Tuesday October 15, 2013

1. Tuesday October 15, 2013 • OBJ: SWBAT understand different ways of exercising political activism besides voting. • Drill: What is a special interest group? Why do they exist? How can they affect the political process. • Homework: Wilson pages 280-293 summarize each section (does not have to be more than a few sentences for each, main idea) MAKE SURE TO FOCUS on PACs, Earmarks and Regulation.

2. Types of Interest Groups • Economic Interest Groups • Business – large corporations, including multinationals • Trade and Other Associations – businesses with similar interests join together as associations which are as diverse as the product and services they provide. • Labor – workers’ associations with shared interests, ranging from professional standards to wage and working conditions. Examples: American Farm Bureau Federation, United Farm Workers Association, AFL-CIO. • Open shops – union membership cannot required • Closed shops – union membership can be required • Free riders – individual not in the union but who benefits from union activity.

3. Union Membership in the U.S. Compared to Other Countries

4. Labor Force and Union Membership 1930-2010

5. Types of Interest Groups (continued) • Economic Interest Groups (continued) • Professional Associations –professionalassociations with shared interests. Examples: American Medical Association, American Bar Association, American Federation of Teachers, American Realtors Assoc. • Ideological or Single-Issue Interest Groups • Public Interest Groups (PIRGs) • Seek to influence policy on Capitol Hill and in several state legislatures on environmental issues, safe energy, and consumer protection. • Foreign Policy Interest Groups • Nongovernmental Organizations (NGOs )

6. Types of Interest Groups (continued) • Government & Government Employee Interest Groups • Governments are themselves important interest groups. • Government employees form a large and well-organized group. • Public employees are increasingly important to organized labor because they constitute the fastest-growing unions. • Other Interest Groups • Veteran’s groups • Nationality groups • Religious organizations • Environmental groups

7. Types of Interest Groups: Ideological or Single-Interest Groups The Christian Coalition distributes voter guides before elections as one means of influencing politics

8. AARP: The Nation’s Most Powerful Interest Group The National Rifle Association • 36 million members • Offers a wide array of material benefits like insurance and magazines • One of the most influential lobbying groups in D.C.

9. Types of Interest Groups: Public Interest Groups Ralph Nader - Ran for president as Green Party candidate in 1996 and 2000 and as independent in 2004 • Foreign Policy Interest Groups • Council on Foreign Relations • American-Israel Political Action Committee • Public Sector Interest Groups • National Governors Association • National League of Cities • National Educational Association

10. Characteristics and Power of Interest Groups • Techniques (continued) • Litigation • Amicus curiae (“friends of the court”)briefs – filed by an individual or organization to present arguments in addition to those presented by the immediate parties to a case. • Election Activities • Forming a Political Party • Cooperative Lobbying • Protest • Candidate Support

13. Other Techniques

14. The Influence of Lobbyists • Who are the Lobbyists? • A person or persons employed by and acting for an organized interest group or corporation to try to influence policy decisions and positions in the executive and legislative branches. • What do Lobbyists Do? • Engage in activities aimed at influencing public officials, especially legislators and the policies they enact. Lobbyists primarily provide money for campaigns. The Iron Triangle

15. The Influence of Lobbyists Who Are the Lobbyists? • Lobbyists are former public servants. • Lobbyists are experienced in government. • Lobbyists often go to work for one of the interests they dealt with while in government. What Do Lobbyists Do? • Many lobbyists participate in issue networks or relationships among interest groups, congressional committees, subcommittees, and government agencies that share a common policy concern. • Interest groups provide money for incumbents. • Interest groups provide information of two important types.

16. Forms of Political Participation (Besides Voting) • Litigation • Protest/public demonstrations • Contacting media or public officials • Campaign work, voter registration • Campaign contributions • Running for/holding political office • Political discussion (Way to go, AP Government!) • Membership in a political organization

17. Verba and Nie’s Six Kinds of Citizens • Inactives- rarely vote, participate, or even discuss politics. 22% of pop. • Voting Specialists- vote, but do little else • Campaigners- vote and get involved in campaigns • Communalists- non-partisan community activist with a local focus • Parochial Participants- like inactives, but will contact politicians about specific problems • Activists – participate in all forms of politics

18. Causes of Participation • Education- more=more • Religion- involvement develops skills associated with political participation • Gender- equal • Race – Black participation is lower, BUT controlling for socioeconomic status, they actually participate at a higher rate

19. Factors that Decrease Turnout • Youths, minorities pushing down percentage of eligible adults who are registered and vote (Ya darn kids!) • Parties less effective in mobilization • Remaining registration impediments have negative effects • Voting not compulsory • Feelings that elections don’t matter

20. What Should We Do? • No one really knows who would be helped by increased voter turnout • Perhaps Democrats, since nonvoters tend to be poor, minorities, or uneducated • Perhaps Republicans, since an increasing percentage of college graduates and white-collar adults are not voting

21. Essentially…. • Americans vote less but participate more • Other forms of activity are becoming more common • Political Participation: Just Do It!

22. Grassroots vs. Astroturf Movements • Grassroots: Activities that make direct citizen-citizen contact to encourage participation in the political process. • Astroturf: Activities that make indirect contact with the citizen to encourage participation in the political process. These campaigns seek to create the impression of being a spontaneous grassroots behavior.

23. In Groups of 3-4 • Look at the issue of counties trying to secede from Maryland. • Brainstorm different ideas of how, as a member of this movement you could get your cause heard, and possibly succeed. • Use different forms of political action/participation. • For each form that you discuss write down the positives and negatives.

24. Wrap Up • Which form of political participation would be the most affective? Why?