Interest Groups Interest Group organization dedicated to a

Interest Groups • Interest Group: organization dedicated to a certain unified cause with the primary goal of influencing public policy to their benefit – Present at every level of government • How do political parties and interest groups differ? Political Parties • nominate candidates, contest elections, and seek to gain control of government • policy generalists • responsible to voters Interest Groups • seek to support public officials and influence public policies • policy specialists • responsible to members

Reasons for High Number of Interest Groups 1. Variety of Divisive Issues = Many interests 2. Federalism = Many Access Points 3. Weakening Political Parties 4. Campaign Finance Reform Act • Made It Legal to Form PACs (FECA of 1974) 5. First Amendment 6. Expanded Role of Government • Billions in federal money available

What Determines the Effectiveness of Interest Groups? • Common Characteristics – Financial Resources • Hire lobbyists, support PACs, write amicus curiae briefs – Organizational Skills – Intensity • Often single issue groups w/ narrow focus able to mobilize intensely committed members; smaller demands – Size of the group • A large group may have a lot of sway, but more subject to the Free-Rider problem • Small groups are easier to organize/rally • Business Interest Groups – Many financial resources and contribute heavily to campaigns – Many been around for a long time so connections w/ Congress – Push for narrow, minute tax laws most don’t notice

History of Interest Groups • Madison – Why did Madison argue the Constitution would protect against the effects of factions/special interests? • Federalism/Republic/Separation of Powers – Theory: Power decentralized/balanced – Practice: creates divisions and access points • Federalists/Anti-Federalists • Growth of Interest Groups • 1830 s: Most, single issue (abolitionists) • 1890 -1920 s: Progressive Era (groups for reform) • 1950 -1970 s: Groups form in support of minorities, the poor, elderly, & consumers (Ralph Nader)

Fundamental Goals of Interest Groups 1. Gain access to policymakers 2. Influence public policy 3. Support sympathetic policymakers

Lobbyists • Lobbying: Process by which interest groups attempt to influence the decisions of policymakers • Carried out by “Lobbyists” • Approx. 30, 000 lobbyists; spend >$2 billion/year • Lobby Congress, Executive, Bureaucracy, Amicus Curiae (friend of the court – an impartial court advisor) • Target policy officials, esp. legislators and bureaucrats • Key Target legislators/bureaucrats undecided on an issue • Key Target Regulatory Agencies (pressure to decrease/increase regulation on particular industries) Goal: pursue their legislative agenda; influence appointments to bureaucracy and courts

Iron Triangle The iron triangle is made up of the policymaking relationship among the congressional committees, the bureaucracy, and interest groups. Central to the concept of an iron triangle is the assumption that bureaucratic agencies, as political entities, seek to create and consolidate their own power base.

Iron Triangle Example

Lobbying the Three Branches • Congress – See examples listed under Interest Group strategies – Also, many interest groups actually write the legislation posed by Congress • Health Insurance lobbyists had huge role writing Obamacare/Healthcare Reform. • Executive – Most presidents have a staffer to act as a gateway between interest groups and the administration. – Interest groups pay close attention to gaining access to regulatory agencies of the executive branch • Attempt to get bureaucratic regulations weakened/strengthened in enforcement; influence rules made by bureaucracy – Attempt to influence President’s Judicial and Bureaucratic appointments • Courts – Judicial branch designed to be free from public opinion, but… • Submit amicus curiae briefs • Use of litigation to achieve goals (NAACP) • Prominent role influencing nominees to Supreme and Federal Courts

Lobbying the Bureaucracy • Interest Groups also target: • Cabinet Departments (Dept. of Defense, Energy) • Regulatory Agencies (EPA, SEC, FDA) • Interest Group influence on Bureaucracy • Attempt to influence appointment/confirmation of heads of dept. /agency favorable to their interest • Lobby Executive branch and Congress for more/less funding for bureaucratic agencies that impact them • Target key bureaucrats to influence their enforcement/ implementation of legislation/executive directives

Interest Group Strategies • Testify before Congressional “My boss demands a speech and a statement for the Committees and executive Congressional Record for every agencies as experts bill we introduce or co-sponsor • Provide members of —and we have a lot of bills. I Congress with information just can’t do it all myself. The – Must appear better lobbyists, when they reliable/trustworthy; provide have a proposal they are accurate credible info (but biased!) pushing, bring it to me along – Help create/write legislation with a couple of speeches, a Record insert, and a fact • Bring influential sheet. ” constituents to D. C. to meet — Every Congressional Aide Ever w/ representatives

