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INTEREST GROUPS

Interest groups play a crucial role in shaping public policy by representing various shared concerns and values among members. These organizations utilize diverse strategies to exert influence, including lobbying, litigation, public relations, and electoral politics. Key characteristics of effective groups include financial resources, member engagement, and established leadership structures. Despite challenges like free-ridership, successful interest groups can mobilize support and create favorable public opinion. Understanding these dynamics is essential to comprehend the broader political landscape and the quest for power.

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INTEREST GROUPS

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  1. INTEREST GROUPS What Are They? What Interests are represented? How are they organized? Characteristics of Members Strategies: The Quest for Political Power

  2. Interest Groups • Interest: an attitude, value, or preference with some relevance to public policy • Groups of people who share a common concern that further their interests within the framework of government

  3. HOW DO INTEREST GROUPS EXERCISE INFLUENCE? • A. Organization • B. Strategies/Characteristics

  4. Organization(effectiveness = size, intensity, financial resources) • 1. Membership lists • 2. Elected officers • 3. Dues/Treasury • 4. Paid staff

  5. Why don’t some people organize? re: Mancur Olson • a. Shared attitude may not be important. e.g: pro gun control • b. Collective good; e.g., higher prices for all dairy farmers; higher wages for all workers of employer • c. Free ridership...don't pay dues, write congress, etc…still get benefit

  6. Organizations’ Response to problems • compel membership • exaggerate threat • take credit for successes • secondary benefits

  7. Strategies: Quest for Political Power • A. Lobbying v. Gaining Access • B. Litigation • C. Going Public/Public Relations/Protest • D. Electoral Politics • Bribery?

  8. Lobbying Strategy • 1. Defined --making your views known to government • 2. Who is lobbied? • a. Legislative executive and judicial • b. Where are decisions made? • c. where can you be effective? • d. Where will your members notice?

  9. Who are the lobbyists? • b. Law firms (respectability) • c. Public relations firms (versatility) • d. Political consultants • e. Ex-Decision makers: congress, executive branch • know how system works, friends on inside

  10. Restrictions on lobbying • a. Lobbying viewed suspiciously • b. But, 1st freedoms…speech, petition • c. Cannot, should not outlaw lobbying • d. Public exposure: Register and report expenditures ..FEC

  11. Gaining Access Strategy • Iron Triangles/subgovernments – (re: hyperpluralism) • Issue Networks • PACs

  12. Litigation strategy • Direct action • Help Finance • Filing amicus curiae briefs

  13. Public Relations Strategy (Going Public?)- Goals: • a. Create a favorable climate of opinion • b. Mobilize people to contact Congress on specific legislation

  14. 2. Going Public - Effectiveness depends on: • a. How much they spend? • b. How long they spend? • c. Whether we have an alternative source of information

  15. Protest Strategy (Going Public?) • 1. Typically used by lower income groups and outgroups • a. Doctors rarely b. CEO never • 2. How effective is protest? • 3. Illegal forms

  16. Protest Strategy -Illegal forms • a. Blocking traffic b. Trespassing • c. Disrupting government functions • Illegal protest has a long tradition in US, but you have to be willing to pay the price

  17. Electoral Politics Strategy (Electioneering) & PACs • 1. Used to be Labor PAC--Congress of Political Equality (COPE) was dominant PAC • b. Money & volunteer workers & campaign managers • c. In some areas it was the Democratic Party

  18. Electoral Politics Strategy • 2. Federal law • a. Can't spend corporate or union treasury to help • b. Can't force employees or union members to contribute money or time

  19. Legal Changes - Buckley v. Valeo (1976) • Running for Senate (NY) Buckley attacks dollar limits on Freedom of Speech • b. Supreme Court • 1. limit contributions -- OK • 2. limit expenditures -- NO

  20. PROBLEMS • A. Negative Campaign • 1980 PACs uncoordinated • Since then candidates pick up • People say they don't believe in negative campaigns – (T/F?)… may affect turnout

  21. Problems/Dilemma • B. Most money goes to incumbents • 1. Influential incumbents • 2. When Democrats were the majority -- most went to them; and vice versa • 3. Is this selling votes?

  22. Tendencies in system • Democrats/Republicans as Minority/Majority in Congress • Campaign Financing Reforms

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