Chapter Eleven

1. An interest group (also called an advocacy group, lobbying group, pressure group, or special interest) is a group, however loosely or tightly organized, that is determined to encourage or prevent changes in public policy without trying to be elected. The textbook used in class defines this as "An organization of people with shared ideas and attitudes who attempt to influence public policy.” Chapter Eleven Interest Groups

2. Why Interest Groups are Common • Interest group: any organization that seeks to influence public policy. • There are at least four reasons why interest groups are so common in the United States: • Many kinds of cleavages (income, occupation, religion, race, etc.) in the country mean that there are many different interests.

3. Why Interest Groups are Common • The Constitution provides many access points to government; the more chances there are to influence policy, the more groups there will be to exercise the influence. • Public laws, under certain conditions, allow religious groups, private colleges, etc. to apply for the same benefits as businesses. • Section 501(c) (3) organizations and Section 501 (c) (4) organizations • Political parties are weak; this allows for more interest groups with stronger influence to work directly on the gov’t.

4. Why Interest Groups Emerge • Broad economic developments that create new interests and redefine old ones. • Example: Farmers and Unions • Government policy can cause the creation of interest groups. • Example-Wars create veterans, who need pensions and other benefits; professional organizations of doctors and lawyers

5. Why Interest Groups Emerge • Dynamic leadership creates new political organizations. • 1830s-1840s; 1890-1920, 1960s • As government grows, so does the number of organized interests. • 1960s-1970s

6. Kinds of Organizations • Institutional Interests: individuals or organizations representing other organizations • Over 500 firms have representatives in Washington, D.C. • Attorneys are very concerned with clients concerns, make lots of $, and are held accountable. • See pgs. 263-264 • Membership Interests: Americans join some groups more frequently than citizens in other nations. • Often shows a higher sense of political efficacy and stronger sense of civic duty. • Many people are sympathetic to the causes of the groups, but do not join them.

7. Incentives to Join • Solidary incentives—sense of pleasure, status, companionship. • Ex. The PTA, NAACP, Rotary Club • Material incentives—money, things, services. • Ex. Illinois Farm Bureau offers discounts & benefits to members only; AARP • Purposive incentives—goal/purpose of the organization itself are appealing; can often be very controversial issues. • See pgs. 265-266

8. Incentives to Join • Organizations that attract members by appealing to their interests are often called ideological interest groups. • When the purpose of the group will benefit nonmembers, the group is usually called a public-interest lobby. • The most visible of this groups are often controversial; many of them have been created by Ralph Nader. • See pgs. 266-268

9. Social Movements • Social movement: a widely shared demand for change in the social or political order, either liberal or conservative. • Examples include the civil rights, environmental, and feminist movements. • Unions continued activism after their social movement died, but sustaining membership is difficult. • See pgs. 269-270

10. Funds for Interest Groups • All interest groups tend to have trouble raising $, especially membership organizations. • To raise more $ than what is supplied in dues, lobbying groups turn to 3 sources: foundation grants, gov’t grants, and direct-mail solicitation.

11. Funds for Interest Groups • Foundation grants • One study found that 1/3 of public-interest lobbying groups received more than half of all their funds from foundation grants. • Example: the Ford Foundation contributed @ $21m to liberal public-interest groups. • Federal grants and contracts • Federal $ is not usually given to support lobbying, but to support a project. • Expansion of federal grants in 1960s and 1970s benefited interest groups; cutbacks in 1980s hurt them. • Businesses still receive more $ than nonprofit groups; big corporations get the most $. • See p. 271

12. Funds for Interest Groups • Direct mail • Unique to modern interest groups. • By using computers, mail is sent directly to a specialized audience. • This approach is also expensive—it must generate checks from at least 2 percent of the people contacted. • Four techniques are used to get $: • Putting “teasers” on envelope, appealing to emotions, having endorsement, personalizing the letter

13. The Problem of Bias • Many people believe interest groups reflect an upper-class bias b/c of two reasons: • Those who are more affluent are more likely to join and be active. • Business/professional groups are more numerous and better financed than those representing minorities, consumers, or the disadvantaged. • See pgs. 272-273

14. Limits on Elite Influence • Elites have input in the political system but do not control who eventually wins or loses on particular issues. • Business groups are often divided among themselves. • Example: Large # of different farm organizations representing various interests. • See p. 273

15. Activities of Interest Groups • Supplying credible information is the single most important tactic of interest groups. • Legislators must take positions on many issues and there is no way they can be experts. • Lobbyists provide info; keeping in mind the relationship b/t themselves and their legislator.

16. Activities of Interest Groups • Public officials also look to lobbyists for political cues (signal telling the official what values are at stake in an issue & how that issue fits their own political beliefs) and ratings (assessments of a legislators voting record). • Liberals may look at what the AFL-CIO, NAACP, Farmers’ Union, etc. favor • Conservatives may look at what the Chamber of Commerce, NRA, AMA, etc. favor

17. Activities of Interest Groups • Insider strategy: face-to-face contact between lobbyist and member of Congressional staff • Outsider strategy: grassroots mobilization of the public in order to pressure gov’t officials

18. Activities of Interest Groups • Lobbyists’ key targets are the undecided legislators or bureaucrats • Some groups attack their likely allies to embarrass them • Example: Ralph Nader • See p. 276-277 • Some groups try for grassroots support

19. Money and PACs • PAC: a committee set up to raise and spend money on campaigns and candidates • Money is the least effective way to influence politicians (see p.277) • The campaign finance reform law of 1973 restricted donations • The rapid growth in PACs has probably not led to vote buying

20. Money and PACs • Ideological PACs raise more money, but raising the money also consumes it, so less is available to give to campaigns and candidates • In 2003-2004, unions and business or professional organizations gave the most • Incumbents get the most PAC money

21. Money and Influence • There is no systematic evidence that PAC money influences votes in Congress • Most members vote in line with their ideology and with their constituents

22. Money and Influence • When an issue is of little concern to voters and ideology provides little guidance, there is a slight correlation between PAC contributions and votes • PAC money may influence politics in other ways, like access or committee actions

23. The “Revolving Door” • Federal government workers leave to take more lucrative positions in private industry (lobbying, consulting, executive positions) • This may give private interests a way to improperly influence government decisions

24. Regulating Interest Groups • A 1995 act provided a broader definition of lobbying and tightened reporting requirements • Tax code; nonprofits lose tax-exempt status if a “substantial part” of their activities involve lobbying • Campaign-finance laws limit donations by individual PACs • See pgs. 281-283

25. Table 11.1 Lobbying Regulations for Nonprofit OrganizationsSee p.261