Interest Group Strategies • Contributing money to candidates • Financial support to candidates and parties that support their cause/interest Political Action Committees (PAC) • Formed by business, labor, or interest groups to raise money and make contributions to the campaign of political candidates whom they support – Goal: Influence elections to gain better access to politicians • Make large contributions to incumbent members of the House • Contribute to House members who serve on committees/subcommittees that consider legislation affecting the interest group • Limited to $5, 000 direct contributions…but Citizens United

Interest Group Strategies • Amicus Curiae Briefs • Influence court decisions • Social Functions • “Fine Dining Experiences”, “working vacations” • Endorsement • Publicly announce support for candidate/nominee (or can openly oppose candidate) • NRA anti-Obama ad • Rally membership through grassroots efforts • Get public involved and organized

Interest Group Strategies • Shaping Public Opinion • Use expensive public relations campaigns to bring issues to public’s attention – MADD Ad • Use ads to promote their image – NRA Charlie Daniels Ad – NRA Ad-"Moms Like Me“ • May use grassroots strategies – visible protests (civil rights orgs) • Revolving Door • Promise to govt. officials of big contracts and jobs in the private sector when they leave govt. – ATF – Daily Show clip

ATF-Impact of Lobbying Discussion Questions • List as many connections you can between what we’ve discussed regarding Interest Group influence and the video clip. • What specific strategies did the NRA utilize to influence members of Congress?

Accessing Lawmakers: The Revolving Door • The movement of individuals back and forth between roles as members of Congress/congressional staffers/ bureaucratic regulators and the industries affected by the legislation and regulation • Shuffles former federal employees into jobs as lobbyists, consultants and strategists just as the door pulls former hired guns into government careers. • Over 5, 800 congressional staffers and former lawmakers have left Capitol Hill to become federal lobbyists for interest groups in the past 10 years – Why are so many people on Capitol Hill recruited as lobbyists? – What is the impact of the revolving door? How does this influence legislation?

Revolving Door at Work

Revolving Door at Work As Bush Sr. 's Secretary of Defense, Dick Cheney steered millions of dollars in government business to a private military contractor [Brown and Root Services] -- whose parent company [Halliburton] just happened to give him a multi-million dollar job after he left the government. Former Congressman Glenn English (D-OK) made $9, 294, 207 between 2004 and 2010 as the head of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. English, who represents many coal-dependent electric cooperatives, played a significant role in weakening climate reform legislation in 2009. Although English became head of the NREOA after 1994, Republic Report only had access to disclosures for a six year period. Comparing his congressional salary in 1994 and his last reported lobbying salary in 2009, English’s pay went up 1504%.

Attempted Limits on Lobbying • Federal Regulation of Lobbying Act – Require lobbyists register & disclose salaries, their employers, expenses, nature of activities (bills/issues lobby on behalf) – Defined who was considered a lobbyist • Ethics in Government Act 1978 – created the U. S. Office of Independent Counsel • investigate government officials – Increased length of time an individual must wait between leaving government position/office and lobbying privately the govt. agency they worked from only 1 year to 2 years • Lobbyists Disclosure Act of 1995 – Extends definition of lobbyist to include part-timers Should there be stronger regulations to curb the revolving door?

Monetary Limits • FECA of 1974 • Limited direct contributions to candidates • Mc. Cain Feingold/Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act • Banned Soft Money in federal elections • But…Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission has changed the game…How?

Benefits and Drawbacks of Interest Group Membership • Typical Members Are: • Above average income and education • Generally white collar – But represent a lot of blue collar interests • Free rider: get benefits without the effort • Negatives to Membership • “Selfish…”—promote self-interests of the group • Expensive— costs to lobby and promote interests • Legalized Bribery?

Who Has Power and Influence in the U. S. ? • Elitist Theory • Small number of super rich individuals, powerful corporate interest groups, and large financial institutions dominate key policy areas • PACs encourage close connection b/n money and politics (Business PACs have huge influence over policymakers) “Citizens with lower or moderate incomes speak with a whisper that is lost on the ears of inattentive government officials, while the advantaged roar with a clarity and consistency that policymakers readily hear and routinely follow” –American Political Science Association

Who Has Power and Influence in the U. S. ? • Pluralist Theory • Many interest groups compete for power in large number of policy areas; thus, public policy emerges from bargaining and compromise • Argue one group can’t dominate system b/c system of federalism and separation of powers provides many points of access and influence • Argue interest groups that lack financial resources can turn to courts • Hyperpluralist Theory • Too many interest groups trying to influence policy • Efforts to appease competing groups leads to confusing and contradictory policies or officials avoiding hard choices