Government Regulations of Interest Groups

1. Date: March 5, 2014Topic: Interest Group InfluenceAim: How do interest groups influence the political process?Do Now: Complete the Reading.

2. Government Regulations of Interest Groups • Fully disclose funding and activities. • Lobbyists have to register with the government  Lobbying Disclosure Act. • Limits on gifts. • Limits on revolving door appointments – government appointees working with prior employers. • Bribery prohibited.

3. Free Rider Problem • Some people don’t join interest groups because they benefit from the group’s activities without officially joining. • The bigger the group, the larger the free-rider problem. • Large groups are difficult to keep organized.

4. Other Interest Group Tactics • Electioneering - The activities that interest groups engage in to try to get someone elected to office. These include recruiting and/or endorsing candidates, and advertising. • Ratings Game – interest groups rate politicians based on voting records.

5. Why Interest Groups Choose Various Techniques • Litigation • If they lack broad political support and/or lack influence over legislation/policy. • Rights issues involved. • Success will establish a firm precedent. DeepaIsac Deputy General Counsel Isac also serves as the legal liaison on numerous environmental lawsuits involving the Endangered Species Act and the National Environmental Policy Act in addition to managing administrative law cases and intellectual property issues for Greenpeace.

6. Why Interest Groups Choose Various Techniques • Campaign Contributions • Have financial resources. • Group may be looking for access. • Buy candidate loyalty/support. THE POLITICAL VICTORY FUND IS THE PAC FOR THE NRA.

7. Why Interest Groups Choose Various Techniques • Grassroots Lobbying • Popular support but lack funds. • Popular support may be a strength – go for it. • Requires less money.

8. Groups and Why They Choose Certain Techniques. • American Medical Association – campaign contributions. • Sierra Club – Grassroots or litigation. • NRA – grassroots or campaign contributions. • NAACP – litigation or grassroots.

9. Theories of Interest Group Politics- Pluralism • Definition: • Politics is mainly a competition among groups, each one pressing for its own preferred policies. • Many centers of power and many diverse, competing groups. • No group wins or loses all the time. • Groups provide the key link between the people and the government.

10. Theories of Interest Group Politics- Pluralism • Continued… • Groups compete. • No group becomes too dominant. • Groups play by the rules. • Groups weak in one resource can rely on another resource.

11. Theories of Interest Group Politics- Elitism • Definition: • Societies are divided along class lines and that an upper-class elite will rule, regardless of the formal niceties of governmental organization. • Numerous groups means nothing, the power is not equally divided among them- some have much more. • The largest corporations hold the most power.

12. Theories of Interest Group Politics- Hyperpluralism • Definition: • Groups are so strong that government is weakened. Extreme, exaggerated form of pluralism. • Iron Triangles closed, mutually supported relationships between interest groups and the government - keep government from working properly. • Interest groups have become too powerful since the government tries to serve every interest.

13. House of Representatives • Impeachment – vote on it. • Vote for the President when electoral college tied. • Initiate revenue bills. • Senate • Treaty Ratification. • Confirmation of appointments. • Try impeachment  conviction  removal from office.