Interest GroupsInterest Groups

Chapter NineChapter Nine

Interest GroupsInterest Groups

People with an intense devotion to a social People with an intense devotion to a social cause join groups composed of those with cause join groups composed of those with similar interestssimilar interests

Groups originally viewed negatively Groups originally viewed negatively “factions” to be controlled“factions” to be controlled

Many groups have headquarters in Many groups have headquarters in Washington to affect policy Washington to affect policy few orgs and few orgs and occup. Go without representation in D.C.occup. Go without representation in D.C.

Why so many interest groups?Why so many interest groups?

Institutions that Influence Policy-makingInstitutions that Influence Policy-making Exist outside the structure of government but directly Exist outside the structure of government but directly

intertwined with policy making: political parties, intertwined with policy making: political parties, interest groups, PACs, 527sinterest groups, PACs, 527s

Parties v. Interest GroupsParties v. Interest Groups BothBoth

PartiesParties

Parties support a broad range of issues, while Parties support a broad range of issues, while int.groups focus on one or fewint.groups focus on one or few

Interest group actions that get candidates elected Interest group actions that get candidates elected (party goal):(party goal):

Helps interest groups by:Helps interest groups by:

Institutions that Influence Institutions that Influence Policy-making (Cont’d)Policy-making (Cont’d)

PACs (Political Action Committees $$)PACs (Political Action Committees $$)

Focus on influencing election resultsFocus on influencing election results Drastically increased, esp. since 1974 limits to Drastically increased, esp. since 1974 limits to

independent contributions (over 4,000 exist, 50% independent contributions (over 4,000 exist, 50% corporations) as a way to funnel money to favorite corporations) as a way to funnel money to favorite candidates that support a part. Interestcandidates that support a part. Interest

527 groups527 groups

New phenomenon, 2004 election New phenomenon, 2004 election created to get created to get around $ restrictions of PACs and ind.contributionsaround $ restrictions of PACs and ind.contributions

Functions of Interest GroupsFunctions of Interest Groups Four strategies to accomplish their goals of Four strategies to accomplish their goals of

promoting their interest:promoting their interest: 1) Lobbying – attempt to influence government 1) Lobbying – attempt to influence government

policiespolicies

2) Campaign Contributions/ Electioneering – getting 2) Campaign Contributions/ Electioneering – getting and keeping people in office to support the interest and keeping people in office to support the interest group’s causegroup’s cause

Why use Campaign Contributions?Why use Campaign Contributions? Buy candidate loyalty/ support; financial resources; Buy candidate loyalty/ support; financial resources;

groups that need accessgroups that need access

Functions of Interest Groups 2Functions of Interest Groups 2

3) Litigation – 3) Litigation – If lobbying Congress does not achieve change If lobbying Congress does not achieve change

Ex. NAACP during Civil Rights movement Ex. NAACP during Civil Rights movement challenged discriminatory state/ nat’l laws and challenged discriminatory state/ nat’l laws and practices (school desegregation)practices (school desegregation)

Influencing court decisions by filing Influencing court decisions by filing

with arguments in support of one side (with with arguments in support of one side (with information and research)information and research)

File File Class Action lawsuitsClass Action lawsuits – –

Why use litigation?Why use litigation? -- -success establishes a firm precedent-success establishes a firm precedent Works when an issue lacks broad popular Works when an issue lacks broad popular

support or when the group lacks influence over support or when the group lacks influence over policypolicy

Functions of Interest Groups 3Functions of Interest Groups 3 4) Grassroots lobbying/ Mass Mobilization4) Grassroots lobbying/ Mass Mobilization

Linkage Institution Linkage Institution Connects its members to the governmentConnects its members to the government

Influence policy-making by improving the public Influence policy-making by improving the public image of the people they represent (laborers as image of the people they represent (laborers as hard workers and backbone of the country) or by hard workers and backbone of the country) or by advertising to defend their productsadvertising to defend their products

Goal is to keep a favorable position among Goal is to keep a favorable position among groups in Washington groups in Washington increasing high profile increasing high profile adsads

Why Grassroots?Why Grassroots?

