Interest Groups AP Government Unit 3 Chap 16

1. Interest Groups AP Government Unit 3 Chap 16

2. What is an Interest Group?? • Interest groupsare organizations that share information with members (linkage) and which tries to influence policy on behalf of the members • An interest groupis an organization made up of people who share common objectives

3. What do Interest Groups do? • Try to influence public policy • Interest groups express their members’ preferences to government policymakers • Interest groups convey government policy to their members • Interest groups raise and spend money to influence policymakers

4. What SHOULD Interest Groups do?: • Promote interest in public affairs • Provide useful information • Serve as watchdogs • Represent the interest of Citizens

5. Differences between Interest Groups and Political Parties • Interest groups seek to support public officials and influence public policy • Political parties are involved in many diverse issues – Interest groups focus on very narrow issues, related to members • Political parties are accountable to the public and voted into office – Interest groups are private and accountable to their members

6. Pluralism Theory • def: a multitude of groups, not the people as a whole, govern the United States. • Organizations (unions, professional associations, environmentalists, civil rights activists, business lobbies, etc) influence the making and administration of laws and policy. Didn’t J-Mad say all this in Federalist 10?

7. Pluralism Theory • If Americans do not decide major controversies themselves or indirectly through elections, how are such matters resolved? Pluralists are convinced that public policy emerges from competition among groups. Didn’t J-Mad say all this in Federalist 10?

8. Pluralism

9. Types of Interest Groups • There are thousands of interest groups in America because the government deals with billions of dollars • Most interest groups are headquartered in Washington D.C.

10. 1. Business Groups • Most large corporations employ lobbyists to monitor political activity • The National Association of manufacturers represents 12,000 small firms in all 50 states • The Chamber of Commerce spends over $20 million a year lobbying • The Business Roundtable represents corporations with over $5 trillion in revenue and nearly 10 million employees

11. 2. Labor Groups • Although not as strong as in the past; 16 million Americans are in Unions • Trade Unions tend to support the Democratic Party and are big financial contributors • The American Federation of Labor is the largest union in size and power with over 10 million members

12. 3. Agricultural Groups • Although less than 2% of the population, their interest groups are very influential in shaping agricultural policy • The farm Bureau and the National Farmers union are broad-based organizations that speak for farmers • There are also specialized interest groups that deal with areas of farming such as milk or cattle

13. 4. Professional Associations • The National Education Association represents 3.2 million teachers. • They are involved in public policy issues like Common Core and No Child Left Behind • The American Medical Association is the largest group of physicians • The American Bar Association represents over 400,000 lawyers

14. 5. Environmental Groups • Interest groups such as the Sierra Club, the Audubon Society, and the World Wildlife Fund are dedicated to pollution control, animal rights, and nuclear power

15. 6. Public Interest Groups • There are over 2,000 groups that champion causes for the public good. There include the League of Women Voters

16. 7. Equality Interests • The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) is one the oldest and most influential civil rights organizations • The National Association of Women (NOW) is the largest feminist organization in American with a mission to bring equality to women and end gender discrimination

17. 8. Single-Issue Groups • The National Right to Life Committee opposes abortions, while Planned Parenthood lobbies for reproductive rights • The National Rifle Association is one of the largest and most influential single-issue groups • The National coalition to bar Handguns is a single-interest group dedicated to gun control

18. 9. Other Types of Interest Groups • Cause-based • (National Wildlife Federation, League of Women Voters, National Rifle Association, MADD, Emily’s List) • Concerned with the welfare of people • (AARP – senior citizens, NAACP – African Americans) • Religious Organizations • (Christian Coalition, American Jewish Congress)

19. FOR: legislation that confers significant benefits on relatively small (but organized and active) groups and imposes small costs on the public at large Ex. Farm Subsidies AGAINST: legislation that imposes costs on small (but organized and active) groups and deprives the public at large of relatively small benefits Ex. Benefits cuts for military Legislators tend to vote:

21. Lobbyists • A Lobbyist is someone whose task it is to influence legislation or policymaking • Generally works for an interest group to gain access to policymakers and influence public policy • Lobbyists are hired by: • Businesses • Trade associations • Colleges or universities • Foreign countries • Anyone else wanting their voice heard on policy matters (Health issues, parent issues…)

22. What Lobbyists SHOULD Do • A lobbyist must be honest and truthfulif he or she wants to remain effective. • Access to lawmakers is critical and if a lobbyist gets a reputation of being untruthful or disingenuous legislators doors will close. • Good lobbyists will also make lawmakers aware of the downsides of a billand the arguments on the other side as well. http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/168449/may-13-2008/better-know-a-lobby---gun-control

23. The Roots and Development of American Interest Groups • National Groups Emerge (1830-89) • The beginnings of lobbying and interest groups • Anti-Slavery groups • Temperance Groups • The Grange • The Progressive Era (1890-1920) • Important groups created • Organized Labor • The American Federation of Labor (AFL)(1886) • Business and Trade Associations • The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM)(1895)

24. Lobbying Congress • Currently 30,000 lobbyists work in Washington D.C. • Lobbyists testify before congressional committees • Lobbyists provide members of Congress with information on technical issues • They generally meet informally with aides

