INTEREST GROUPS IN AMERICA Chapter 8. ORGANIZED INTERESTS: WHO ARE THEY? An interest group is a voluntary association that seeks publicly to promote and.

INTEREST INTEREST GROUPS IN GROUPS IN AMERICAAMERICA

Chapter 8Chapter 8

ORGANIZED INTERESTS: ORGANIZED INTERESTS: WHO ARE THEY?WHO ARE THEY?

An An interest group interest group is a voluntary is a voluntary association that seeks publicly to promote association that seeks publicly to promote and create advantages for its cause.and create advantages for its cause.

Interest groups focus on achieving Interest groups focus on achieving success with regard to specific policies.success with regard to specific policies.

Better educated and wealthier Americans Better educated and wealthier Americans are more active in interest group politics.are more active in interest group politics.

Advocacy groups protect individuals and Advocacy groups protect individuals and rights, but have contributed to a more rights, but have contributed to a more passive role for citizens. passive role for citizens.

THE ROOTS OF INTEREST THE ROOTS OF INTEREST GROUP POLITICS IN GROUP POLITICS IN

AMERICAAMERICA By the early 1800s, voluntary associations By the early 1800s, voluntary associations

were well established in the United States.were well established in the United States.

Economic and transportation changes brought Economic and transportation changes brought rapid growth in organizations in mid-1800s.rapid growth in organizations in mid-1800s.

Labor unions and other voluntary associations Labor unions and other voluntary associations supporting workers appeared in the late supporting workers appeared in the late 1800s.1800s.

The New Deal spawned hundreds of interest The New Deal spawned hundreds of interest groups with a stake in federal policies.groups with a stake in federal policies.

Civil rights movement led to an explosion in Civil rights movement led to an explosion in Washington-based advocacy groups.Washington-based advocacy groups.

WHOSE INTERESTS ARE WHOSE INTERESTS ARE

REPRESENTED?REPRESENTED? The largest interest group is composed of trade The largest interest group is composed of trade

associations, particularly business interests. associations, particularly business interests. Over 40% of all Washington lobbyists represent business Over 40% of all Washington lobbyists represent business

interests.interests.

Prof. associations, labor unions, and education Prof. associations, labor unions, and education groups also maintain strong presence in DCgroups also maintain strong presence in DC

Virtually every nation in world maintains a DC Virtually every nation in world maintains a DC office to oversee its relations with U.S. leaders.office to oversee its relations with U.S. leaders.

Many interests at the bottom of the economic Many interests at the bottom of the economic spectrum enjoy minimal or no representation at spectrum enjoy minimal or no representation at all.all.

WHY JOIN?WHY JOIN? Individuals join voluntary associations for:Individuals join voluntary associations for:

material benefits, material benefits, the chance to associate with others, and the chance to associate with others, and a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment.a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment.

Contrary to rational choice theory, interest Contrary to rational choice theory, interest group leaders rank material benefits to be group leaders rank material benefits to be the least important incentives.the least important incentives.

Leaders of all kinds of groups rank Leaders of all kinds of groups rank purposive incentives highest, with purposive incentives highest, with solidarity incentives close behind.solidarity incentives close behind.

INTEREST GROUP INTEREST GROUP STRATEGIESSTRATEGIES

A strategy is a group’s overall plan; the A strategy is a group’s overall plan; the specific actions it undertakes are tactics.specific actions it undertakes are tactics.

Inside strategies Inside strategies emphasize direct personal emphasize direct personal encounters with public officials. encounters with public officials.

Outside strategies Outside strategies are activities that show are activities that show popular support for a cause and indirectly popular support for a cause and indirectly create public pressure on elected officials.create public pressure on elected officials.

Resources useful in advancing a group’s Resources useful in advancing a group’s cause include money, numbers, prestige, and cause include money, numbers, prestige, and leadership.leadership.

LOBBYING & OTHER LOBBYING & OTHER TACTICSTACTICS

LobbyingLobbying is increasingly the province of is increasingly the province of permanent and salaried professionals.permanent and salaried professionals. Former gov’t workers well suited to be lobbyists:Former gov’t workers well suited to be lobbyists:

Have special knowledge and know the process.Have special knowledge and know the process.

Members of Congress value lobbyists because Members of Congress value lobbyists because they possess resources of support (contributions, they possess resources of support (contributions, info).info).

Congress has passed laws regulating lobbying Congress has passed laws regulating lobbying activity, including a ban on accepting gifts, activity, including a ban on accepting gifts, meals, or trips from lobbyists.meals, or trips from lobbyists. Interest groups often form tax-exempt organizations, Interest groups often form tax-exempt organizations,

or 527 groups, to engage in various political activities. or 527 groups, to engage in various political activities.

LOBBYING & OTHER LOBBYING & OTHER TACTICSTACTICS

Some interest groups initiate litigation as a Some interest groups initiate litigation as a tactic to advance their goals.tactic to advance their goals. Litigation is expensive, so groups with abundant Litigation is expensive, so groups with abundant

financial resources are most likely to undertake it.financial resources are most likely to undertake it.

Grassroots mobilization involves organizing Grassroots mobilization involves organizing citizens to pressure officials for/against a policy.citizens to pressure officials for/against a policy.

Protests, which have always been a part of U.S. Protests, which have always been a part of U.S. politics, are the ultimate form of grassroots politics, are the ultimate form of grassroots activity.activity. Protest usually accompanies issues that are highly Protest usually accompanies issues that are highly

charged emotionally.charged emotionally. Protest is a common tactic among those with few Protest is a common tactic among those with few

resources and little direct access to power.resources and little direct access to power.

Exponential Growth of PACsExponential Growth of PACs

The Most Powerful People in The Most Powerful People in D.C.D.C.

Which Interests Are Best Which Interests Are Best Represented?Represented?

Top PAC Contributors to Top PAC Contributors to Federal Candidates in 2005-06Federal Candidates in 2005-06

www.opensecrets.orgwww.opensecrets.org National Assn of Realtors $3,030,005$3,030,005 National Auto Dealers Assn $2,376,600$2,376,600 National Beer Wholesalers Assn $2,364,500$2,364,500 Intl Brotherhood of Electrical Workers

$2,311,650$2,311,650 Assn of Trial Lawyers of America $2,114,500$2,114,500 American Bankers Assn $2,047,774$2,047,774 Credit Union National Assn $2,047,224$2,047,224 National Assn of Home Builders $1,982,500$1,982,500 AT&T Inc $1,972,515$1,972,515 United Parcel Service (UPS) $1,872,179 (UPS) $1,872,179

Top PAC Contributors to Top PAC Contributors to Federal Candidates in 2005-06Federal Candidates in 2005-06

www.opensecrets.orgwww.opensecrets.org National Assn of Realtors National Assn of Realtors

48% to Dems and 51% to Republicans48% to Dems and 51% to Republicans National Auto Dealers AssnNational Auto Dealers Assn

28% to Dems and 72% to Republicans28% to Dems and 72% to Republicans National Beer Wholesalers AssnNational Beer Wholesalers Assn

29% to Dems and 71% to Republicans29% to Dems and 71% to Republicans Intl Brotherhood of Electrical WorkersIntl Brotherhood of Electrical Workers

96% to Dems and 3% to Republicans96% to Dems and 3% to Republicans Assn of Trial Lawyers of AmericaAssn of Trial Lawyers of America

96% to Dems and 4% to Republicans 96% to Dems and 4% to Republicans

Who Gives to Republicans & Who Gives to Republicans & Democrats?Democrats?