1 / 11

Interest Groups

Interest Groups. Constitutional roots. Congress shall make no law…abridging …the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. --First Amendment. Interest Groups.

emilie
Download Presentation

Interest Groups

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Interest Groups

  2. Constitutional roots Congress shall make no law…abridging …the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. --First Amendment

  3. Interest Groups • Definition: groups that have organized to try to affect government policy. • (And don’t run candidates for office)

  4. Examples of interest groups? • American Civil Liberties Union • The Christian Coalition • National Rifle Association • National Organization for Women • The Sierra Club • A.A.R.P. (American Association of Retired Persons) • National Right to Life Committee • National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League • The Concord Coalition • The Federalist Society • American Association of Manufacturers • Pharmalogical Manufacturers Association of America

  5. Lobbying in the policymaking process • Case study: the AARP • Influence from Huge membership

  6. Interest Groups in the Policymaking Process • Problem definition • Studies and research reports • Drafting legislation • Agendasetting • Polls, press releases, press conferences

  7. Lobbying in the policymaking process Lobbying • Informal participation • Formal participation (testifying) • Astroturf lobbying (generating mail) • Demonstrations • Going Public (HIAA-Harry and Louise) • Giving money to candidates (not all groups do!)

  8. Campaign Finance • PACs (Political Action Committees) • Must raise money from 50 people (+) • Must contribute to at least 5 candidates • Maximum $5000 contribution per campaign • All public information

  9. Implementation • Reacting to proposed rules • The Federal Register • Testifying • Informal lobbying

  10. Interpretation • Filing court cases to challenge laws • Filing amicus briefs

  11. Lobbying as a bad word… • Money buys access • Revolving Door grants access • Meals, travel and gifts • Private bills, contracts, loopholes

More Related