Interest Groups Chapter 11 P. 264-290. Interest group Interest group An organization of people sharing a common interest or goal that seeks to influence.

Interest Groups

Chapter 11

P. 264-290

Interest group Interest group

An organization of people sharing a common interest or goal that seeks to influence the making of public policy

Many kinds of cleavages in the country mean that there are many different interests

Nearly 7,000 organizations with offices in DC50% corporations33% professional trade associations4% public interest2% civil rights

P. 268

Explaining Proliferation

Birth of Interest Groups

Kinds of Organizations

Incentives to Join

Reasons why Interest Groups are so Common 1. Social Diversity/More cleavages in society

Greater the variety of interest groups Income Occupation Religions Traditions Cultures

2. American constitution system Governmental fragmentation

Federalism Multiple points of access to government Political authority is shared by president, courts and Congress Plenty of places to argue one’s case

3. Weakness of political parties Interests work directly on government P.

265

Federalist # 10 James Madison Factions

Groups that unite to serve selfish goals not the national interest

“The latent causes of faction are thus sown in the nature of man.”

Framers believed factions were inherently dangerous to political freedom and stable government

Constitution was designed so that Arbitrary exercise of power by any one

group/individual would be prevented

History of Interest Groups 1770s Groups agitated for independence 1830s-1840s Anti-slavery groups/religious associations 1860s Craft unions Farmers’ organizations 1880s-1890s Business associations 1900-1920 Best known & largest associations formed

One of the two periods of the greatest growth in the number of groups

1960-1980 One of the two periods of the greatest growth in the number

of groups Environmental Consumer Political Reform groups

Boston Tea Party 1773

P. 266

Four Factors Explain Rise of Interest Groups

1. Broad economic developments Farmers

No reason to organize as long as consumed what produced Cash crops—change

Mass productions Labor unions

2. Government policy Wars create veterans State governments gave doctors/lawyers authority to decide who is

qualified Congress made employers bargain with unions

3. Someone exercises leadership Young/antislavery organizations 1830s and 1840s Caught up in change Inspired by some doctrine

4. More activities government undertakes the more groups there will be

Public interest lobbies Environment Consumer protection P. 267

Types of Interest Groups Institutional

An organization representing other organizations > 500 Trade and governmental associations

National Independent Retail Jewelers American Cotton Manufacturers Institute National Association of Counties American Public Transit Association

Foundations and universities American Council on Education

Membership Individuals join because of strong sense of civic duty Belief that organized activity is an effective way to

influence government Nation of joiners Tendency to join religious, civic or political

associations P. 268

Dates of Founding of Organizations Having Washington Offices

P. 268

Incentives to join interest groups Solidary

Sense of pleasure, status, companionship Local chapters lure members Importance of local government enhances local chapters forming

League of Women Voters NAACP PTA Rotary American Legion

Material benefits Money, things, services Illinois Farm Bureau AARP

Purpose of the organization Rely on appeal of the stated goal Appeal to political convictions and principles Most difficult incentive to use Right to Life

P. 270

Ideological Interest Groups Organizations that attract members by appealing

to their interest/purpose in a coherent set of (usually) controversial principles Single issues Narrow focus Strongly held philosophy Often work to change cultural norms, values, and

prevailing stereotypes Examples

Conservative Christian Coalition

Liberal National Organization of Women

Public Interest Lobby Public Interest Lobby

Exists when the purpose of the group benefits non-members

Policies are shaped by the elites who lead them Many formed in the 1960s as a result of government

taking on more responsibilities Representation in Washington skyrocketed since 1970 Examples

PIRG—Public Interest Research Group Group organized to study local consumer/political issues

Ralph Nader Formed Public Citizen

Public Interest Law Firms Bring suits on behalf of those harmed by some public or private

policy Think Tanks

American Enterprise Institute ACLU P. 271

The Nader Network

Nader became famous when he took on Detroit testifying before Congress for auto safety Wrote

Unsafe at Any Speed

Since 1960s Nader spawned more than a dozen interest groups

2000 Nader ran for president as a Green Party candidate

P. 271

Interest Groups and Social Movements

Environmental Movement

Feminist Movement

Union Movement

Social Movements Widely shared demand for change in the social or political

order Examples

19th century nativism Stop immigration Keep Catholics out of office Religious revivals

1960s-1990s Civil rights Environmental movement Feminist movement

Triggers Scandal

Oil spill in Santa Barbara 1969 Dramatic and widely publicized activities of a few leaders

Martin Luther King Gloria Steinem

Coming of age of a new generation that takes up a causeP. 273

Environmental Movement1890s Conservation

Sierra Club1930s

Wilderness Society National Wildlife

Federation1960s

Environmental Defense Fund

Environmental ActionP. 274

Feminist Movement Three kinds of feminist organizations1. Solidary

Uneasy about tactics of militancy League of Women Voters Federation of Business and Professional Women

2. Purposive Strong positions Tackle divisive issues Use militant tactics National Organization of Women NOW National Abortion Rights Action League NARAL

3. Material benefits Legal rights for women Get women into politics and elected office Women’s Equity Action League National Women’s Political Caucus National Federation of Republican Women

P. 274

Union Movement 1930s 1945 peak

36% of non-farm workers were union 1984

<19% union Decline in union membership

Shift in national economic life from industrial to service

Decline in popular approval Social movement that supported unions faded

Unions remain because they can rely on material benefits Teaching and government union membership

high growth

P. 275

The Decline in Union Membership

P. 275

Funds for Interest Groups

Federal Grants

Direct Mail

Funds for Interest GroupsRaising money Dues Foundation grants

One study found that 1/3 of public interest lobbying groups received more than half of all their funds from foundation grants

