Understanding Interest Groups and their Influence in Government

1. Interest Groups AP GovernmentUnit 3

2. What is an Interest Group?? • Interest groupsare organizations that seek a collective good, and which will not selectively or materially benefit the members. • “An interest groupis an organization made up of people who share common objectives and who actively attempt to influence government policymakers through direct and indirect methods.” • “Interest Groupis an organization of people with similar policy goals that tries to influence the political process to try to achieve those goals.”

3. What do Interest Groups do? • Try to influence public policy • Lobbyists try and persuade public officials to believe a specific view • Every branch and every level of government is affected by interest groups

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

5. “Linkage Institutions” • Parties, Elections, Interest Groups and the Media are all considered “linkage institutions” in our country • What is a linkage institution? • Institutions that help link, or connect, citizens to their government. • It helps give citizens a way to participate and make their voices heard as well as to learn more about their government and its leaders.

6. Interest Groups have been criticized for… • Ignoring the wider interestof society • Producing confusion and deadlockin Congress • Generating so much emotionthat they make reasoned discussion difficult • Having too much influence

7. Political Parties vs. Interest Groups • Political Parties • Nominate candidates • Want to win elections • Concerned with many issues • Interest Groups • Don’t nominate • Want to influence policies • Concerned with one issue

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

9. 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

10. The Development of American Interest Groups • Interest groups have been part of the American political landscape since the country’s founding. • The open nature of the American government invites organized political participation. • James Madison in Federalist #10argued that no one group should get control over other groups.

11. 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)

12. The Roots and Development of American Interest Groups • The Rise of the Interest Group State (1960-70) • A new sense of progressivism • ACLU, Common Cause, NAACP • Religious and Ideological Groups • Christian Coalition, Moral Majority • Business Groups, Trade and Professional Associations • Chamber of Commerce, Business Roundtable • Organized Labor • AFL-CIO • Teamsters

14. Why People Join Interest Groups • SolidaryIncentives • 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

15. 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

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

20. National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) • National Coalition for the Homeless • National Education Association (NEA) • National Endangered Species Act Reform Coalition • National Gay and Lesbian Task Force • National Organization for Women (NOW) • National Recycling Coalition • National Resources Defense Council • National Right to Life • National Rifle Association • National Rural Electric Cooperative Association • National Water Resources Association • Nuclear Waste Citizens Coalition • Office & Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU) • PeaceNet • People For the American Way • People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals • Physicians for a National Health Program • Planned Parenthood • Public Citizen • Public Interest Research Groups • Service Employees International Union • Sheet Metal Workers International Association • Sierra Club • Society for Electronic Access (SEA) • Society for Human Resource Management • Taxpayers Against Fraud • Teledemocracy Action News + Network • United Autoworkers Workers (UAW) • United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) • United Mine Workers of America (UMW) • United States Space Foundation • Vietnam Veterans of America • Women's Legal and Public Policy Information • WomensNet Others- not on test! • GreenNet (environmental) • Greenpeace International • Habitat for Humanity • Hollywood Women's Political Committee - HWPC • International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers • International Brotherhood of Teamsters • International Union of Bricklayers & Allied Craftworkers • LaborNet • League of Conservation Voters • League of Women Voters' Voter Education Project • Majority '96 • Militia Watchdog • National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League (NARAL) • National Air Traffic Controllers Association • National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) • National Association for Public Interest Law • National Association of Arab Americans • National Association of Baby Boomers • National Association of Broadcasters • National Association of Community Action Agencies • National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) • ConflictNet • Concord Coalition • Congressional Accountability Project • Contract with America • Bowling Green State University Coalition Against the Contract [ • "Contract on America" (book by Ann-Marie Rosato) • Council for Responsible Genetics • Death Penalty Information Center • EcoNet • Electronic Frontier Foundation • EMILY's List • Empower America • Environmental Defense Fund • Family Farm Alliance • Federation For American Immigration Reform (FAIR) • Feminist Majority Foundation Online • Friends of the Earth • Fund for Constitutional Government • Generation X Coalition • Government Purchasing Project • AFL-CIO • Alliance for Justice • American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) • American Association for Affirmative Action (AAAA) • American Association for People with Disabilities (AAPD) • American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) • American Association of University Women (AAUW) • American Bankers Association (ABA) • American Bar Association • American Civil Liberties Union • American Chemical Society • American Conservative Union • American Farm Bureau Federation • American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) • American Federation of Teachers (AFT) • American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA) • American Israel Public Affairs Committee • American Legion • American Petroleum Institute • American Postal Workers Union (APWU) • American Public Welfare Association (APWA) • Americans Against Political Corruption • Americans for Democratic Action • Amnesty International • Animal Rights Coalition • Catholics United for Life • Center for Democracy and Technology • Center for Public Integrity • Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) • Children's Defense Fund • Child Labor Coalition • Child Welfare League of America • Christian Coalition • Citizens Against Government Waste • Citizens for Budget Reform (CBR) • Citizens for Tax Justice • Communications Workers of America (CWA)

