Interest Groups Interest Groups in no country of

Interest Groups

Interest Groups “in no country of the world has the principle of association been more successfully used or applied to a greater multitude of objectives than in America. ” • Interest Groups – An organized group of individuals sharing common objectives who actively attempt to influence policy makers – Often spawned by social movements • Lobbyists – An organization or individual who attempts to influence legislation and the administrative decisions of government • Hyperpluralism – The ability of interest groups to mandate policy or to defeat policies needed by the nation • Detriment to effective government? Federalist #10 blah, blha, blah……blah, blha, blah…… ……blah, blha, blah……blah, blha, blah ……

Why so many interest groups? • 1 st Amendment - guarantees facilitate group formation – Right • Assemble • Petition to redress grievances • Groups amplify individual opinions • Many pressure points in our federal system • Diversity gives rise to many views – Ethnic, religious, economic, etc. • Social changes, economic pressures and technological developments disturb the status quo, leading to group formation – Examples: industrialization, urbanization, civil rights movement

Why join an interest group? • Latent interests – public-policy interests that are not recognized or addressed by a group at a particular time • Many people wait for “collective good” to be addressed rather than join a group – “free rider problem” – When benefits can be obtained without joining the group • People generally join when they perceive that their effort will make a difference – Small groups seeking benefits for a specific group are more successful in recruiting members

Why join an interest group? • Incentives – Solidary • Companionship, sense of belonging, pleasure of associating – Ex. National Audubon Society – Material • Discounts and opportunities – Ex. AARP – Purposive • Satisfaction of taking action with a group an individual agrees with – Ex. NRA

Fortune Power 25 Rank 2005 Organization Website 1 National Rifle Association www. nra. org 2 AARP www. aarp. org 3 National Federation of Independent Business www. nfibonline. com 4 American Israel Public Affairs Committee www. alpac. org 5 Association of Trial Lawyers of America www. atla. org 6 American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) www. aflcio. org 7 Chamber of Commerce of the U. S. A. www. uschamber. org 8 National Beer Wholesalers Association www. nwba. org 9 National Association of Realtors www. realtor. com 10 National Association of Manufacturers www. nam. org • http: //quizlet. com/4157274/the-power-25 -interest-groups-flash-cards/ • http: //www. congresslink. org/print_lp_specialinterestgroups_fortune. htm (2001)

Types of Interest Groups • Economic* – Business • Umbrella groups represent types of business or industry – – Ex. US Chamber of Commerce Ex. National Association of Manufacturers Ex. American Pet Products Manufacturers Ex. Better Business Bureau – Agricultural • Small by population but very influential – Ex. American Farm Bureau Federation – Ex. The Peanut Growers Group – Ex. American Farmland Trust – Labor • About 12% of the workforce belong to a union – Ex. AFL-CIO – Public-Employee • more public-sector members than private-sector members – Ex. NEA – Professional • Many different groups represented – Ex. American Bar Association – Ex. American Medical Association *largest category of interest groups

Types of Interest Groups • Environmental – National Audubon Society – Sierra Club – National Wildlife Federation – Environmental Defense Fund – Greenpeace

Types of Interest Groups • Public-Interest – Many different “publics” in a country of 300 m+ • “Nader Organizations” – “Nader’s Raiders” • • ACLU League of Women Voters Common Cause Move. On. org

Types of Interest Groups • Other – Single issue groups • More focused • Members more passionate • Less complex goals – Ex. NRA, MADD • Foreign – Over 300 foreign entities represented by lobbyists • Ex. Coalition to Save Darfur

Contemporary Interest Groups

What Do Interest Groups Do? • Inform • Lobby • Campaign Activities – Political Action Committees – Issue Advocacy

Keys to an Effective Interest Group • Size and Resources • Leadership • Cohesiveness

Interest Group Strategies • Direct – – Lobbying Ratings Building alliances Campaign assistance • Indirect – – Generating public pressure Climate control Using constituents as lobbyists Unconventional • Marches, boycotts

