∞ legislators don’t have time to compile information ∞ lobbyists present info in an organized,...
Post on 02-Jan-2016
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∞ Legislators don’t have time to compile information
∞ Lobbyists present info in an organized, persuasive,
factual manner
∞ Client politics – nature of issue could give advantage
to suppliers of certain information but burden on
suppliers of contrary information
∞ Political cue: tells official what values are at stake and
if issue fits into their set of political beliefs
∞ Ratings: assess a representative’s voting record on
issues important to an interest group
∞ Insider strategy: lobbyists work closely with key members of Congress
∞ Outsider strategy: designed to generate public pressure directly on
government officials (grassroots lobbying)
∞ Issue public: public directly affected by government policy
∞ Members interest groups work with legislators with whom they agree
∞ Only few issues are so important that member of Congress would
think that to ignore public opinion would mean losing election
∞ Lobbyists try direct-mail campaigns to arouse
small, passionate group to write letters/vote
∞ “Dirty Dozen” – Congressmen votes against
bills to help environment; lost them their re-
election
∞ Large, well-funded interest groups rarely all-
powerful
∞ Money one of less effective ways to advance groups’ causes
∞ Campaign finance reform law of 1973: restricted amount any
interest could give candidate; legal for corporations/labor unions to
form political action committees (PACs) to make contributions
∞ 2004, top ten PACs were labor unions, business organizations,
groups representing doctors, lawyers, realtors, government
employees
∞ Rise of ideological PACs (+1,000: ⅓ liberal, ⅔ conservative)
∞ Make more money but give less since the way they raise it is expensive
∞ Most PACs spend small sums of money over many candidates
∞ Hundreds leave government for jobs in private industry
∞ Michael K. Deaver (deputy chief of staff under Reagan) used former
government contacts to help clients of public relation firm
∞ Works other way: Ex – lawyers of Federal Trade Commission might feel will
be rewarded for being especially vigorous/effective prosecutors
∞ Both ends of political spectrum used disruption
∞ Feminists, antislavery, blacks: sit-ins to bombings
∞ Ku Klux Klan: terror, intimidation, murder
∞ Officials find selves in no-win situations
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