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INTEREST GROUPS

INTEREST GROUPS. What Are They? What Interests are represented? How are they organized? Characteristics of Members Strategies: The Quest for Political Power. Interest Groups. Interest: an attitude, value, or preference with some relevance to public policy

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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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