Government grants Expansion of federal grants in 1960s and 1970s benefited

interest groups Cutbacks in 1980s hurt them

Direct-mail solicitation Use of computers mail is sent directly to a specialized

audience Approach is also expensive—it must generate checks from at

least 2 percent of the people contacted

P. 276

The Problem of Bias

The more affluentThe more likely to join and be active

Business/professional groupsMore numerous and better financed thanMinorities, consumers, or the disadvantaged

P. 278

Limits on Elite Influence

Elites have input in the political system but Do not control who eventually

wins or loses on particular issues Business groups are

Often divided among themselves

Activities of Interest Groups

Information

Money and PACs

Revolving Door

Trouble

LobbyingKey to Political Influence

Generate headlines Large letter-writing

campaign Protest demonstrations File suit in federal court Supply information to key

legislators All require organization

P. 279

Lobby Attempt to influence government decisions

especially through legislation Lobbyists

Develop and maintain Confidence of the legislator over a long period of time Contacts and communication lines

Tend to work with politicians with whom they agree

Sometimes work in informal coalitions based on general political ideology

Pressure Any arguments and inducements supplied by

someone with whom you disagree

Lobbying Political cue

Signal to official telling them what values are at stake Who is for Who is against How issue fits with officer holder’s belief Liberals look to

AFL-CIO NAACP Americans for Democratic Action

Conservatives look to Chamber of Commerce National Rifle Association American Medical Association

Ratings Way in which cues are made known

AFL-CIO compiles list of who is pro-labor Americans for Constitutional Action lists who are

conservative Generate public support for or against legislation

P. 280

Lobbying Insider strategy

Lobbyists who work closely with key members of Congress Face-to-face contact between lobbyist and member or Hill staff

Outsider strategy Link citizens with the use of

Radio Television Internet Fax Toll-free phone numbers

Grassroots lobbying Public pressure directly on officials Mobilization of the public

Abortion Medicare Social security Environment Affirmative action P. 280-

281

Activities of Interest Groups

Lobbyists’ key targetsUndecided legislator or Bureaucrat

Some groups attack their likely allies to embarrass them

Some groups try for grassroots support

Money and PACs PAC

Committee set up to raise and spend money on campaigns and candidates

Money is the least effective way to influence politicians

The Campaign Finance Reform Law of 1974 restricted donations

The rapid growth in PACs has probably not led to vote buying

Even Congressmen may form a PAC and Many have!!

Ideological PACs raise more money, but Raising the money also consumes it, so Less is available to give to campaigns and candidates

In 2003-2004, unions and business or professional organizations gave the most

Incumbents get the most PAC money Republicans receive the most money from PACS

Spending by Political Action Committees 2003-2004

P. 283

Money and Influence

There is no systematic evidence that PAC money influences votes in Congress

Most members vote in line with their ideology and with their constituents

When an issue is of little concern to voters and ideology provides little guidance, there is a slight correlation between PAC contributions and votes

PAC money may influence politics in other ways, like access or committee actions

P. 282-283

Revolving Door Influence Revolving door

People in government leave to work in private industry as lobbyists, consultants, executives in corporations

This may give private interests a way to improperly influence government decisions

Client politics When an issue or government process by which an issue

is resolved gives an advantage to the supplier of the information and puts a burden on those with contrary information

Example: Federal Communications Commission FCC Decides who gets licenses For many years only radio/television broadcasters had any

reason to appear With cable and satellite television now FCC hearings are hotly

contestedP. 284

Making Trouble An accepted political tactic of every day middle

class citizens Used since the Revolution Objective

To disrupt workings of some institutions so that it is forced to negotiate or at least enlist sympathies of others

Examples Public displays Disruptive tactics Protest marches Sit-ins Pickets Violence

P. 285

Regulating Interest Groups

Campaign Finance Laws

Regulating Interest Groups

Right to lobby is protected by the First Amendment of the

Constitution Free speech

HOWEVER Campaign Finance Laws

Impose significant restrictions on how money may be used

Campaign Finance Reform Act 1973 Restricted amount of money any interest

group could give candidates Legal for corporations and unions to form

Political Action Committees—PACs Make contributions to candidates

Results Rapid growth of PACs

1975-1982 quadrupled in number > ½ PACs sponsored by corporations One tenth of PACs are labor unions Rest are various groups including ideological

ones

P. 282

Regulating Interest Groups 1995 Act

Provided a broader definition of lobbying and

Tightened reporting requirements Tax code

Nonprofits lose tax-exempt status if a “substantial part” of their activities involve lobbying Sierra Club 1968

IRS revoked its tax-exempt status because of its extensive lobbying activities

Campaign-finance laws Limit donations by individual PACs

P. 287

Federal Regulation of Lobbying Act 1946 Requires groups and individuals seeking to

influence legislation to Register with the

Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the House

File quarterly reports Supreme Court upheld the law but

Restricted its application to lobbying efforts involving direct contacts with members of Congress

Law had little practical effect so in 1995 Act

Tightened registration and disclosure Broadened the definition of a lobbyist

P. 286-287

Ethics in Government Act 1978 Broadened rules governing conflicts of interest

among senior members of the executive branch President, VP, GS-16 and above must file

Public financial disclosure report each year Indicating source and amount of income

Former executive branch employees may NOT Represent anyone before former agencies in

connection with any matter that the employee was involved in

Appear before an agency for two years after leaving government on matters that were within their responsibility

Represent anyone on any matter before their former agency for one year after leaving governmentP. 285