American Government and American Government and Politics Today Politics Today

Chapter 7Chapter 7

Interest GroupsInterest Groups

Interest Groups: A Interest Groups: A Natural PhenomenonNatural Phenomenon

– In In Democracy in AmericaDemocracy in America, Alexis de , Alexis de Tocqueville wrote “...in no country of Tocqueville wrote “...in no country of the world has the principle of the world has the principle of association been more successfully association been more successfully used or applied to a greater used or applied to a greater multitude of objectives than in multitude of objectives than in America.”America.”

Interest GroupsInterest Groups

– If de Tocqueville was amazed at how If de Tocqueville was amazed at how associations had flourished in the associations had flourished in the United States in 1834, he would be United States in 1834, he would be astounded at the number of astounded at the number of associations today. associations today. Why have interest Why have interest groups been so successful in the United groups been so successful in the United States?States?

Why Do Americans Join Why Do Americans Join Interest Groups? Interest Groups?

– Free rider problemFree rider problem. This is the . This is the difficulty interest groups face in difficulty interest groups face in recruiting members when the recruiting members when the benefits they achieve can be gained benefits they achieve can be gained without joining the group. without joining the group. Solidarity IncentivesSolidarity Incentives Material IncentivesMaterial Incentives Purposive IncentivesPurposive Incentives

– Retaining membersRetaining members

Economic Interest Economic Interest Groups Groups

– Business interest groups (U.S. Chamber of Business interest groups (U.S. Chamber of Commerce)Commerce)

– Agricultural Interest Groups (American Agricultural Interest Groups (American Farm Bureau Federation)Farm Bureau Federation)

– Labor interest groups (American Federation Labor interest groups (American Federation of Labor and the Congress of Industrial of Labor and the Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) )Organizations (AFL-CIO) )

– Public Employee Unions (American Public Employee Unions (American Federation of State, County and Municipal Federation of State, County and Municipal EmployeesEmployees))

– Interest Groups of Professionals (American Interest Groups of Professionals (American Bar Association)Bar Association)

– The Unorganized PoorThe Unorganized Poor

Other Types of Interest Other Types of Interest GroupsGroups

– Environmental GroupsEnvironmental Groups– Public Interest GroupsPublic Interest Groups

Nader OrganizationsNader Organizations

– Single-issue focused groups (AARP, Single-issue focused groups (AARP, etc.)etc.)

– Foreign GovernmentsForeign Governments

Union Membership Union Membership

Discuss some of the factors that Discuss some of the factors that have caused a decline in Union have caused a decline in Union Membership in America. What will Membership in America. What will the trend be going forward? the trend be going forward?

What Makes an Interest What Makes an Interest Group Powerful?Group Powerful?

– Size and ResourcesSize and Resources– LeadershipLeadership– CohesivenessCohesiveness

Interest Group Interest Group StrategiesStrategies

– Direct TechniquesDirect Techniques LobbyingLobbying Publishing the voting records of Publishing the voting records of

members of the legislaturemembers of the legislature Building alliancesBuilding alliances Campaign assistanceCampaign assistance

Interest Group Interest Group Strategies (cont.)Strategies (cont.)

– Indirect TechniquesIndirect Techniques Generating public pressureGenerating public pressure Using constituents as lobbyistsUsing constituents as lobbyists Unconventional forms of pressure Unconventional forms of pressure

(marches, rallies, and demonstrations)(marches, rallies, and demonstrations)

Regulating Lobbyists Regulating Lobbyists

– The Federal Regulation of Lobbying Act The Federal Regulation of Lobbying Act (1946) required that individuals or (1946) required that individuals or organizations that receive money for organizations that receive money for the purpose of influencing national the purpose of influencing national legislation must register as a lobbyist or legislation must register as a lobbyist or lobbying organization, and registered lobbying organization, and registered lobbyists must make public quarterly lobbyists must make public quarterly reports about all lobbying activity. reports about all lobbying activity.

– The Act was ineffective, however, as The Act was ineffective, however, as only full-time lobbyists had to register.only full-time lobbyists had to register.

The Reforms of 1995The Reforms of 1995

– In 1995, Congress overhauled the In 1995, Congress overhauled the lobbying legislation. The new lobbying legislation. The new legislation includes the following legislation includes the following provisions.provisions.

A lobbyist is a person who spends 20 A lobbyist is a person who spends 20 percent of the time or more lobbying percent of the time or more lobbying Congress or the executive branch.Congress or the executive branch.

Lobbyists who earn $5,000 or more must Lobbyists who earn $5,000 or more must register within 45 days of making contact register within 45 days of making contact with a member of Congress.with a member of Congress.

The Reforms of 1995The Reforms of 1995

Detailed reports must disclose the Detailed reports must disclose the nature of the lobbying business twice a nature of the lobbying business twice a year.year.

Subsidiaries of foreign companies Subsidiaries of foreign companies based in the United States, must based in the United States, must register as lobbyists.register as lobbyists.

Tax-exempt organizations and religious Tax-exempt organizations and religious organizations are exempt from these organizations are exempt from these requirements. requirements.

Interest Groups and Interest Groups and Representative Representative Democracy Democracy

– Interest Groups: Elitist or Pluralist? Interest Groups: Elitist or Pluralist? The existence of interest groups The existence of interest groups

would appear to be an argument in would appear to be an argument in favor of pluralism. However, favor of pluralism. However, interest groups are often led by interest groups are often led by upper-class individuals, which upper-class individuals, which argues for elite theory. argues for elite theory.

– Interest Group InfluenceInterest Group Influence Even the most powerful groups do Even the most powerful groups do

not always succeed in their not always succeed in their demands.demands.

Questions for Critical Questions for Critical Thinking Thinking

How have labor interest groups How have labor interest groups traditionally sought to influence policy? traditionally sought to influence policy?

Should foreign interest groups be banned, Should foreign interest groups be banned, given that the interests of U.S. citizens given that the interests of U.S. citizens frequently are intertwined with foreign frequently are intertwined with foreign interests (as employees, for example)?interests (as employees, for example)?

What kind of incentive would motivate you What kind of incentive would motivate you to participate in an interest group? What to participate in an interest group? What are the incentives for the people that you are the incentives for the people that you know who are active in interest groups? know who are active in interest groups?