Interest Groups

INTEREST GROUPS

1. INTEREST GROUPS

a. AN ORGANIZATION OF PEOPLE WITH SHARED POLICY GOALS THAT ENTER THE POLICY PROCESS AT SEVERAL POINTS TO TRY TO ACHIEVE THOSE GOALS.

2. THE GROWTH OF INTEREST GROUPS

a. DIVISIONS IN SOCIETY

i. FACTIONS

1. JAMES MADISON EXPLAINED THAT FACTIONS WERE INEVITABLE IN A FREE SOCIETY. INTEREST GROUPS ARE A FORM OF FACTIONS.

2. AS LONG AS THERE ARE DIVISIONS IN SOCIETY (DIFFERENCES OF OPINION OVER POLICY ISSUES) THEN INTEREST GROUPS WILL EXIST

b. GOVERNMENT’S STRUCTURE

i. FEDERALISM (50+ STATE ACCESS POINTS)

1. ALL THE STATE GOVERNMENTS CAN BE INFLUENCED BY INTEREST GROUPS.

2. THREE BRANCHES OF THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT TO LOBBY AS WELL AS THE BUREAUCRACY.

c. WEAKNESS OF MODERN POLITICAL PARTIES

i. MANY ARGUE THAT MODERN POLITICAL PARTIES ARE WEAKENING AND INTEREST GROUPS ARE TAKEN THE PLACE OF POLITICAL PARTIES

1. WHY?

a. PARTY ID DECLINING

i. INCREASING NUMBERS OF INDEPENDENTS THAT ARE NOT DIRECTLY AFFILIATED WITH EITHER MAJOR P ARTY.

b. INTEREST GROUPS ARE BETTER AT REPRESENTING SPECIFIC DESIRES OF VOTERS.

i. SOME REASON POLITICAL PARTIES REPRESENT TOO BROAD A COALITION

ii. PARTIES ARE BECOMING LESS ABLE TO REPRESENT A BROAD SPECTRUM OF MEMBERS

1. MODERATES, CONSERVATIVES AND LIBERALS OF EACH PARTY.

2. SOME MAY FEEL ETTER REPRESENTED BY AN INTEREST GROUP.

3. AN IMPACT OF THE CULTURE WAR.

a. PARTIES ARE UNABLE TO REPRESENT DIVISIVE ISSUES SUCH AS ABORTION, STEM CELL RESEARCH, SAME-SEX MARRIAGE, CAPITAL PUNISHMENT, ETC.

c. SOFT MONEY ILLEGAL

i. THESE ARE DONATIONS TO POLITICAL PARTIES

THE MCCAIN-FEINGOLD ACT MADE ILLEGAL.
BANS SOFT MONEY TO NATIONAL PARTIES (NOT STATE)
OCTOBER 2002 BOTH PARTIES RAISED MORE THAN $400 MILLION IN SOFT MONEY.
CRITICS SAID SOFT MONEY CONTRIBUTIONS WAS USED TO GET AROUND THE 1974 LAW.
INCREASES HARD MONEY LIMIT
$2,000 PER CANDIDATE

b. $95,000 TO ALL CANDIDATES

d. GROWTH OF PACS

i. 1974 CAMPAIGN REFORM ACT

ii. COMPETITOR OF PARTIES FOR CAMPAIGN MONEY

e. GROWTH OF 527 GROUPS

GROUPS THAT FALL UNDER THE 527 SECTION OF THE TAX CODE.
TAX EXEMPT GROUPS THAT CAN RAISE MONEY TO INFLUENCE AN ELECTION.
CAN ACCEPT UNLIMITED DONATIONS FROM ANY SOURCE.
ARE NOT ALLOWED TO COORDINATE CAMPAIGNS WITH CANDIDATES.
ARE NOT REGULATED BY THE FEC.

