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Chapter ElevenChapter ElevenInterest GroupsInterest Groups 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.”

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Why Interest Groups Why Interest Groups are Commonare Common Interest groupInterest group: any organization : any organization

that seeks to influence public that seeks to influence public policy.policy.

There are at least four reasons why There are at least four reasons why interest groups are so common in interest groups are so common in the United States:the United States:– Many kinds of cleavages (income, Many kinds of cleavages (income,

occupation, religion, race, etc.) in the occupation, religion, race, etc.) in the country mean that there are many country mean that there are many different interests.different interests.

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Why Interest Groups Why Interest Groups are Commonare Common

– The Constitution provides many access The Constitution provides many access points to government; the more chances points to government; the more chances there are to influence policy, the more there are to influence policy, the more groups there will be to exercise the groups there will be to exercise the influence.influence.

– Public laws, under certain conditions, allow Public laws, under certain conditions, allow religious groups, private colleges, etc. to religious groups, private colleges, etc. to apply for the same benefits as businesses.apply for the same benefits as businesses.

Section 501(c) (3) organizations and Section Section 501(c) (3) organizations and Section 501 (c) (4) organizations501 (c) (4) organizations

– Political parties are weak; this allows for Political parties are weak; this allows for more interest groups with stronger more interest groups with stronger influence to work directly on the gov’t.influence to work directly on the gov’t.

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Why Interest Groups Why Interest Groups EmergeEmerge Broad economic developments that Broad economic developments that

create new interests and redefine old create new interests and redefine old ones.ones.– Example: Farmers and UnionsExample: Farmers and Unions

Government policy can cause the Government policy can cause the creation of interest groups.creation of interest groups.– Example-Wars create veterans, who need Example-Wars create veterans, who need

pensions and other benefits; professional pensions and other benefits; professional organizations of doctors and lawyersorganizations of doctors and lawyers

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Why Interest Groups Why Interest Groups EmergeEmerge Dynamic leadership creates new Dynamic leadership creates new

political organizations.political organizations.– 1830s-1840s; 1890-1920, 1960s1830s-1840s; 1890-1920, 1960s

As government grows, so does As government grows, so does the number of organized the number of organized interests.interests.– 1960s-1970s1960s-1970s

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Kinds of OrganizationsKinds of Organizations Institutional InterestsInstitutional Interests: individuals or : individuals or

organizations representing other organizationsorganizations representing other organizations– Over 500 firms have representatives in Washington, Over 500 firms have representatives in Washington,

D.C.D.C.– Attorneys are very concerned with clients concerns, Attorneys are very concerned with clients concerns,

make lots of $, and are held accountable.make lots of $, and are held accountable.– See pgs. 263-264See pgs. 263-264

Membership InterestsMembership Interests: Americans join some : Americans join some groups more frequently than citizens in other groups more frequently than citizens in other nations.nations.– Often shows a higher sense of political efficacy and Often shows a higher sense of political efficacy and

stronger sense of civic duty.stronger sense of civic duty.– Many people are sympathetic to the causes of the Many people are sympathetic to the causes of the

groups, but do not join them.groups, but do not join them.

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Incentives to JoinIncentives to Join Solidary incentives—sense of Solidary incentives—sense of

pleasure, status, companionship.pleasure, status, companionship.– Ex. The PTA, NAACP, Rotary ClubEx. The PTA, NAACP, Rotary Club

Material incentives—money, things, Material incentives—money, things, services. services. – Ex. Illinois Farm Bureau offers discounts Ex. Illinois Farm Bureau offers discounts

& benefits to members only; AARP & benefits to members only; AARP Purposive incentives—goal/purpose Purposive incentives—goal/purpose

of the organization itself are of the organization itself are appealing; can often be very appealing; can often be very controversial issues.controversial issues.

See pgs. 265-266See pgs. 265-266

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Incentives to JoinIncentives to Join Organizations that attract Organizations that attract

members by appealing to their members by appealing to their interests are often called interests are often called ideological interest groupsideological interest groups..

