SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS

CHARACTERISTICS Interest Group: linkage group that is a public

or private organization, affiliation, or committee that has the goal of dissemination of its membership’s viewpoint The result: will be persuading public policymakers to

respond to the group’s perspective Only criteria to join an interest group: have

same interests & attitudes toward the goals of the organization Once a group is formed – has internal functions of

attracting and keeping a viable membership by making promises to their membership & being able to succeed in their political goals

GROUP THEORY (PLURALIST, HYPERPLURALIST, ELITE)

Pluralism (centrist position results b/c there is a more far-reaching and balanced group representation)

Elite (group behavior derives from upper class)

Hyperpluralism (so many competing groups it creates gridlock)

Pluralists maintain that Competing groups are healthy b/c they

provide political connection to gov’t, offering gov’t officials a choice

Competition often clarifies information and prevents any one group from dominating gov’t

Competing groups have each developed political strategies to achieve their goals and that eventually the resources of one group will independently affect gov’t policy

Critics of elite theory maintain that Power is concentrated by largest and richest

organizations Unequal nature of power of groups negates

fact that groups are proliferating Ultimately $ talks, and these large groups

will have the most influence

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF INTEREST GROUPS

Interest groups were a concern for founders (think Federalist #10) Particularly concerned elites would gain

control, blocking access to gov’t

FUNCTIONS OF INTEREST GROUPS Raise awareness & stimulate interest in

public affairs Educate members & public

Represent membership – as link between members & gov’t

Provide info to the gov’t Especially data & testimony to influence

public policy Provide channels for political participation

enabling citizens to work together to achieve a common goal

TYPES OF INTEREST GROUPS Economic interest groups

Most are formed on basis of economic interests Labor groups promote & protect organized labor

AFL-CIO, Teamsters Union Business groups promote & protect business interests in

general Chamber of Commerce of the US and National Association of

Manufacturers Professional groups maintain standards within a

profession, hold professional meetings, publish journals National Education Association (NEA), American Medical

Association (AMA), American Bar Association (ABA) Agricultural groups promote general agricultural &

farmer interests National Grange, National Farmers’ Union

Groups that promote causes Specific causes

American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) National Rifle Association (NRA)

Welfare of specific groups American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) National Association for the Advancement of

Colored People (NAACP) Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW)

Religion related causes National Council of Churches American Jewish Congress

Public Interest Groups Are concerned w/ issues such as the

environment, consumer protection, crime, civil rights

League of Women Voters Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Sierra Club

STRATEGIES OF INTEREST GROUPS Influencing Elections

(electioneering) Encouraging members to vote for candidates

who support their views Influencing party platforms & nomination of

candidates Campaigning and contributing

money to parties and candidates through political

action committees (PACs)

Litigation Groups take an issue to court if

unsuccessful in gaining support of Congress

Used successfully by NAACP in 1950s against segregation

Going public Use the media! Appealing to the public for support by

bringing attention to an issue Using public relations to gain support for the

image of the interest group itself

Lobbying (most powerful) Attempting to influence policymakers by supplying data

to gov’t officials to convince these policymakers their case is most deserving

Direct lobbying: using personal contacts between lobbyists and policymakers

Grassroots lobbying: interested group members & others write letters & emails, make phone calls to influence policymaking

Coalition lobbying: several interest groups w/ common goals join together to influence policymakers

Groups will often hire recently retired members of Congress to use inside experience to outmaneuver another group

Impropriety caused Congress to create a waiting period before former members can be such consultants

Even stricter rules apply to former members of executive branch hired to lobby former agencies

LOBBYIST ACTIVITIES Testify

Attend committee hearings & bring biases and points of expertise

Comment on possible impact of bills, esp. for or against goals of their

group

Meet Personal contacts are way to make political

arguments Paid junkets – lobby organizations pay for

trips & vacations for members of gov’t Highly controversial b/c open bias and bribery

Research Have time & resources to gather data to sway members

of Congress

Lead Sway masses w/in organization to call & write to the

members of gov’t

Fund Raising and contributing of campaign funds Possibly most powerful action

Litigate Turn to courts to attack acts, rules, regulations they feel

are unfair to group

POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEES Campaign finance reforms of 1970s

prohibited corporations and labor unions from making direct contributions to candidates running for federal office

PACs are political arms of interest groups Federal law regulates PACs

Must register w/ federal gov’t Raise money from multiple contributors,

donate to several candidates, follow strict accounting rules

What PACs do Give $$ directly to candidate’s campaigns –

hard money Closely regulated by Federal Election Commission

Give $$ to parties – soft money Use $$ to create ads or messages for

“issues” w/o specifically supporting a particular candidate

These expenditures are unregulated

REGULATION OF INTEREST GROUPS Federal Regulation of Lobbying Act (1946) requires lobbyists to

register w/ clerk of HoR & secretary of Senate if principle purpose is to influence legislation Directed at those who tried to influence members of Congress

1971 & 1974: Federal Election Campaign Acts were passed Limits extent of contributions to presidential campaigns Legitimized & increased number of interest groups b/c it authorized

open participation 1976: Buckley v Valeo – limitations on individuals making donations

in presidential elections were unconstitutional b/c matching public financing was involved

As result: McCain-Feingold campaign finance law & S Court decision… PACs are prohibited from donating soft $ to political parties or presidential candidates

Lobbying Disclosure Act (1995): created stricter regulations by requires registration if lobbying was directed at members of Congress, congressional staff, or policymakers in executive branch 2008 – Obama issued additional regulations to prevent

former lobbyists from receiving appointments to his administration

Lobby reform legislation passed in 2006 made lobbyists disclose how much $ they contributed & raised for candidates Also made illegal gifts lobbyists could give to congressmen Also required congressmen to disclose any earmarks they

inserted in bills Also slowed down how fast lawmakers could become

lobbyists

CURRENT VIEWS Public perception today

Relatively negative b/c of Excessive sums spent to influence elections Rapid creation of new interest groups – conflicts revolve

around power of interest groups Is their ability to donate huge amounts of $$ the decisive factor

between those who influence policy and those ignored? However, 4,600+ PACs means all kinds of groups and opinions

have access to public officials Interest groups run spectrum of political beliefs Can be most effective way for citizens to make

their voices heard by gov’t Often hire professional representatives to lobby for

their interests