1. PACS ARE 527 GROUPS THAT ARE REGULATED BY THE FEC.

i. COMPETITOR OF PARTIES FOR CAMPIGN MONEY

ii. GROWTH A RESULT OF MCCAIN-FEINGLOD

1. PEOPLE WHO USED TO GIVE SOFT MONEY NOW GIVE TO 527S.

d. GROWTH IN THE SIZE AND POWER OF GOVERNMENT

i. THE GROWTH AND POWER OF THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT HAS HELP CREATE THE EXPLOSION OF INTEREST GROUPS. LIKE ANTS DRAWN TO FOOD AT A PICNIC INTEREST GROUPS ARE DRAWN TO THE POWER FO THE NAITONAL GOVERNMENT.

ii. AS THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT HAS EXPANDED IN BOTH SIZE AND REGULATORY POWER INTEREST GROUPS HAVE ATTEMPTED TO INFLUENCE THE GOVERNMENT’S USE OF THAT POWER TO BENEFIT THEM.

3. FACTORS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF SPECIFIC INTEREST GROUPS

a. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS

i. CHANGES IN THE ECONOMY LED TO NEW JOBS WHICH IN TURN CREATED NEW INTEREST GROUPS EITHER FOR THE BUSINESSES CREATED OR THE INDUSTRIES’ WORKFORCE.

1. EXAMPLES

a. INDUSTRIALIZATION (19TH CENTURY)

i. CREATED FIRST LABOR UNIONS OF FACTORY WORKERS AND FARMERS

2. TRANSPORTATION DEVELOPMENTS

a. CARS AND AIRPLANES

b. CREATED POWERFUL INTEREST GROUPS THAT REPRESENT THE ABOVE INDUSTRY AND OTHER INTEREST GROUPS THAT REPRESENT THE WORKFORCE OF THE INDUSTRY.

b. PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES ESTABLISHED

i. PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES DEVELOP INTO INTEREST GROUPS.

ii. EXAMPLES

1. ABA (AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION)

2. AMA (AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION)

c. SOCIAL MOVEMENTS

i. SOCIAL MOVEMENTS IN THE U.S. LEAD TO THE CREATION OF INTEREST GROUPS.

ii. THE ENVIRONMENTAL MOVEMENT

1. SIERA CLUB

iii. FEMINIST MOVEMENT

1. NOW (NATIONAL ORGANIZATION OF WOMEN)

iv. CIVIL RIGHTS

1. NAACP (NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADAVANCEMENT OF COLORED PEOPLE)

2. AIM (AMERICAN INDIAN MOVEMENT)

4. MAJOR TYPES OF INTEREST GROUPS

a. BUSINESS

i. INTEREST GROUPS THAT REPRESENT BUSINESS INTERESTS EITHER FOR A ENTIRE INDUSTRY OR FOR ONE BUSINESS

1. EXAMPLE

a. NAM (NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONOF MANUFACTURERS)

b. AGRICULTURAL

i. UNTIL THE 20TH CENTURY MOST AMERICANS WERE FARMERS AND EVEN THOUGH THIS IS NOT TRUE ANYMORE FARMING IS STILL AN IMPORTANT INTEREST GROUP.

1. EXAMPLES

a. NATIONAL FAMRERS UNION (NFU)

b. SUGAR GROWERS

c. CITRUS GROWERS

c. ENVIRONMENT

i. GROUPS THAT WANT TO PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT

ii. SIERRA CLUB

d. EQUALITY/SOCIAL

i. GROUPS THAT HELP TO PROMOTE EQUALITY AND SOCIAL CHANGE

1. NAACP

2. AIM

3. NOW

4. GAY AND LESBIAN GROUPS

e. MEMBERSHIP

i. GROUPS THAT REPRESENT AN ISSUE AND DEPEND ON ATTRACTING MEMBERS FOR THEIR STRENGHT

1. EXAMPLES

a. AARP (AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR RETIRED PEOPLE)

b. NRA (NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCATION)

5. INTEREST GROUPS AND INFLUENCING POLICY

a. THE TARGETS OF INTEREST GROUPS

i. THE PRESIDENT AND THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH

ii. CONGRESS

1. COMMITTEES

iii. JUDICIARY

1. INDIRECTLY AND LEAST EFFECTIVE BRANCH TO INFLUENCE B/C OF CONSTITUTIONAL PROTECTION AGAINST PUBLIC AND POLITICAL PRESSURE.