25. Lobbying the Executive Branch • Most executive lobbying involves dealing with aides or other officials • Most presidents have a person responsible for allowing interest groups access to the administration • Very rarely does it involve direct contact with the president

26. Lobbying the Courts • Lobbyists CAN NOT informally meet federal judges who are hearing a case that is related an issues important to the interest group • Interest groups can take their cases to court • For example: the NAACP efforts to get legislation passed – Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka • They can write amicus curiae briefs • Interest groups are influential in getting federal court justices nominated

27. Why People Join Interest Groups • SolidarityIncentives • For the social contacts • League of Women Voters, NAACP, PTSA, American Legion • Material Incentives • For economic reasons • AARP, Farmers Groups, Labor Unions • Purposive Incentives • For moral causes / crusades • Right to-Life, Pro-Choice, Greenpeace

28. Who Joins Interest Groups? • Upper class interest groups- Big Business • More affluent join and are active • White collar workers • Professional groups • Working class interest groups- Big Labor • Labor unions have been very powerful in past • The AFL-CIO broke up in 2004, cutting big labor’s power

30. Among those over 50, AARP members are more likely to vote than nonmembers. Facts About the AARP

31. Direct Techniques: Lobby at Capitol Hill Have private meetings Meet at social occasions Testify at hearings Drafting legislation Providing political info Supply nomination suggestions Indirect Techniques: Generating Public Pressure Use public pressure on “hot button” issues Use constituents to call lawmakers Build alliances with other groups Interest Group Techniques

32. What Makes an Interest Group Successful? • Leaders– having a prominent leader aids in the reputation of the group and enhances a group's ability to attain its goals. • Patrons and Funding– funding is critical. Without money, it is hard to get your message out. • Members– a group must have members to be successful. Organizing members allows for strength in numbers and pooling of financial support.

33. Where does ALL the $$ Come From in Interest Groups?? • Member dues • Federal grants • Direct mail appeals for cash • Internet sites • Dinners and fundraisers • PAC’s !!!!

34. Political Action Committees • A popular term for a political committee organized for the purpose of raising and spending money to elect and defeat candidates. • Most PACS represent business, labor or ideological interests. • PACSare the so-called “political arms” of interest groups • PACS are used to elect or defeat government officials and promote legislation • The “revolving door” • PACS hire former members of Congress to lobby their old friends, committees, etc…

35. The Birth of PACS • In 1944, the Congress of Industrial Organizations, (CIO)wanted to help President Franklin Roosevelt get re-elected. • Standing in their way was the Smith Connally Act of 1943, which made it illegal for labor unions to contribute funds to federal candidates. • The CIO then urged individual union membersto voluntarily contribute money directly to the Roosevelt campaign. • It worked very well and PACs, or political action committees were born.

36. Political Action Committees(PAC’s) • A PAC must register six months in advance, have at least fifty contributors, and give to at least five candidates. • Corporations, unions, or other associations may establish PAC’s. • There are over 4,000 PACs registered with the Federal Election Commission.

37. Money from PACS • PACs may receive up to $5,000from any one individual, PAC or party committee per calendar year. • PACs can give$5,000to a candidate committee per election (primary, general or special). • They can also give up to $15,000 annually to any national party committee, and $5,000 annually to any other PAC. • PACS support candidates with campaign money • Incumbents get the most PAC money!!

38. Money Limits • Individuals can give up to $2600 to a candidate but PACS can give $5,000 to a candidate • Federal money will match presidential campaign money but…. • Parties need at least 5% of vote in previous year for presidential candidate to receive funds • If that doesn’t happen you need PAC’s!!! http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/379369/march-30-2011/colbert-pac---trevor-potter

39. Important PAC’s • The Laborers International Union of North America • The National Association of Realtors • The National Rifle Association(NRA) • Microsoft Corp • Exxon Mobil • EMILY’s List-Early money is like yeast – makes the Dough rise (Democratic women) • Human Rights Campaign

40. 2014 Top PAC Contributions

41. Where does all the $$ Go? AKA If you give you shall receive!!

42. Super PACs • Super PACs are a new kind of political action committee created in July 2010 following the outcome of a federal court case known as SpeechNow.org v. Federal Election Commission (after the Citizens United case). • Technically they are known as “independent expenditure-only committees” http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/382014/april-14-2011/colbert-super-pac---trevor-potter

43. Super PACs may raise unlimited sums of money from • Corporations • Unions • Associations and individuals • They spend unlimited sums to overtly advocate for or against political candidates. • Unlike traditional PACs, Super PACs are prohibited from donating money directly to political candidates. • Super PACs must, however, report their donors to the Federal Election Commission on a monthly or quarterly basis-- the Super PAC's choice -- as a traditional PAC would

45. Acts Regulating Lobbyists • 1946Federal Regulation of Lobbying "sunshine law"  • Lobbyists must register and file reports about what they are doing, for whom, and for how much money • 1978Ethics in Government Act • Officials must disclose finances and employmentafter leaving government service • 1995The Lobbying Disclosure Act • Must Register and Report clients • Estimate how much they are paid and report the % to the government FYI- Approximately 6 Million Dollars were spent lobbying EACH member of Congress in 2015!