When the purpose of the group will When the purpose of the group will benefit nonmembers, the group is benefit nonmembers, the group is usually called a usually called a public-interest public-interest lobbylobby..– The most visible of this groups are The most visible of this groups are

often controversial; many of them often controversial; many of them have been created by Ralph Nader.have been created by Ralph Nader.

See pgs. 266-268See pgs. 266-268

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Social MovementsSocial Movements Social movementSocial movement: a widely shared : a widely shared

demand for change in the social or demand for change in the social or political order, either liberal or political order, either liberal or conservative.conservative.

Examples include the civil rights, Examples include the civil rights, environmental, and feminist environmental, and feminist movements.movements.

Unions continued activism after their Unions continued activism after their social movement died, but sustaining social movement died, but sustaining membership is difficult.membership is difficult.

See pgs. 269-270 See pgs. 269-270

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Funds for Interest Funds for Interest GroupsGroups All interest groups tend to have All interest groups tend to have

trouble raising $, especially trouble raising $, especially membership organizations.membership organizations.

To raise more $ than what is To raise more $ than what is supplied in dues, lobbying groups supplied in dues, lobbying groups turn to 3 sources: foundation turn to 3 sources: foundation grants, gov’t grants, and direct-grants, gov’t grants, and direct-mail solicitation.mail solicitation.

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Funds for Interest Funds for Interest GroupsGroups Foundation grantsFoundation grants

– One study found that 1/3 of public-interest lobbying One study found that 1/3 of public-interest lobbying groups received more than half of all their funds groups received more than half of all their funds from foundation grants.from foundation grants.

Example: the Ford Foundation contributed @ $21m to Example: the Ford Foundation contributed @ $21m to liberal public-interest groups.liberal public-interest groups.

Federal grants and contractsFederal grants and contracts– Federal $ is not usually given to support lobbying, Federal $ is not usually given to support lobbying,

but to support a project.but to support a project.– Expansion of federal grants in 1960s and 1970s Expansion of federal grants in 1960s and 1970s

benefited interest groups; cutbacks in 1980s hurt benefited interest groups; cutbacks in 1980s hurt them.them.

– Businesses still receive more $ than nonprofit Businesses still receive more $ than nonprofit groups; big corporations get the most $.groups; big corporations get the most $.

– See p. 271See p. 271

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Funds for Interest Funds for Interest GroupsGroups Direct mailDirect mail

– Unique to modern interest groups.Unique to modern interest groups.– By using computers, mail is sent directly to By using computers, mail is sent directly to

a specialized audience.a specialized audience.– This approach is also expensive—it must This approach is also expensive—it must

generate checks from at least 2 percent of generate checks from at least 2 percent of the people contacted.the people contacted.

– Four techniques are used to get $:Four techniques are used to get $: Putting “teasers” on envelope, appealing to Putting “teasers” on envelope, appealing to

emotions, having endorsement, personalizing the emotions, having endorsement, personalizing the letterletter

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The Problem of BiasThe Problem of Bias

Many people believe interest groups Many people believe interest groups reflect an upper-class bias b/c of two reflect an upper-class bias b/c of two reasons:reasons:– Those who are more affluent are more Those who are more affluent are more

likely to join and be active.likely to join and be active.– Business/professional groups are more Business/professional groups are more

numerous and better financed than those numerous and better financed than those representing minorities, consumers, or the representing minorities, consumers, or the disadvantaged.disadvantaged.

– See pgs. 272-273See pgs. 272-273

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Limits on Elite Limits on Elite InfluenceInfluence Elites have input in the political Elites have input in the political

system but do not control who system but do not control who eventually wins or loses on eventually wins or loses on particular issues.particular issues.

Business groups are often divided Business groups are often divided among themselves.among themselves.– Example: Large # of different farm Example: Large # of different farm

organizations representing various organizations representing various interests.interests.

– See p. 273See p. 273

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Activities of Interest Activities of Interest GroupsGroups Supplying Supplying credible informationcredible information is is

the single most important tactic of the single most important tactic of interest groupsinterest groups..

Legislators must take positions on Legislators must take positions on many issues and there is no way many issues and there is no way they can be experts. they can be experts.

Lobbyists provide info; keeping in Lobbyists provide info; keeping in mind the relationship b/t themselves mind the relationship b/t themselves and their legislator.and their legislator.

