Special Interest GroupsSpecial Interest GroupsLobbying and PACsLobbying and PACs

LobbyingLobbying Our government is a supportive Our government is a supportive

environment for interest groupsenvironment for interest groups Interests can benefit in having Interests can benefit in having

influence over federal policies & influence over federal policies & programsprograms

LobbyingLobbying: efforts of groups to : efforts of groups to influence public policy through influence public policy through contact with public officialscontact with public officials

What is a lobbyist?What is a lobbyist?

They are the They are the primary primary instrumentsinstruments for for fostering a special fostering a special interest groups goals interest groups goals to the policymakersto the policymakers

NegativeNegative publicity: publicity: govt. officials govt. officials becoming and vice-becoming and vice-versaversa

PositivesPositives: specialists : specialists to Congress, create to Congress, create coalitions, take coalitions, take legal action for legal action for group, provide group, provide official ratings, use official ratings, use the media to the media to exercise viewpointexercise viewpoint

Inside LobbyingInside Lobbying Direct communication between Direct communication between

organized interests and policy organized interests and policy makers- value of close contactsmakers- value of close contacts

Bribes do survive, but tend to be Bribes do survive, but tend to be more subtlemore subtle

Many are former members of Many are former members of CongressCongress

The targets are all branches of The targets are all branches of governmentgovernment

IG lobbying is generally IG lobbying is generally most most effectiveeffective on on narrow, technical issuesnarrow, technical issues that are not well-publicizedthat are not well-publicized

Inside Lobbying: the 3 Inside Lobbying: the 3 branchesbranches Legislative branchLegislative branch: both groups and : both groups and

members of Congress can gain, fair members of Congress can gain, fair play and aboveboard approach are play and aboveboard approach are best: best: ““33rdrd house of Congress house of Congress””

Executive agenciesExecutive agencies: Bureaucrats are : Bureaucrats are key targets- administrative and key targets- administrative and policy decisions. Ex. Regulatory policy decisions. Ex. Regulatory Agencies!Agencies!

The CourtsThe Courts: trying to influence : trying to influence selection of federal judges, lawsuits, selection of federal judges, lawsuits, amicus curiaeamicus curiae

Should their be regulations on Should their be regulations on lobbyinglobbying??

1946 Federal Regulation of 1946 Federal Regulation of Lobbying ActLobbying Act (too many (too many loopholes!)loopholes!)

Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 Tightened up Tightened up registration and registration and

disclosuredisclosure requirements and requirements and restrictionsrestrictions

On gifts and expenses Congress On gifts and expenses Congress receivesreceives

Lobbying. Good or Bad?Lobbying. Good or Bad?

Provides info to Provides info to govt.govt.

Representation Representation by interest by interest

Linkage Linkage mechanismmechanism

11stst amendment amendment right!right!

Rich and Rich and powerful powerful overrepresentedoverrepresented

National National interests interests sacrificed!sacrificed!

+ -

What is an Iron Triangle?What is an Iron Triangle? Small and informal, yet STABLE Small and informal, yet STABLE

set of set of bureaucrats, legislatorsbureaucrats, legislators, , and and lobbyistslobbyists who seek to who seek to develop policiesdevelop policies

Inside track to legislators and Inside track to legislators and bureaucrats (ironclad)bureaucrats (ironclad)

Issue NetworksIssue Networks More common pattern of More common pattern of

influence todayinfluence today Informal grouping of officials, Informal grouping of officials,

lobbyists, and policy specialists lobbyists, and policy specialists who are brought together who are brought together temporarilytemporarily by an issue by an issue

Ex: participants coming together Ex: participants coming together over the issue of forest being over the issue of forest being opened to loggingopened to logging

Outside LobbyingOutside Lobbying

A form of lobbying in which an A form of lobbying in which an interest group seeks to use interest group seeks to use public pressurepublic pressure as a means of as a means of influencing public officialsinfluencing public officials

Making use of constituency Making use of constituency connectionsconnections

Forms: Forms: grassroots lobbyinggrassroots lobbying (AARP), (AARP), votesvotes and and PAC moneyPAC money

Political Action CommitteesPolitical Action Committees The organization through which an The organization through which an

interest group interest group raises and raises and distributesdistributes funds for elections funds for elections (candidates)(candidates)

Must be voluntary contributionsMust be voluntary contributions The amount of contributions has The amount of contributions has

skyrocketedskyrocketed, but downward trend, but downward trend Calls for reform (Common Cause): Calls for reform (Common Cause):

dominated by rich, business, dominated by rich, business, The FECA passed + Mc-Cain-The FECA passed + Mc-Cain-

Feingold Feingold

The biggest contenders:The biggest contenders: The Assoc. of Trial Lawyers of The Assoc. of Trial Lawyers of

America PACAmerica PAC International Brotherhood of International Brotherhood of

Elec. WorkersElec. Workers The American Federation of The American Federation of

State County and Municipal State County and Municipal EmployeesEmployees

What has happened to the What has happened to the number of PACs?number of PACs?

There has been There has been explosive growthexplosive growth In 1974 = 600, today = 4100+In 1974 = 600, today = 4100+ Why?Why? LegislationLegislation intending to prevent a intending to prevent a

few wealthy from buying electionsfew wealthy from buying elections This This opened up contributionsopened up contributions to to

the masses (represented by PACs)the masses (represented by PACs)

Discussion:Discussion: Why might Why might business PACs be so business PACs be so

numerous? What is the effect?numerous? What is the effect?

Legislation effects…Legislation effects… FECA of 1974FECA of 1974 and ex. Of this type of and ex. Of this type of

legislationlegislation Currently, $5000 limit per candidate Currently, $5000 limit per candidate

w/NO overall capw/NO overall cap!! PACs can contribute much more than PACs can contribute much more than

indiv, but…indiv, but… The Citizens United v. FEC case has The Citizens United v. FEC case has

made possible Super PACs and made possible Super PACs and unlimited fundraisingunlimited fundraising

PAC funds between the two: PAC funds between the two: What obstacles to challengers What obstacles to challengers

face?face?