Unit Two: Opinions, Interests, and Organizations

1. Unit Two: Opinions, Interests, and Organizations Chapter 11: Interest Groups

2. Definition • What it is can be best defined by what it wants! • A group which seeks to influence government policy • By influencing those who get elected • NOT by getting members elected Take a moment to compare and contrast interest groups and political parties ….

3. Birth of Interest Groups • Four basic factors of the rise of IGs • #1 Broad economic developments that cause massive CHANGE to industries and family businesses • Created new interests • Redefined old interests

4. Birth of Interest Groups • Four basic factors of the rise of IGs • #2 Government Policy • War veterans created by war (duh) • Payments to certain occupations • Oversight of certain economic activities

5. Birth of Interest Groups • Four basic factors of the rise of IGs • #3 Stirring Leadership • Social circumstances require certain leaders • Leaders are known as “Organizational Entrepreneurs” • Occur at sporadic time intervals • #4 Expansion of Government Activities

6. Proliferation of Interest Groups • Cleavages in society increase the number of (and need for) IGs • Economic Status • Occupation • Immigrant heritage • Racial heritage • Religious groups • Regional cultures • Regional concerns

7. Proliferation of Interest Groups • Constitutional System • Encourages large number of IGs • Many access points for IGs to influence policy • Separate branches of government • Separate levels of government (federalism) • Multiple legislative committees and subcommittees • Anywhere there is a place to influence policy, an IG will be there!

8. Proliferation of Interest Groups • Political Party Weakness Theory • Theory says • When parties are weak, IGs work directly with the government agents and agencies • When parties are strong, IGs work with party members • Fact • That is not proven • The evidence is circumstantial at best

9. Kinds of Interest Groups • Institutional interests • Representing OTHER groups • Professional lobbyists (individuals) • Professional lobbying company • Representing Bread and Butter issues (mostly) • Hiring Interest Group Effects • Narrowly defined group = narrowly AIMED message • Broadly defined group = broad, GENERAL message

10. Kinds of Interest Groups • Institutional Interests (continued) • They can represent • Business interests • Government interests • State • Foreign • Foundations • Universities • Et alia

11. Kinds of Interest Groups • Membership Interests • A nation of “joiners” • For religious associations • For civic organizations • Americans have higher sense of personal political efficacy • Americans have confidence that group activity is effective

12. Kinds of Interest Groups • Membership Interests (continued) • Rational Thought • One individual will not make or break an IG • But, the one individual will benefit • So, why spend my • Time? • Money? • Effort?

13. Incentives to Join IGs • Solidary Incentive • Sense of pleasure • Status • Companionship • Usually a coalition of local chapters • Material Incentive • Money or valued services • Insurance • Discounts • Lure people to join by offering special deals

14. Incentives to Join IGs • Purposive Incentive • The appeal of the goals to get people to join • Ideological IG • Based on personal principles • Can exist anywhere on political spectrum • Often controversial • Public Interest Lobby • Based on the belief that benefits will spread out to all in public, not just members • Of course, what benefits society isn’t always what everyone agrees is best

15. Incentives to Join PUBLIC INTEREST IGs • Ways to influence government policy • Pay for • Research • Lobbying • Bring lawsuits • Fare better when administration is hostile

16. What Are Social Movements? A social movement is a loose coalition of groups and organizations with common goals that are oriented toward mass action and popular participation and share the intention of influencing the government. Interest groups can be part of a social movement, and new interest groups may be spawned by the activities of a broader social movement. But interest groups are formal organizations, while social movements are coalitions of many groups and individuals.

18. Interest Groups and Movements • Social movement • Demand for change in • Social order • Political order • Have a WIDE public appeal

19. Interest Groups and Movements • Social Movements • Reason they start isn’t known for sure • Scandal? • Public acts draw attention? • Crisis? • Generational concern?

20. Interest Groups and Movements • Environmental Movement • Specific groups • The Sierra Club • World Wildlife Foundation • et alia • The more radical the group, the smaller the membership

21. Interest Groups and Movements • Feminist Movement • Specific groups • League of Women Voters • N.O.W • Family Research Council

22. Interest Groups and Movements • Feminist Movement • Solidary Incentive • Wide support • Try to be non-controversial • Purposive Incentive • Strong opinions • Controversial at times • May take militant tactics

23. Interest Groups and Movements • Feminist Movement • Material Incentive • Helping all women (public interest) • Business • Political • Social • Lawsuits

24. Interest Groups and Movements • Union Movement • Represents worker interests • Steady decline in • Power • Influence • Membership