““Ratings Game” – rates members of Congress in terms of Ratings Game” – rates members of Congress in terms of how much support they give to legislation favorable to the how much support they give to legislation favorable to the groups cause groups cause influences members on who to vote for influences members on who to vote for

Types of Interest GroupsTypes of Interest Groups

Divided into three general types:Divided into three general types:

Economic groups focus onEconomic groups focus on

Gov. does not directly set them but affects them through Gov. does not directly set them but affects them through regulations, tax incentives, contractsregulations, tax incentives, contracts

Labor Unions – better working conditions & higher wagesLabor Unions – better working conditions & higher wages Union shop in some areas Union shop in some areas requires new employee to join the requires new employee to join the

union to ensure solidarity (25% in 1970, decreasing support for union to ensure solidarity (25% in 1970, decreasing support for unions/strikes)unions/strikes)

Professional groups – Professional groups – American Medical Association, National Education AssociationAmerican Medical Association, National Education Association

Agriculture groups Agriculture groups Business groups – Business groups –

Trade associations (life insurance, tire manufacturers)Trade associations (life insurance, tire manufacturers) Pharmaceutical lobby – large and powerful (600 lobbyists)Pharmaceutical lobby – large and powerful (600 lobbyists)

Types of Interest Groups 2Types of Interest Groups 2

Consumer and Public Interest Groups Consumer and Public Interest Groups Seek a collective good with benefits for Seek a collective good with benefits for

everyone, not just members of the group everyone, not just members of the group themselvesthemselves

Environmental IssuesEnvironmental Issues Concerns directly conflict with corporations whose Concerns directly conflict with corporations whose

action they wish to controlaction they wish to control

Types of Interest Groups 3Types of Interest Groups 3 EqualityEquality and Justice Interests and Justice Interests

Oldest and largest Oldest and largest NAACP, lobbied, initiated NAACP, lobbied, initiated cases, organized cases, organized

Most prominent women’s org Most prominent women’s org NOW (National NOW (National Org. for Women)Org. for Women)

Types of MembershipTypes of Membership InstitutionalInstitutional

Over 500 firm have lobbyists, public-relations Over 500 firm have lobbyists, public-relations experts, and lawyers in Washington (since 1970)experts, and lawyers in Washington (since 1970)

Individual Individual – interest groups members composed – interest groups members composed of individuals (Americans more likely to join), of individuals (Americans more likely to join), groups lobby for their interests groups lobby for their interests

NAACP, NOW, AFL-CIO, Sierra Club, Christian NAACP, NOW, AFL-CIO, Sierra Club, Christian Coal.Coal.

Why Join Interest Groups?Why Join Interest Groups?

Solidary IncentivesSolidary Incentives Material IncentivesMaterial Incentives Committed to the causeCommitted to the cause

Effective Interest GroupsEffective Interest Groups

IntensityIntensity The more intensely committed a group, the more The more intensely committed a group, the more

effectiveeffective Single-issue groups devoted to a controversial cause Single-issue groups devoted to a controversial cause

tend to be more intense and involved (willing to tend to be more intense and involved (willing to protest and actively push for change)protest and actively push for change)

Size – the smaller, more active the group, the more Size – the smaller, more active the group, the more effectiveeffective Large interest groups Large interest groups free rider free rider problem – so many problem – so many

members that all believe that someone else will do members that all believe that someone else will do the work, but all benefitthe work, but all benefit

Some small groups can afford tangible advantages to Some small groups can afford tangible advantages to membersmembers

MoneyMoney Effective in lobbying, organizing, educating with fundsEffective in lobbying, organizing, educating with funds Successful fundraising is crucial to any interest groupSuccessful fundraising is crucial to any interest group

