arms” of

interest groupsinterest groupsSupport candidates with campaign moneySupport candidates with campaign money

½ sponsored by corporations; 1/10 by unions½ sponsored by corporations; 1/10 by unions1/3 liberal and 2/3 conservative (2001)1/3 liberal and 2/3 conservative (2001)

Incumbents get most PAC moneyIncumbents get most PAC money The “The “revolving doorrevolving door””

PACS hire former members of Congress to PACS hire former members of Congress to lobby their old friends, committees, etc…lobby their old friends, committees, etc…

This is legal but …Is this This is legal but …Is this Ethical???Ethical???

Where does ALL the $$ Come Where does ALL the $$ Come From??From??

Member duesMember duesFederal grantsFederal grantsDirect mail appeals for cashDirect mail appeals for cash Internet sitesInternet sitesDinners and fundraisersDinners and fundraisers

Money LimitsMoney Limits

Individuals can give up to $2000 to a Individuals can give up to $2000 to a candidate but candidate but PACS can give $10,000 to a PACS can give $10,000 to a candidatecandidateFederal money will match Federal money will match presidentialpresidential

campaign money but….campaign money but….Parties need at least 5% of vote in previous Parties need at least 5% of vote in previous

year for presidential candidate to receive funds year for presidential candidate to receive funds If that doesn’t happen you need PAC’s!!!If that doesn’t happen you need PAC’s!!!

Interest Group Mantra

If you give…

you shall receive!!

And now for a bit of fun….