25. Funding Interest Groups • Ways to get money • Membership dues • Foundation grants • Federal grants and contracts • Direct mailing

26. Bias and Interest Groups • Upper class bias • More likely to be members • More time • More disposable income • Corporations (and CEOs) have DEEEEP pockets • NOT proven • OUTCOMES are what’s important, not funding • PLURALIST VIEW – many competing interest groups cancel each other out

27. Activities of I.G.s • Lobbyist • Those who work for interest groups • To influence government policy through contact with politicians

28. Activities of I.G.s • Informing • Most important function • Must be • Detailed • Specific • Up-to-date • CREDITABLE

29. Informing • Credible information • Exaggeration  yes! • False  NO! • Mislead congressman you lose confidence and access • Access is lifeblood of lobbyist!

30. Client Politics • Government policy greatly HELPS the group supplying the best information • Government policy greatly HURTS the counter group • Examples • Civ. Aero. Board – established airlines vs. new comers • Fed. Comm. Comm. – licenses to broadcast

31. Political Cues • IGs give “shortcut” information to political figures • If large numbers of IGs favor something, it “cues in” the politicians to favor or oppose • Liberal groups cue liberal politicians • Conservative groups cue conservative politicians • Groups sometimes form coalitions to present a “united front”

32. Political Cues • Politician Ratings to constituents • Report card for the public • Grades legislators • Voting record • On IG issues

33. Rise of New Politics • Insider Strategy • Old-school version • Work with just a few key members of legislature • Meet privately • Sometimes in social situations

34. Rise of New Politics • Outsider Strategy • Newer version • Made possible by • Decline of political party power • Rise of information-sharing technology

35. Rise of New Politics • Outsider Strategy • Send out information to the public • Hope to spur “grassroots” movements • Let the issue public pressure legislators • Issue public = those people directly affected by or deeply concerned with certain legislation

36. Rise of New Politics • **Beware of Astroturf Movements** • a fake grassroots movement: • it purports to be a spontaneous uprising of concerned citizens, but • in reality it is founded and funded by elite interests. • Some Astroturf campaigns have no grassroots component at all. • Others catalyze and direct real mobilizations.

37. Rise of New Politics • Finding the target! • Legislators want to avoid conflict • They seek friendly advice from like-minded organizations • Legislators feel • PRESSURED by opposition groups • Supported and informed by friendly groups • Lobbyists hunt for the votes from legislators wavering on the fence

38. Money and PACs • Money does NOT guarantee getting favorable legislation • Money does gain ACCESS to speak

39. Money and PACs • 1973 Reforms • Limit contributions • Legalize PACs • Pluralist view is that when many PACs exist, they cancel each other out!

40. Money and PACs • Many congressmen have their own PACs • Use it to help OTHER legislators • Other legislators help push PAC owner’s political agenda • By-passes interest group & PAC money

41. The Revolving Door • Government workers leave government positions • Work in private industry • Work as lobbyists • Work as business consultants • Lead foundations & “think tanks” • Lead universities

42. The Revolving Door • Improper Access to legislative process??? • Lasting friendships still in government • Insider knowledge • Lure (buy) people out of government and into interest groups?

43. The Revolving Door • Regulating • 1978 Ethics in Government Act • High ranking government officials must disclose • Source of all income • Amount of all income • Positions held in organizations

44. The Revolving Door • Regulating • After politician leaves office • Wait one year to represent any group before an agency the politician was part of • Wait two years to represent any group before an agency which came under the former politician’s official sphere of responsibility • NEVER represent anyone before an agency which the politician was directly involved with while in office

45. The Trouble with Trouble • Interest groups can stir up commotion! • Public displays • Disruptive tactics • Politicians HATE disruption • No-win situation • Listen to protesters • Caving in • Inviting future trouble • Ignore protesters • Cold • Uncaring

46. Regulating Interest Groups • Registration of lobbyists • People who spend at least 20% of their time lobbying • People who are paid by an interest group • At least $5,000.00 • 6-month period • Groups that spend • More than $20,000.00 • To their own lobbying staff • 6-month period

47. Regulating Interest Groups • Reporting by lobbyists • Names of clients • Income • Expenditure • Issues dealt with • Twice a year! • Does NOT extend to grassroots organizations

48. Regulating Interest Groups • Tax Codes • EFFECTIVE constraint • Tax-exempt status • Donations are tax-deductable • Encourages more donations! • Revoked status if the organization does “serious lobbying”

49. Regulating Interest Groups • Tax Codes • LOOPHOLE • Organization can do serious lobbying (not tax-exempt) • SISTER organization can do serious fund-raising (tax-exempt)