Activities of Interest Activities of Interest GroupsGroups Public officials also look to lobbyists for Public officials also look to lobbyists for

political cuespolitical cues (signal telling the official (signal telling the official what values are at stake in an issue & how what values are at stake in an issue & how that issue fits their own political beliefs) and that issue fits their own political beliefs) and ratingsratings (assessments of a legislators voting (assessments of a legislators voting record).record).– Liberals may look at what the AFL-CIO, Liberals may look at what the AFL-CIO,

NAACP, Farmers’ Union, etc. favorNAACP, Farmers’ Union, etc. favor– Conservatives may look at what the Conservatives may look at what the

Chamber of Commerce, NRA, AMA, etc. Chamber of Commerce, NRA, AMA, etc. favorfavor

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Activities of Interest Activities of Interest GroupsGroups Insider strategyInsider strategy: face-to-face : face-to-face

contact between lobbyist and contact between lobbyist and member of Congressional staffmember of Congressional staff

Outsider strategyOutsider strategy: grassroots : grassroots mobilization of the public in order mobilization of the public in order to pressure gov’t officialsto pressure gov’t officials

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Activities of Interest Activities of Interest GroupsGroups Lobbyists’ key targets are the Lobbyists’ key targets are the

undecided legislators or undecided legislators or bureaucratsbureaucrats

Some groups attack their likely Some groups attack their likely allies to embarrass themallies to embarrass them– Example: Ralph Nader Example: Ralph Nader – See p. 276-277See p. 276-277

Some groups try for grassroots Some groups try for grassroots supportsupport

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Money and PACsMoney and PACs

PACPAC: a committee set up to raise : a committee set up to raise and spend money on campaigns and spend money on campaigns and candidatesand candidates

Money is the least effective way to Money is the least effective way to influence politicians (see p.277)influence politicians (see p.277)

The campaign finance reform law of The campaign finance reform law of 1973 restricted donations1973 restricted donations

The rapid growth in PACs has The rapid growth in PACs has probably not led to vote buyingprobably not led to vote buying

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Money and PACsMoney and PACs

Ideological PACs raise more money, Ideological PACs raise more money, but raising the money also consumes but raising the money also consumes it, so less is available to give to it, so less is available to give to campaigns and candidatescampaigns and candidates

In 2003-2004, unions and business or In 2003-2004, unions and business or professional organizations gave the professional organizations gave the mostmost

Incumbents get the most PAC moneyIncumbents get the most PAC money

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Money and InfluenceMoney and Influence

There is no systematic evidence There is no systematic evidence that PAC money influences votes that PAC money influences votes in Congressin Congress

Most members vote in line with Most members vote in line with their ideology and with their their ideology and with their constituentsconstituents

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Money and InfluenceMoney and Influence

When an issue is of little concern When an issue is of little concern to voters and ideology provides to voters and ideology provides little guidance, there is a slight little guidance, there is a slight correlation between PAC correlation between PAC contributions and votescontributions and votes

PAC money may influence politics PAC money may influence politics in other ways, like access or in other ways, like access or committee actionscommittee actions

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The “Revolving Door”The “Revolving Door”

Federal government workers Federal government workers leave to take more lucrative leave to take more lucrative positions in private industry positions in private industry (lobbying, consulting, executive (lobbying, consulting, executive positions)positions)

This may give private interests a This may give private interests a way to improperly influence way to improperly influence government decisions government decisions

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Regulating Interest Regulating Interest GroupsGroups A 1995 act provided a broader A 1995 act provided a broader

definition of lobbying and tightened definition of lobbying and tightened reporting requirementsreporting requirements

Tax code; nonprofits lose tax-exempt Tax code; nonprofits lose tax-exempt status if a “substantial part” of their status if a “substantial part” of their activities involve lobbyingactivities involve lobbying

Campaign-finance laws limit donations Campaign-finance laws limit donations by individual PACsby individual PACs

See pgs. 281-283See pgs. 281-283

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Table 11.1 Table 11.1 Lobbying Lobbying Regulations Regulations for Nonprofit for Nonprofit OrganizationOrganizationss

See p.261See p.261