SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS

1. SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS

2. Explaining Proliferation Proliferation � the growing or increase. Special Interest groups (factions)- an organization of people sharing a common interest. Why are they common? We are diverse in every aspect. The federal system of government makes change at various levels possible. Weak political parties.

3. Why Interest Groups? Many added after the 1960s and 70s. Our economy changed, as it expands and changes new needs arise. Government policies (like war) can produce interest groups. Leadership (Evelyn�s Nader). The more the government sticks its nose into the public and private lives of citizens, the more people want to protect their interests.

4. Institutional Interests Groups with large amounts of money that pay for lawyers or groups to lobby for their interests. Usually large businesses, but can also be higher education, or local governments. Washington has over 38,000 blood sucking lawyers!

5. Membership Interest Groups In comparison to other nations, Americans have a stronger sense of civic duty, or a stronger sense of protecting their own interests. Usual this takes place during or as a response to a social movement. NAACP AARP (old people) Environmental Sierra Club Feminists NOW National Organization for Women or ERA Equal Rights Amendment Unions CTA (me)

7. Why Join an Interest Group? Solidary Incentives � looking good and hanging out with your peeps. Material Incentives � Newsletters Insurance discounts Purposive Incentives � (ideological interests groups) Public-interests Nader!

8. Getting the Dough! Foundation Grants Most interest groups get over 50% of their funds from foundation grants. Federal Grants and Contracts The government gives a grant not to the interest group, but to a project that they are involved in. Social Services and community projects. Direct Mail Using the mail, internet, or phone to get people to join and pay dues, or to send money to help the organization Save the animals � gets me every time.

9. What Do These People Do All Day Long? Gathering and supplying information They need to be up to date on all the latest research and developments. Ratings How other representatives have voted in the past will determine how he or she will likely vote again. Political Cues Will it support the agenda of a representative? Is it too liberal or too conservative? Will others vote for it? What moral or ethical implications will this have?

10. The Outsider Strategy Gone are the days when you golf with your congressional buddy and give him a cigar in exchange for a vote. Now you have to Use public pressure to make him/her sweat. Use technology to gain immediate support on an issue. This works best on high profile stuff. Grassroots lobbying

11. The Insider Strategy Work closely with a few legislators that trust you. Stay away from people who think you are a lying crazy person. Spend most of your time with the undecided people. Use polls, and grassroots lobbying to gain their support through the overwhelming, probably incredibly biased, evidence you are giving them.

12. Does Money Make A Difference? Maybe. Most PACs give only hundreds to each candidate. Because it isn�t that much, it really doesn�t dictate policy. How much you spend may not be as important as your catchy slogans and strategy. You wouldn�t have catchy slogans and a strategy without money.

13. Sneaky, Self-Serving People Because government pay is horrible, many people leave to go to the private sector so they can make millions. How do we know they didn�t use their position in government to get cushy private jobs? This is illegal, but happens all the time. 1978 Ethics in Government Act (see page 285)

14. Regulating Interest Groups Protected under the Freedom of Speech. 1946 Federal Regulation of Lobbying Act, revised in 1995 Gave a definition to people considered lobbyists. Two a year, all registered lobbyists must report The names of their clients Their income and expenditures. The issues that they worked with. Only requires federal lobbyists to adhere to the above. Campaign Finance Laws Limits contributions to political candidates to 5,000. Religious groups have been limited by the IRS to keep their tax exemption.