iv. BUREAUCRATIC AGENCIES

b. LOBBYING

i. THE ACTIONS INTEREST GROUPS TAKE TO INFLUENCE POLICY MAKERS.

ii. EXAMPLES TO FOLLOW

iii. LOBBYIST

1. A CITIZEN WHO ON BEHALF OF A CAUSE TRIES TO INFLUENCE THE ACTIONS OF A POLICYMAKER.

2. DEFINED BY THE GOVERNMENT AS ANYONE WHO SPENDS 20% OF THEIR TIME ATTEMTPING TO INFLUENCE GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS

3. SPECIALISTS AND EXPERTS

a. LOBBYISTS ARE EXPERTS IN THEIR FIELD

b. THE NUMBER ONE TECHINIQUE USED BY LOBBYISTS IS TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL INFORMATION TO GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS.

i. GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS NEED INFO BECAUSE THEY CANNOT BE EXPERTS IN EVERY FIELDS AND DEPEND OF LOBBYISTS FOR TECHNICAL INFORMATION NEEDED TO CREATE POLOCY.

4. TECHINIQUES USED BY LOBBYISTS

a. PRIVATE MEETINGS WITH OFFICIALS

b. TESTIMONY AT COMMITTEE HEARINGS

c. HELPING BUREAUCRATS AND LAWMAKERS TO WRITE LEGISLATION

d. MEDIA USE

c. OTHER TYPES OF LOBBYING

i. LITIGATION

1. GOING TO COURT

a. INTEREST GROUPS WILL OFTEN PAY THE COURT EXPENSES OF A PARTY WHOSE CASE WILL BENEFIT THE INTEREST GROUP’S AGENDA.

2. MOST EFFECTIVE WHEN INTEREST GROUPS ARE FRUSTRATED BY INACTION BY THE OTHER BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT.

3. CLASS ACTION LAWSUITS

a. A LAWSUIT WHERE ONE PARTY SUES ON BEHALF OF A CLASS OF PEOPLE

b. EXAMPLE

c. BROWN V. TOPEKA BOARD OF EDUCATION

i. NAACP TOOK THE CASE OF LINDA BROWN (SEE CIVIL RIGHTS NOTES FOR MORE INDEPTH INFO) TO THE SUPREME COURT TO CHALLENGE THE CONSTITUTIONALITY OF SEGREGATION.

ii. THE RESULT WAS THE OVERTURNING OF SEGREGATION LAWS THAT BENEIFITTED ALL AFRICAN-AMERICANS.

4. AMICUS CURIAE (FRIEND OF THE COURT)

a. A PETITION USED BY A THIRD PARTY NOT DIRECTLY INVOLVED IN A CASE THAT ALLOWS THE THIRD PARTY TO EXPLAIN THEIR POSITION ON THE CASE.

b. USED BY INTEREST GROUPS TO TRY TO INFLUENCE THE DECISION MADE BY THE SUPREME COURT.

ii. PUBLIC SUPPORT

1. THE PUBLIC SUPPORT OF AN INTEREST GROUP ISE ITS BIGGEST STRENGTH.

a. MEMBERS

i. VOTERS AND CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTORS.

b. THE MORE PEOPLE REPRESENTED BY AN INTEREST GROUPS THE MORE PRESSURE THEY CAN EXERT ON PUBLIC OFFICIALS

c. MANY INTEREST GROUPS REPRESENT 100,000S OF PEOPLE.

2. INCENTIVES

a. INTEREST GROUPS THAT RELY ON MEMEBRS TRY TO PROVIDE INCENTIVES FOR JOINING.

i. MATERIAL INCENTIVES

1. DISCOUNTS

a. INSURANCE AND VACATIONS

b. AARP AND AAA

b. SOLIDARITY

i. THE CONCEPT THAT INTEREST GROUP MEMBERS ARE LOYAL TO THE GROUPS THAT REPRESENTS THEM AND OFTEN FORM A HOMOGENEOUS BLOCK OF SUPPORTERS THAT ARE HARD TO IGNORE BY POLICYMAKERS.