$ Where do Interest Groups $ Where do Interest Groups get their funds? $get their funds? $ Most difficult for individual membership Most difficult for individual membership

organizations to raise funds organizations to raise funds some collect duessome collect dues 3 important sources:3 important sources: 1)1)

Esp. for public interest groupsEsp. for public interest groups Ex. Ford foundation, Bill and Linda GatesEx. Ford foundation, Bill and Linda Gates Foundation, Foundation,

Rockefeller FamilyRockefeller Family 2)2)

Shifts depending on leaders in powerShifts depending on leaders in power 3)3)

Use of computers to get contact info of membersUse of computers to get contact info of members Interest group websites encourage contributionsInterest group websites encourage contributions

Theories of Interest Group Theories of Interest Group Politics Politics Elite vs. Pluralist Elite vs. Pluralist Elitist TheoryElitist Theory

Just few big interest groups have most of the power and run Just few big interest groups have most of the power and run government by preserving own interestsgovernment by preserving own interests

System of interlocking connections (same people sitting on System of interlocking connections (same people sitting on several boards) that control systemseveral boards) that control system

Corporate interests control gov.Corporate interests control gov. Pluralist TheoryPluralist Theory

Interest groups benefit American democracy by bringing Interest groups benefit American democracy by bringing representation to all peoplerepresentation to all people

Provides a linkage between people and gov.Provides a linkage between people and gov. Numerous groups ensures no one group will dominate, and Numerous groups ensures no one group will dominate, and

those weak in one resource are strong in others (ex. little $, those weak in one resource are strong in others (ex. little $, high membership)high membership)

Hyperpluralist TheoryHyperpluralist Theory Too many groups try to influence political process Too many groups try to influence political process political political

chaos, contradiction in policychaos, contradiction in policy Gov. tries to please every self-interested interest group, so Gov. tries to please every self-interested interest group, so

does not protect public gooddoes not protect public good

Controversy of Interest Groups:Controversy of Interest Groups:“Revolving Door”“Revolving Door”

Controversial practice in which Controversial practice in which government officials (Congressional government officials (Congressional members and executive agencies) members and executive agencies) quit their jobs to take positions asquit their jobs to take positions as

Gives private interests unfair Gives private interests unfair influence over gov. officials who influence over gov. officials who receive favors for policy?receive favors for policy?

Uncertain on how widespread this Uncertain on how widespread this practice ispractice is

Discussion QuestionsDiscussion Questions Discuss the following questions in pairs and write your opinion to each question, using Discuss the following questions in pairs and write your opinion to each question, using

supportsupport 1) Are interest groups contributors to or distracters from 1) Are interest groups contributors to or distracters from

the democratic process?the democratic process? 2) Do interest groups help or hinder the government in 2) Do interest groups help or hinder the government in

making good decisions that benefit citizens of the making good decisions that benefit citizens of the country?country?

3) Does our system of checks and balances work well in 3) Does our system of checks and balances work well in keeping the influence of particular groups in proportion to keeping the influence of particular groups in proportion to that of others?that of others?

4) Which theory (elite, pluralist, or hyperpluralist) do you 4) Which theory (elite, pluralist, or hyperpluralist) do you support in regard to interest groups? support in regard to interest groups?

Write short answers explaining how the following terms Write short answers explaining how the following terms connect (using the definitions and comparisons):connect (using the definitions and comparisons):

5) Interest groups, political parties, PACs, and 527s5) Interest groups, political parties, PACs, and 527s 6) Litigation, amicus curiae, and class action lawsuits6) Litigation, amicus curiae, and class action lawsuits 7) Electioneering, lobbying, linkage institution, litigation 7) Electioneering, lobbying, linkage institution, litigation 8) elitist theory, pluralist theory, hyperpluralist theory8) elitist theory, pluralist theory, hyperpluralist theory 9) foundation grants, federal grants, direct solicitation9) foundation grants, federal grants, direct solicitation 10) Free rider problem, revolving door 10) Free rider problem, revolving door