Techniques for Exerting Influence • Publicity, Mass Media, and the Internet – Influences votes during elections – Motivates constituents to contact representatives • Mass Mailing/E-Mailing – Increases reach and effectiveness of interest groups • Direct Contact with Government – Government agencies publish proposed regulations in the Federal Register and invite responses from all interested person before rules are finalized • Litigation – Initiate lawsuits – Amicus curiae briefs • Protest – Organized to raise awareness – Astroturf lobbying • Contributions to Campaigns – Through PACs/Super Pacs or bundling – collecting individual donations and presenting together • Candidate Support/Opposition – endorsements • New Political Parties – Often just to publicize a cause • Cooperative Lobbying – Like-minded groups form cooperative groups

Who are lobbyists? • Often former public servants – Revolving Door • Employment cycle in which individuals who work for government agencies that regulate interests eventually end up working for interest groups or businesses with the same policy concern – 33% of those who lost seats in Congress following 2010 election employed by lobbying firms – 20% employed by lobbying clients – 2007 Honest Leadership and Open Government Act • More disclosure of employment history for lobbyists • Stricter limits on lobbying activities • Longer cooling off period – Many participate in issue networks • Relationships among interest groups, congressional committees and subcommittees, and the government agencies that share a common policy concern – Specialized knowledge often allows them to wield tremendous influence – Demographics: 30, 000 registered in Washington • 1/3 women • 200 black • 60 Hispanic Lobbying? http: //www. politifact. com/truth-o-meter/statements/2011/dec/16/newt-gingrich/newtgingrich-said-he-never-lobbied-freddie-mac-un/

What Do Lobbyists Do? • Provide money for reelection campaigns – Also provide volunteers for campaign activities • Sometimes just their failure to support opposition is enough to increase reelection odds • Provide information – Political information • Ex. Who supports/opposes legislation – Substantive information • Ex. Impact of proposed laws, technical assistance drafting bills, identifying persons to testify at hearings American Legislative Exchange Council – ALEC http: //www. alec. org/ http: //www. brookings. edu/research/articles/2013/12/06 -american-legislative-exchange-council-jackman

Regulating Lobbyists • 1946 – Federal Regulation of Lobbying Act – Provided for disclosure – Defined lobbyist • Any person or organization that received money to be used principally to influence legislation before Congress – Lobbyists had to register their clients and purpose of their efforts • Disclosed quarterly – Limited effectiveness • Only some lobbyists registered (only full-time) – Only if they were directly influencing Congress • Not required to register if lobbying the executive branch, federal agencies, courts, congressional staff, etc.

Regulating Lobbyists • 1995 – Lobbying Disclosure Act – Redefined lobbyist • Anyone who spends at least 20% of their time lobbying members of Congress or staff, or executive branch officials – Must register with House or Senate within 45 days of first contact or being hired – Reports (now quarterly) disclosing • General nature of lobbying, specific issues and bills, estimated cost of campaign, list of branches contacted (not names) – Representatives of US owned subsidiaries of foreignowned entities must register – Grassroots and tax-exempt organizations exempted

Regulating Lobbyists • 2007 – Honest Leadership and Open Government Act – Tightened reporting rules – Longer waiting period • 2 years for Senators • 1 year for Rep. – Limited lobbying spouses – Only trips pre-approved by Ethics Committee

Recent Lobbying Scandal: Jack Abramoff © 2006 Time, Inc. /Getty Images. Reprinted by permission.

Interest Groups and Representative Democracy • Interest Groups: Elitist or Pluralist? – The existence of interest groups would appear to be an argument in favor of pluralism. However, interest groups are often led by upper-class individuals, which argues for elite theory. • Interest Group Influence – Even the most powerful groups do not always succeed in their demands. – The most successful groups focus on single issue

Interest Groups and the Policy Process http: //www. madd. org

Web Links • The Center for Public Integrity • Opensecrets. org-Money in Politics Data • Common Cause—Holding Power Accountable • Federal Election Commission • Public Citizen