22. Sites for Interest Group Research California State University @ Chico http://www.vancouver.wsu.edu/fac/kfountain/ About.com http://usgovinfo.about.com/blorgs.htm

23. Economic Interest Groups • Most interest groups are based oneconomics • Businesses(create favorable environment for business to prosper) • Agriculture(work for price supports from gov’t, but also limit gov’t influence) • Labor(Call public attention to the legitimate needs of working people. Accomplishments …eight-hour work day …child labor laws …minimum wage laws ...workplace health & safety laws) • Professional(protect and advance their professional field -- to do this, they...publish journals…give awards for excellence ...communicate their opinions to gov’t officials)

24. 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)

25. 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

26. 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.

27. 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 !!!!

28. 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… • This is legal but …Is this Ethical???

29. 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.

30. 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. • PAC’s gave over • $217 million to congressional candidates in 1996 • $373 million in 2010!!!

31. 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 • ½ sponsored by corporations; 1/10 by unions • 1/3 liberal and 2/3 conservative (2001) • Incumbents get the most PAC money!!

32. 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

33. 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

35. http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/index.asp

36. 2010 Top PAC Contributions • International Assn of Fire Fighters $2,288,000 • National Auto Dealers Assn $2,285,400 • Credit Union National Assn $2,211,346 • Carpenters & Joiners Union $2,209,375 • American Fedn of St/Cnty/Munic Employees $2,204,000 • Teamsters Union $2,179,560 • Boeing Co $2,094,000 • American Crystal Sugar $2,087,500 6 • Laborers Union $2,085,500 • National Assn of Home Builders $2,022,500 • National Education Assn $2,018,050 • National Assn of Realtors $3,680,296 • Honeywell International $3,569,700 • AT&T Inc $3,047,375 • National Beer Wholesalers Assn $3,001,000 • Intl Brotherhood of Electrical Workers $2,888,623 • Operating Engineers Union $2,747,920 • American Assn for Justice $2,731,500 • American Bankers Assn $2,637,904 • American Federation of Teachers $2,302,250

37. 2011 Top PAC Contributions

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

39. 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

40. Super PACs • 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

43. Great Site for Research • http://www.opensecrets.org/index.php

44. Acts Regulating Lobbyists • 1946Federal Regulation of Lobbying Act • Lobbyists must register and file reports • 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 4 Million Dollars were spent lobbying EACH member of Congress in 2005!

45. Jack Abramoff Scandal • “Super-Lobbyist”Abramoff plead guilty to corruption charges in 2006 • Abramoff pleaded guilty to defrauding the Native American tribes that were his clients, to tax evasion and to conspiring to bribe public officials • He illegally gave gifts and made campaign donationsto legislators in return for votes or support of legislation • Several federal officials were also accused and found guilty in the scandal • http://www.pbs.org/moyers/moyersonamerica/capitol/watch.html

46. http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7387331n

47. And now for a bit of fun….