influence. freewrite do trailer parks cause tornadoes? why or why not? why would somebody ask that?...
TRANSCRIPT
Influence
Freewrite
Do trailer parks cause tornadoes?
Why or why not?
Why would somebody ask that?
Why do I ask?
• Don’t forget to turn this in for participation credit!
Tornados and trailer parks
The problem of “buying votes”
• Interest groups do give – To members on committees important to their
policy area– More money right before an important vote
• Members do vote with the groups that give them money
• Problem of simultaneous causation
Which is cause and which is effect?
Interest group gives a
campaign contribution
Member votes with interest group
Member takes issue positions
favorable to an interest group
Interest group lobbies member
When members of Congress decide how to cast a vote, what
do they consider?
How do members of Congress make decisions?
Determinative Major importance
Minor importance
Not important
Constituents 7% 31% 51% 12%
Fellow MC’s 5% 42% 28% 25%
Party leaders 0% 5% 32% 63%
Interest groups 1% 25% 40% 35%
Administration 4% 14% 21% 61%
Staff 1% 8% 26% 66%
How do MC’s make decisions?
• Fellow members
• Constituents
• Interest Groups
• President
• Party
• Staff
Complexity of Interest Group influence
Member of Congress
Constituents
Party
Other members
Interest Group
Campaign Contributions & lobbying
Going public
Campaign contributions
/ revolving door
loyalty
Interest groups and the public
• Get own members to write to/visit member of Congress– Particularly MC’s own constituents!
• Lobby the public– Get journalists to cover group’s issue/
research/demonstrations– Run TV ads about upcoming vote– Take part in the culture war
Complexity of Interest Group influence
Member of Congress
Constituents
Party
Other members
Interest Group
Campaign Contributions & lobbying
Going public
Campaign contributions
/ revolving door
loyalty
Methodological issues
• Of course they’d say that.
• Is there a mechanism?
• How to take all factors into account?– “Statistics”!
Research conclusions
• PAC contributions don’t buy votes on issues that constituents are aware of, or party cares about
• PAC Contributions may influence…• committee votes on amendments• level of member activity• tax and regulatory bills (low profile) more
than spending bills
How could we prove that campaign contributions/access/lobbying
affects congressional outcomes?
Interest group gives a
campaign contribution
Member votes with interest group
Member takes issue positions
favorable to an interest group
Interest group lobbies member