Interest Groups

1.  (1) Read "Some see debate's tenor as too rude" on page 1A. Rudeness or Assertiveness? Based on comments from our class, I have deduced that the same behavior is labeled as either based on your preconceived feelings about the man in question. Now imagine either man winning the election. What "lesson" would future candidates take from debate performances of either winning candidate? •  (2) A little intro into our coverage of the media: Read "A Turn of the Page." Imagine all journalistic media "went digital." What effect would there be on the reporting of news? Consumption of news? What impact would this have on government? How might the "market" react?  • (3) Read "Binders Full of Women" Does this internet sensation reflect the American people's desire for "instant-flash analysis" of the news? The low level of respect for our potential elected officials? The American public's fickle or shallow interests? Or, frustration on how women are still perceiving themselves as marginalized? •  (4) "FBI thwarts New York Fed bomb plot" Really. Another foiled attack? What do you think the consequences will be of the "new norm" being a steady stream of terrorist attacks?

2. Interest Groups • Chp 11

3. What is the role of interest groups? • Have we reached James Madison’s argument that, “the sphere of influence must be extended to prevent any one group from having too much power?” • (Federalist #10)

4. Key Terms Interest Groups Political Action Committes (PACs) The fundraising arm of an interest group ‘Creatures” of interest groups; About 4,210 PACs that contribute a substantial portion of candidates campaign funds Obama broke patter of reliance to PACs in 2008 • An organization of individuals who share a common political goal and unite for the purpose of influencing policy decisions • Central role in the “pluralistic” theory of democracy – democracy is enhanced when citizen’s interest are represented through group membership Do interest groups have too much power?

5. Interest Groups: you might think they are simply lobbying organizations trying to convince Congress to pass laws favorable to their organization but there is far more.... James Riddlesperger, Jr. of Texas Christian Univ. argues that interest groups focus on “targets of opportunity,” and that entails not only the legislative branch but also the executive and judicial branch as realms of effective lobbying. It is not as simple as the legislative branch makes laws, the executive enforces laws, and the judicial interprets laws. • Interest Groups

6. Interest Groups- How They Shape Policy Types of Lobbyists 1) Paid employee of union, association, corporation 2) Temp. Lobbyists. How They Help 1) Source of information 2) Can help politicians with political strategies for getting legislation through 3) Can help formulate campaign strategy and get the group members behind a politicians reelection campaign 4) Source of ideas and innovations

7. As a linkage institution. Not like parties because of multiplicity of policy arenas. Not like parties because don’t run own slate of political candidates (yet...Citizens v. FEC 2010). Not like parties because policy specialists rather than generalists. Different goals than political party. • Interest Groups

8. How? Litigation- class action lawsuits and amicus curiae briefs Grassroot lobbying- celebrity causes (Angelie?) Mass mobilization - mass mailings, email Campaign Contributions • Interest Groups

9. Positives? • Theories: • Pluralism - it’s a good thing • Elite - top 1/3 on it all (NRA, AARP, etc.) • Hyperpluralism- Theodori Lowi- interest group liberalism- • *subgovernment- Iron Triangles composed of agency-group-committee • So much going on (hyperpluralism) that interest groups provide information to citizens and expert knowledge to congressmen Investigate deeper with • Interest Groups

10. How does a bill become a law?

11. So How Does a Bill Become a Law? • Interest Groups

12. So How Does a Bill Become a Law? • 90% of Congressman’s time is spent in committee • Committees represent make up of Congress 2 Dem : 1 Rep • Committees/Subcommittees’ Actions • 1. table it • 2. kill it • 3. amend it • 4. pass it as written • Interest Groups

13. So How Does a Bill Become a Law? • How do they make the decision? • *testimony from experts • *testimony from executive office bureaucrats (esp. on • apportionment/budget issues) • *testimony from celebrities • *testimony from sob stories • data - visuals -date - visuals • Interest Groups

14. So How Does a Bill Become a Law? • Note- when a bill comes before Congress on narrow • issues then interest groups really have the power! • like trade associations, bottlers associations, restaurant industry, consumer electronics, soft drinks • Interest Groups

15. Current Issues Lobbyist Pushed Off Advisory Panels • Hundreds, if not thousands, of lobbyists are likely to be ejected from federal advisory panels as part of a little-noticed initiative by the Obama administration to curb K Street's influence in Washington, according to White House officials and lobbying experts... • The initiative is aimed at a system of advisory committees so vast that federal officials don't have exact numbers for its size; the most recent estimates tally nearly 1,000 panels with total membership exceeding 60,000 people... • Most committee members receive no pay for their participation. They often are urged to take part by companies, trade groups or advocacy organizations that hope to sway government decisions to their advantage. While their operations vary, the panels tend to hold open meetings and issue reports and recommendations, and they often wield significant influence with policymakers because of their expertise in arcane subjects, from nuclear plant safety to wild burro management... http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/26/AR2009112602362.html?hpid=topnews • Interest Groups

