Pearson Longman PoliticalScience Interactive

1. Pearson LongmanPoliticalScienceInteractive Shea, Green, and Smith Living Democracy, Second Edition Chapter 13: Interest Groups

2. Functions of Interest Groups in a Democratic Society • Represent constituents • Provide means of political participation • Educate the public • Agenda building • Serve as government watchdogs Interest Group: An organized group with a defined membership that seeks to influence public policy Five functions of interest groups in the United States

3. Kinds of Organized Interests • Can be defined by goals: • Public Interest Groups • Economic Interest Groups • Public Sector Interest Groups / Governmental Units • Foreign Policy Interest Groups • Think Tanks • Can be divided by level of focus: • Multi-Issue Groups • Single Issue Groups • Political Action Committees

4. The Roots & Development of American Interest Groups • National groups emerge (1830-1889) • Single-issue Christian groups - Temperance, Peace, Education, Slavery • After Civil War, business interests – ex: Central Pacific Railroad • The Progressive Era (1890-1920) • Small groups of reformers – reform working conditions, poverty, etc. • Organized Labor – fight for the rights of workers • AFL – 1886 • Business Groups and Trade Associations – defend employers • NAM – National Association of Manufacturers - 1895 • Trade Associations: a group that represents a specific industry • The Public Interest Group Era (1960s – 1980s)

5. Labor Unions With large memberships, Unions emerged as powerful players early in 20th century • 1913 : U.S. government establishes Dept of Labor to protect rights of workers. • 1914 : Clayton Antitrust Act legalizes nonviolent strikes and boycotts. • 1935 : Wagner Act (aka National Labor Relations Act) affirms right of workers to unionize, requires employers to participate in collective bargaining. • 1938: Fair Labor Standards Act sets minimum wage and 44 hour work week. • 1949: Amendment to Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 outlaws child labor. More recently labor has lost some clout • Decrease in membership • Erosion of worker protection laws, increase in “right-to-work” states • Breakup of AFL-CIO

6. Big Business • Most large corporations • Have own governmental affairs department • Employ D.C.-based lobbyists • Gave substantial soft money in the past • Still use PACS, 527s, and thus contribute a great deal of money PACs That Gave the Most to Federal Candidates, 2000–2004 (Millions of Dollars)

7. The Rise of the Public Interest Groups • 1960s and 1970s saw a reappearance of the Progressive spirit • Civil Rights • Women’s Rights • Elderly • Poor • Consumers • Environment • Common Cause and Ralph Nader’s Public Citizen • Conservative Response: Religious and Ideological Groups • Jerry Falwell and the Moral Majority • Pat Robertson, 700 Club and Christian Coalition • National Rifle Association

8. The Interest Group Explosion • 1959: 5,843 • 1970: 10,308 • 1980: 14,726 • Mid-1990s: 22,200 Why has there been such a large growth in interest groups over the last 40 years? Number of national-level interest group organizations in the United States

9. Major Organized Interest Groups

10. Difficulties in Mobilization Mancur Olson, The Logic of Collective Action (1971) • Free-rider problem • Cost of group formation • Lack of a sense of political efficacy Overcoming Organizational Barriers • Strong Leaders / Entrepreneurs • Require membership • Material benefits • Solidary benefits • Purposive benefits

11. Interest Group Lobbying Tactics Inside Lobbying Openly appealing to public officials in the legislature and executive branches. Involves “gaining access” to an insider in the lawmaking process. Outside Lobbying Appealing directly to the public in order to influence officials. 90 percent of interest groups engage in this type of lobbying.

12. Tactics: Outside Lobbying Grassroots Mobilization The identification, recruitment, and mobilization of constituent-based political strength capable of influencing political decisions. Newer Tactics Advertorials Advertising Sponsored television shows Blogs Email campaigns Use of Internet to organize Traditional Tactics: Direct contact Direct mail Events and activities Mass demonstrations Boycotts Litigation

13. Tactics: Inside Lobbying - Congress • Members of Congress targets of lobbyists • Many lobbyists ARE former members • Lobbyists work closely with those members who share their interests • Lobbyist effectiveness depends on a reputation for accurate information Attempts to Regulate Lobbying in Congress • Federal Regulation of Lobbying Act, 1946 • Register and file financial reports • Lobbying Disclosure Act, 1995 • Employs a strict definition of lobbyist (20% rule) • Requires lobbyists to: • Register with clerk of House and secretary of Senate • Report clients, issues and agency or house they lobbied • Estimate amount they are paid by each client • Makes it easier for watchdog groups to track the lobbying activity

14. Lobbying the Executive Branch • President and Staff • Personal contacts work best • Or, deal with the Office of Public Liaison • Executive agencies • Involved in rule-making, public comment period • Involved in implementation stages. • May use lawsuits if necessary • Groups often monitor implementation of laws or policies they advocated. • Strong link between interest groups and regulatory agencies • Concerns about “revolving door”

15. Lobbying the Courts • Can take two forms: • Direct sponsorship • Filing amicus curiae briefs: informs court of group’s policy preferences, generally in guise of legal arguments • Interest groups also attempt to influence who is nominated and placed on the bench.

16. Tactics: Electioneering • Candidate recruitment and endorsements • Getting out the vote • Rating the candidates or office holders • Political action committees • Campaign contributions • In Texas, access comes with contributions of $1000 for State Senators, $250 for State Representatives.

17. The Importance of Money in Mobilization • Uses of Money • – Money is needed to recruit members, hire staff, rent offices, pay overhead, and raise additional funds. • – Groups with large resources often have an advantage. • Fundraising Tactics • – Dues from members, direct mailings, direct contact, personal appeals, Internet fundraising, and sale of goods and services

19. The Roots of Interest Groups in Texas • Interest groups developed slowly in Texas. • Personality was the dominant force in electoral politics. • Most influential interest groups in 19th century represented agrarian interests • The Grange • Agrarian interests were supplanted by oil and gas interests. • As Texas economy and society became more complex after WWII, varied interests proliferated

20. Interest Groups in Texas • Businesses – most powerful in Texas • Umbrella groups: Texas Association of Businesses, Texas Taxpayers and Research Association • Trade Associations: Texas Banker’s Association, Texas Chemical Council • Individual Businesses and wealthy individuals hire own lobbyists • Professional Associations • Texas Medical Association vs. Trial Lawyers • Labor Groups – fairly weak in Texas • AFSCME, Communication Workers of America, International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers • Racial and Ethnic Groups - LULAC, MALDEF, NAACP • Public-Interest Groups – fairly weak in Texas • Common Cause, Texas Watch, Gray Panthers, Public Citizen • Educational Groups, Religious Groups, Agricultural Groups

21. Small groups • Form an Interest Group • What issue(s) will you promote? • How will you attract and retain members? • Set it in motion • What kind of legislation / executive order / judicial decisions do you want to see passed? Be specific. • What strategies and tactics will you use to get the help of the government? Think of our discussion of lobbying techniques • Keep it going • How will you ensure the continued success of the group?