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Essence and history of interest groups

Essence and history of interest groups. Definition. A collection of individuals linked together by professional circumstance, or by common political, economic, or social interest such that: Its name does not appear on a ballot

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Essence and history of interest groups

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  1. Essence and history of interest groups

  2. Definition • A collection of individuals linked together by professional circumstance, or by common political, economic, or social interest such that: • Its name does not appear on a ballot • It uses some portion of its resources to influence decisions made by some government entity • It is organized externally to government

  3. Historical Development • Existed pre-Revolution • Early groups organized at state level • Explosion of groups 1870-1900: why? • Disturbance theory • Changes in Congress • Second explosion since 1960 • Disturbance theory • Social movements • Educated middle class

  4. Early groups • 1833 American Anti Slavery Society • 1834 National Trades Union • 1847 American Medical Association • 1867 National Grange • 1871 National Rifle Association • 1886 American Federation of Labor • 1892 Sierra Club • 1909 NAACP • 1912 US Chamber of Commerce • 1924 National League of Cities

  5. The contemporary group landscape

  6. Types of groups • Membership organizations • Trade and Professional Associations • Labor unions • Citizen groups • Institutional interests • Charitable and Religious Groups • Corporations • Intergovernmental Lobby

  7. Setting priorities • What affects members most? • What issues are most central to group’s goals? • Timing in political environment • Hard to drop an issue

  8. What do they do to get what they want? • Testify at Congressional hearings (99%) • Contact government officials (98%) • Engage in unofficial contact with officials (95%) • Present research or technical info (92%) • Send letters to officials (92%) • Enter into coalitions with other groups (92%) • Attempt to shape implementation of law (90%) • Talk with the media (89%) • Help draft legislation (85%) • Inspire letter writing campaigns (84%) • Shape govt agenda by raising new issues (84%)

  9. What do they do to get what they want? • Have influential constituents contact members of Congress (80%) • Mount grassroots lobbying efforts (80%) • Alert members of Congress to effects of legislation on their districts (75%) • Filing suit (72%) • Contribute to campaigns (58%) • Doing favors for elected officials (56%) • Publicize candidates’ voting records (44%) • Run ads in the media (31%) • Conribute work or personnel to electoral campaigns (24%) • Endorse candidates (22%) • Protest/demonstrate (20%)

  10. Funding the group’s activities

  11. Expenditures on lobbying, 2008 US Chamber of Commerce $91,725,000 • Exxon Mobil $29,000,000 • AARP $27,900,000 • PG&E Corp $27,250,000 • Northrop Grumman $20,743,252 • American Medical Assn $20,555,000 • Pharmaceutical Rsrch & Mfrs of America$20,220,000 • American Hospital Assn $20,102,684 • Koch Industries $20,023,000 • General Electric $19,379,000 • Verizon Communications $18,020,000 • National Assn of Realtors $17,340,000 • Boeing Co $16,610,000 • Lockheed Martin $15,961,506 • Blue Cross/Blue Shield $15,560,165

  12. Top campaign expenditures in 2008 • Employees International Union $71,019,477 • ActBlue $54,382,729 • Moveon.org $38,123,571 • EMILY's List $34,965,661 • American Fedn of St/Cnty/Munic Employees $33,035,182 • Friends of Fred Thompson $24,316,838 • American Federation of Teachers $20,995,532 • National Assn of Realtors $18,383,414 • Intl Brotherhood of Electrical Workers $17,128,126 • National Rifle Assn $16,828,298 • Teamsters Union $16,148,705 • United Auto Workers $13,121,064

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