chapter 7 interest groups. what are interest groups? an organized group that tries to influence...
TRANSCRIPT
Chapter 7
Interest Groups
What Are Interest Groups? An organized group that tries to
influence public policy David Truman
One of first to study interest groups Posed Disturbance Theory
Theory that interest groups form in part to counteract the efforts of other groups.
What Are Interest Groups? Robert Salisbury
Expanded Truman’s theory Groups form when resources are
inadequate or scarce Stressed the role that leaders play:
entrepreneurs
Why Interest Groups are Common
Many kinds of cleavages in the country mean that there are many different interests
Why Interest Groups are Common
The Constitution provides many access points to government
Political parties are weak so interests work directly on government
Kinds of Organized Interests Generally, interest
groups is a term used to describe the numerous organized groups that try to influence government policy.
Public Interest Groups Economic Interest
Groups Governmental Units Political Action
Committees Multi-Issue versus
Single Issue Groups
Profiles of Selected Interest Groups
The Roots & Development of American Interest Groups
National groups emerge (1830-1889) Communication networks enabled
nationalization of groups First were single-issue groups deeply rooted in
the Christian religious revivalism Temperance, Peace, Education, and Slavery
Other groups emerged after the Civil War Lobbyists
Interest group representative who seeks to influence legislation that will benefit his or her organization through political persuasion.
NRA membership
The Roots & Development of American Interest Groups The Progressive Era (1890-1920)
Grew out of concern for impact of rapid industrialization, influx of immigration, monopolistic business practices, crime, poverty, poor working conditions
Organized Labor AFL Clayton Act: allowed unions to organize free from
prosecution and guaranteed their right to strike Business Groups and Trade Associations
Trade Associations: a group that represents a specific industry
National Electric Light Association
Labor Union Membership
The Rise of the Interest Group State 1960s and 1970s saw
a reappearance of the Progressive spirit. Civil Rights Women’s Rights Elderly Poor Consumers Environment
Common Cause and Ralph Nader’s Public Citizen
Conservative Backlash: Religious and Ideological Groups Jerry Falwell and the
Moral Majority Pat Robertson, the
700 Club and the Christian Coalition
National Rifle Association
Business Groups, Corporations, and Associations Rise in business advocacy groups More political than Chamber of Commerce
Example: The Business Roundtable Created in 1972 Urges member to engage in direct lobbying to influence
the course of public policy Most large corporations have
Own governmental affairs department Employ D.C.-based lobbyists to keep them apprised
of legislation Gave substantial soft money in the past Still use PACS, 527s, and thus contribute a great deal
of money
Organized Labor
Began to emerge as powerful player early in the 20th century Could turn out members Focus not only on labor issues, but also
other issues of concern to its members
More recently labor has lost some clout Membership down
What Do Interest Groups Do? Lobbying
The activities of a group or organization that seeks to influence legislation and persuade political leaders to support the group’s position
23 ways for lobbyists and organizations to lobby on the state and national level Most often they: testify at legislative
hearings, contact government officials directly, help draft legislation
Groups and Lobbyists
Lobbying Congress Members of Congress = targets
of lobbyists Many lobbyists former members
Former Senators Bob Dole (R-KS) and George Mitchell (D-ME) earn well over a million dollars a year as Washington lobbyists.
Lobbying Congress Today lobbyists try to develop
close relationships with members to gain access to the process of policy making. Information is critical.
Lobbyists also work most closely with representatives who are their friends.
“Revolving Door”
The “Revolving Door”
Federal government workers leave to take more lucrative positions in private industry (lobbying, consulting, executive positions)
This may give private interests a way to improperly influence government decisions
Attempts to Reform Congressional Lobbying
Federal Regulation of Lobbying Act, 1946 Lobbying Disclosure Act, 1995
Employs a strict definition of lobbyist Requires lobbyists to:
Register with the clerk of the House and the secretary of the Senate
Report their clients and issues and the agency or house they lobbied
Estimate the amount they are paid by each client
Makes it easier for watchdog groups to track the lobbying activity
The Ethics in Government Act
Lobbying the Executive Branch
As the scope of federal government has expanded, so has lobbying of the executive branch Many potential access points Lobbyist seek influence at formation and
implementation stages. An especially strong link exists between
interest groups and regulatory agencies.
Lobbying the Courts
Can take two forms Direct sponsorship Filing amicus curiae briefs
Brief that informs the court of the group’s policy preferences, generally in guise of legal arguments
Interest groups also attempt to influence who is nominated and placed on the bench.
Grassroots Lobbying
A form of pressure-group activity that attempts to involve individuals who contact their representatives directly in an effort to influence policy
Persuading ordinary voters to act as the group’s advocates
Astroturf Lobbying
Efforts - usually led by interest groups (or Corporations) with deep financial pockets - to create synthetic grass-roots movements by aggressively encouraging voters to contact their elected officials about specific issues.
Protest Activities
Some groups resort to more forceful, legal as well as illegal measures to attract attention to their cause. Sometimes violent, illegal protest
(Boston Tea Party, Shay’s Rebellion) Civil Rights Movement
Marches with permits legal
Election Activities
Candidate recruitment and endorsements
Getting out the vote Rating the candidates or office
holders Political action committees
Incentives to Join
Solidary incentives—pleasure, companionship
Material incentives—money, things, services
Purposive incentives—goal/purpose of the organization itself 2 types –Ideological and Public Interest
What Makes An Interest Group Successful?
Leaders Patrons and Funding
Person who finances a group or individual activity
Members Free riders: potential members fail to
join a group because they can get the benefit, or collective good, sought by the group without contributing to it.
Potential Versus Actual Interest Group Members
Interest Groups as Factions
Madison (Federalist 10) – his description of factions defines the interest groups found today
Madison’s broad language “The latent causes of faction are sown in the nature of man..” predicted the potential for multiple factions on many topics
Definition: People who share common goals, interact with each other, and organize to affect the public agenda.
Interest Groups as linkage institutions
Strategies to influence the public agenda
* Information & education of public,
Congress, White House, etc.* Mass media appeal* Mass mailings* Electioneering activities:
campaigning, issue ads, etc.* Political Action Committees (PACs)
Interest Groups’ Influence
Positive: Advantage for democracy because it allows individual citizens to influence government in ways that are beyond their ballot – links them to the public agenda
Negative: The poorer citizens & those in minorities are poorly represented / there is too much money involved in the process (elitist) / and there is too much opportunity for influence of the public agenda to be purchased