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Explore the role and impact of interest groups in government, from historic factions to modern lobbying tactics and the influence of money in politics.
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LongmanPoliticalScienceInteractive Magleby & Light Government by the People Chapter 9 Interest Groups: The Politics of Influence
The Politics of Influence • The 2004 presidential election featured ads by interest groups • Swift Boat Veterans for Truth • MoveOn • The Media Fund • Known as “527s” due to their classification in the IRS tax code • Able to raise/spend unlimited amounts of money as long as the expenditures were independent of the candidates/parties
Interest Groups Past and Present:The “Mischief of Faction” • Faction: A term the founders used to refer to political parties and special interests or interest groups • Madison believed that factions were “united and actuated by some common impulse of passion, or of interest, adverse to the rights of other citizens, or to the permanent and aggregate interests of the community.” • He argued that “the causes of faction cannot be removed, and…relief is only to be sought in the means of controlling its effects.” • Pluralism: A theory of government that holds that open, multiple, and competing groups can check the asserted power by any one group
Interest Groups A collection of people who share some common interest or attitude and seek to influence government for specific ends. Interest groups usually work within the framework of government and employ tactics such as lobbying to achieve their goals. Movement A large body of people interested in a common issue, idea, or concern that is of continuing significance and who are willing to take action. Movements seek to change attitudes or institutions, not just politics. A Nation of Interests
Types of Interest Groups: Economic Interest Groups • Business/Corporate • Trade and other associations • Labor (unions) • Professional associations
Union Membership in the United States Compared to Other Countries
Labor • Open shop: A company with a labor agreement under which union membership cannot be required as a condition of employment • Closed shop: A company with a labor agreement under which union membership can be a condition of employment • Free rider: An individual who does not join a group representing his or her interests, yet receives the benefit of the group’s influence
Types of Interest Groups: Ideological or Single-Interest Groups -Christian Coalition -NRA -NARAL -Club for Growth
Types of Interest Groups: Public Interest Groups Ralph Nader • Unsafe at Any Speed • (1965) • Founded Public Citizen; “Nader’s Raiders” • Ran for president as Green Party candidate in 1996 and 2000, and as independent in 2004 and 2008
Foreign Policy Interest Groups Council on Foreign Relations American-Israel Political Action Committee Public Sector Interest Groups National Governors Association National League of Cities National Educational Association League of Women Voters Types of Interest Groups: Foreign Policy and Public Sector Interest Groups
Interest Groups: Cohesiveness Types of members in an organization Small number of formal members People involved with the group to some degree People who are members in name only
Characteristics and Power of Interest Groups: Size and Resources • Resources or incentives can be offered to provide selective benefits, which can be used to overcomeresistance to joining an interest group • Material benefits • Solidary benefits • Purposive benefits
Interest Groups: Techniques for Exerting Influence Mass Mailing Publicity, Mass Media, Internet Direct Contact with Government Litigation (lawsuit or amicus curiae brief) Campaign Contributions Forming a Political Party Lobbying Grassroots action
Who are the Lobbyists? • Lobbyist: A person who is employed by and acts for an organized interest group or corporation to try to influence policy decisions and positions in the executive and legislative branches • Revolving door: An employment cycle in which individuals who work for government agencies that regulate interests eventually end up working for interest groups or businesses with the same policy concern
Who are the Lobbyists? Issue network: Relationships among interest groups, congressional committees and subcommittees, and the government agencies that share a common concern The Iron Triangle Interest groups Federal agency Congressionalcommittee
Money and Politics PAC The political arm of an interest group that is legally entitled to raise funds on a voluntary basis from members, stockholders, or employees in order to contribute funds to favored candidates or political parties Soft Money Money raised in unlimited amounts by political parties for party-building purposes Hard Money Political contributions given to a party, candidate, or interest group that are limited in amount and fully disclosed
Money and Politics • Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (2002) • Largely banned party soft money; restored long-standing prohibition on corporations and labor unions for using general treasury funds for electoral purposes • Narrowed the definition of issue advocacy Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz)., second left, and Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wisc) smile during a news conference following the signing of the BCRA
Total PAC Contributions to Federal Candidates, 1975-2006 (in Millions)
PACs that Gave the Most to Federal Candidates, 2000-2006 (Millions of Dollars)
How PACs and Others Allocated Campaign Contributions to House Candidates, 2005-2006
How Much Do Interest Groups Influence Elections and Legislation? • Tendency of PACs to give money to incumbents has meant that challengers face real difficulties in getting their campaigns funded. • “Too often, members’ first thought is not what is right or what they believe, but how it will affect fundraising. Who, after all, can seriously contend that a $100,000 donation does not alter the way one thinks about—and quite possibly votes on—an issue?” - Former U. S. Senator Alan Simpson (R-WY)
Continued Concerns About “Factions” • Interest groups do not represent people equally • Use of money to influence politicians Many attempts at reform, but unclear effect
Other Methods of Influence • Independent expenditures • No limits, but must be disclosed to FEC • Campaigning through other groups • Issue advocacy: Unlimited and undisclosed spending by an individual or group on communications that do not use words like “vote for” or “vote against”