16. Need to Know Interest Groups • Interest Groups

17. Surprising Ineffectiveness of Large Groups Pressure politics most effective from small group Potential Group vs. Actual Group logic of collective good can equal free rider problem Olson’s law of large groups bigger group= bigger free riders. This makes small groups more effective. Explains why corporate interests more effective in groups than consumer interests. Provide selective benefits to members to overcome this dilemma

18. Interest Groups Equal advantage is intensity - and single issue groups are on the rise. swem.wm.edu/beta/flathat/issues/fh20041029SS.pdf http://women4hope.files.wordpress.com/2007/09/pro-life-cartoon.gif Money counts What do you think? Are recipients of money influenced in their votes? http://www.wmsa.net/People/john_mccain/keating.jpg

19. Interest Groups Hall and Deardorff - lobbying as a form of “legislative subsidy” where they define as a “matching grant of costly policy information, political intelligence, and labor to the enterprises of strategically selected legislatures” *purpose of such a strategy is not to change anyone’s mind but rather to help one’s political allies. http://www.wmsa.net/People/john_mccain/keating.jpg

20. Interest Groups -- Concerns Lobbying as shady business or as strict professional representation of legitimate interests? Municipal government lobbyists Electioneering via PACs Corporate Welfare http://www.wmsa.net/People/john_mccain/keating.jpg

21. Interest Groups -- Types Economic- regulation policies, subsidies, tax code, international quotas/tariffs Labor- right to work, union shops, labor interest groups Environmental- Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Equality- NAACP and NOW Consumer Interest- Nader http://www.wmsa.net/People/john_mccain/keating.jpg

22. Equal Opportunity Interest Groups

23. Public Interest Groups

25. Economic Issues  Edit  0  0  13… Your Advocacy Group's wiki should address or contain: Is it a single issue group or does it have a broad ideological agenda? What is the ideological orientation? Does it have any official affiliations with established parties, churches or organizations? What are the goals of the organization? What is the history of the organization? How does it receive funding? What does this organization do? Provide ample evidence of each item. Evidence can include, but is not limited to (1) quotes from the organization's website (2) paraphrased information from the organization (3) press coverage of the organization or events sponsored by that group (4) names of donors and the amounts contributed (5) examples of printed literature from email to mass mailings (6) videos produced by that organization or news coverage of that group. Your presentation should conclude by evaluating the effectiveness of your organization's efforts to promote their agenda. Are they effective or successful? How do you know? Our goal is quality. Unicef Doctors without Borders Abt Associates NeighborWorks International Committee of the Red Cross Flat Tax Fair Tax Americans for Tax Reform Moveon.org John Birch Society Americans for a Balanced Budget Amendment Americans for a Balanced Budget International Foundation for Electoral Systems The Carter Center Heritage Foundation Brookings Institution Cato Institute

26. Interest Group Politics • Direct Lobbying: Congress • Direct Lobbying: The President • Direct Lobbying: The Bureacracy • Direct Lobbying: The Courts • Indirect Lobbying: The Public • “Astroturf” Political Campaigns: Democratic or Elite Driven?

27. Lobbying Direct Lobbying Indirect Lobbying Attempts to influence government policymakers by encouraging the general public to put pressure on them • Direct interaction with public officials for the purpose of influencing policy decisions

28. Direct Lobbying: Congress • Strategies for Congressional Lobbying • Personal Contacts: Banquets, parties, lunches, casual meetings • Professional Lobbyists: Revolving Door • Expert testimony: provide the information/testimony; Ex. Bob Graham • Campaign contributions: PACs • Coalition formation: AARP + AMA to convince Congress to delay cuts in physicians’ reimbursements by Medicare • d

29. Direct Lobbying: Congress • Attempts at Lobbying Reform • 1995 Lobbying Disclosure Act • Required lobbyists to report how much they are paid, by whom, and what issues they promote • 2006, Honest Leadership and Open Government Act • Prohibits senators, members of House, aids from receiving any gifts of over $50 • Requires disclosure of “earmarks,” that is, special projets of individual legislators often hidden in legislation, and their sponsers

30. Direct Lobbying: President • Official Contact = Office of Public Liason

31. Direct Lobbying The Bureacracy The Court