3. OUTSIDER STRATEGY

a. CONCEPT THAT REFERS TO THE EFFORTS OF INTEREST GROUPS TO INFLUENCE POLICY BUY CREATING PRESSURE ON OFFICIALS FROM OUTSIDE OF THE INNER WORKINGS OF GOVERNMENT

i. EXAMPLES

1. GRASSROOTS CAMPAIGNING

a. INTEREST GROUPS ASKING MEMBERS TO PHONE, WRITE, EMAIL FAX POLITICIANS TO INFLUENCE THEM.

b. INSIDER STRATEGY

i. OPPOSITE OF THE OUTSIDER STRATEGY

ii. OCCURS WHEN A LOBBYIST DIRECTLY COMMUNICATES WITH A GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL “INSIDE” OF GOVERNMENT.

iii. ELECTIONEERING

1. THE TERM USED TO DESCRIBE THE PROCESS BY WHICH INTEREST GROUPS ATTEMPT TO “ENGINEER” (INFLUENCE) ELECTIONS FOR THEIR BENEFIT.

2. EXAMPLES

a. ADVISING SYMPATHETIC CANDIDATES OF THE GROUP’S CAUSE.

b. CAMPAIGNING FOR THE CANDIDATE

i. HELPING WITH STRATEGY

ii. PROVIDING VOLUNTEERS

c. PACS (POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE-FOR MORE IN DEPTH NOTES SEE ELECTION AND CONGRESS NOTES)

i. PACS ARE ALLOWED TO GIVE $5,000 PER CANDIDATE PER ELECTION

1. 1974 CAMPAIGN REFORM LAW

2. THERE ARE 1,000S TODAY SO THE AMOUNT MONEY GIVEN BY PACS EVERY ELECTION IS HUGE.

ii. INCUMBENTS ADVANTAGE

1. PACS GIVE MOST MONEY TO INCUMBENTS AND NOT TO THE CHALLENGERS (SEE CONGRESS NOTES FOR MORE INFO).

iii. BUYING VOTES?

1. EXPERTS ARGUE THAT PACS DO NOT BUY VOTES FROM CONGRESS BUT ACCESS TO THE POLTICIAN.

2. REASONS

a. CONGRESSMEN HAVE TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THEIR CONSTITUENTS

b. WHAT THEY BELIEVE, ETC.

c. ONE PAC GIVE LITTLE MONEY TO A CANDIDATE ($5,000)

iv. IRON TRIANGLES (SEE BUREAUCRATIC NOTES FOR MORE INFO.)

1. IRON CLAD ALLIANCE OF INTEREST GROUPS, CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES AND BUREAUCRATIC AGENCIES THAT DOMINATE A POLICY AREA. THEY DEPEND ON EACH OTHER FOR INFORMATION, AND SUPPORT

2. LOBBYISTS GIVE INFORMATION AND EXPERTISE TO AGENCIES AND COMMITTEES

3. IRON TRIANGLES CONTROL THE POLICY MAKING PROCESS OF AN ISSUE AND MAKE IT HARDER FOR GROUPS OUTSIDE OF THE TRIANGLE TO INFLUENCE POLICY.

4. EXAMPLES

a. SMOKING

i. AGENCY

1. DEPT. OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

ii. CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE

1. HEALTH

iii. INTEREST GROUP

1. AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY

2. AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION

b. TOBACCO PRODUCTION (INDIRECTLY PROMOTES SMOKING

i. AGENCY

1. AGRICULTURE

ii. CONGRESSIONAL. COMMITTEE

1. AGRICULTURE

iii. INTEREST GROUP

1. TOBACCO LOBBY

c. CANCER RESEARCH

i. AGENCY

1. DEPT. OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

2. CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL

ii. CONG. COMM.

1. HEATH

iii. INTEREST GROUP

1. AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION