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Interest Groups

Interest Groups. Madison’s Federalist #10 and the “mischiefs of faction” Pluralism. Types of Interest Groups. Economic (Business, Professional, Labor) Ideological/Single-issue Public Interest/Research Groups (PIRGs) Foreign policy Government. Interest Group Resources. Size Unity

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Interest Groups

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  1. Interest Groups • Madison’s Federalist #10 and the “mischiefs of faction” • Pluralism

  2. Types of Interest Groups • Economic (Business, Professional, Labor) • Ideological/Single-issue • Public Interest/Research Groups (PIRGs) • Foreign policy • Government

  3. Interest Group Resources • Size • Unity • Organization • Activism & Mobilization • Money

  4. Washington’s Big 10 • Fortune’s list of most powerful groups: • NRA • AARP • Nat. Fed. Of Ind. Business • AIPAC • Assn. of Trial Lawyers • AFL-CIO • Chamber of Commerce • Nat. Beer Wholesalers Assn. • Nat. Assn. of Realtors • Nat. Assn. of Manufacturers

  5. Purposes & Functionsof Interest Groups • Promoting Agenda • Education of Public • Election of Favorable Candidates • Mobilizing Membership

  6. Interest Group Strategy • Shape policy to be consistent with group goals, while • Maintaining support within the group and avoiding the “free rider” (Mancur Olson, The Logic of Collective Action)

  7. Interest Group Tactics • Lobbying • Revolving door • Iron Triangles • Endorsements • PAC Contributions • Soft money vs. hard money • McCain-Feingold • 527s • Initiating Litigation • Amicus curiae

  8. Lobbying: A Big Business • In 1968, 62 lobbyists in D.C. • In 2005, 34,000 lobbyists in 4,755 firms • From 1998-2004, $13 billion spent on lobbying • The Revolving Door in Congress • Congressmen make ~$150k year; as lobbyists, former congressmen can count on $300k (after 1 year “cooling off” period) • 240 members of Congress have become lobbyists (40 for pharmaceuticals alone) • Currently 6 former members of Fed. Energy Regulatory Commission work for oil companies • China has spent $20 million in direct lobbying efforts since 1997

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