Post on 22-Feb-2016
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SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS
CHARACTERISTICS Interest Group: linkage group that is a public
or private organization, affiliation, or committee that has the goal of dissemination of its membership’s viewpoint The result: will be persuading public policymakers to
respond to the group’s perspective Only criteria to join an interest group: have
same interests & attitudes toward the goals of the organization Once a group is formed – has internal functions of
attracting and keeping a viable membership by making promises to their membership & being able to succeed in their political goals
GROUP THEORY (PLURALIST, HYPERPLURALIST, ELITE)
Pluralism (centrist position results b/c there is a more far-reaching and balanced group representation)
Elite (group behavior derives from upper class)
Hyperpluralism (so many competing groups it creates gridlock)
Pluralists maintain that Competing groups are healthy b/c they
provide political connection to gov’t, offering gov’t officials a choice
Competition often clarifies information and prevents any one group from dominating gov’t
Competing groups have each developed political strategies to achieve their goals and that eventually the resources of one group will independently affect gov’t policy
Critics of elite theory maintain that Power is concentrated by largest and richest
organizations Unequal nature of power of groups negates
fact that groups are proliferating Ultimately $ talks, and these large groups
will have the most influence
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF INTEREST GROUPS
Interest groups were a concern for founders (think Federalist #10) Particularly concerned elites would gain
control, blocking access to gov’t
FUNCTIONS OF INTEREST GROUPS Raise awareness & stimulate interest in
public affairs Educate members & public
Represent membership – as link between members & gov’t
Provide info to the gov’t Especially data & testimony to influence
public policy Provide channels for political participation
enabling citizens to work together to achieve a common goal
TYPES OF INTEREST GROUPS Economic interest groups
Most are formed on basis of economic interests Labor groups promote & protect organized labor
AFL-CIO, Teamsters Union Business groups promote & protect business interests in
general Chamber of Commerce of the US and National Association of
Manufacturers Professional groups maintain standards within a
profession, hold professional meetings, publish journals National Education Association (NEA), American Medical
Association (AMA), American Bar Association (ABA) Agricultural groups promote general agricultural &
farmer interests National Grange, National Farmers’ Union
Groups that promote causes Specific causes
American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) National Rifle Association (NRA)
Welfare of specific groups American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) National Association for the Advancement of
Colored People (NAACP) Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW)
Religion related causes National Council of Churches American Jewish Congress
Public Interest Groups Are concerned w/ issues such as the
environment, consumer protection, crime, civil rights
League of Women Voters Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Sierra Club
STRATEGIES OF INTEREST GROUPS Influencing Elections
(electioneering) Encouraging members to vote for candidates
who support their views Influencing party platforms & nomination of
candidates Campaigning and contributing
money to parties and candidates through political
action committees (PACs)
Litigation Groups take an issue to court if
unsuccessful in gaining support of Congress
Used successfully by NAACP in 1950s against segregation
Going public Use the media! Appealing to the public for support by
bringing attention to an issue Using public relations to gain support for the
image of the interest group itself
Lobbying (most powerful) Attempting to influence policymakers by supplying data
to gov’t officials to convince these policymakers their case is most deserving
Direct lobbying: using personal contacts between lobbyists and policymakers
Grassroots lobbying: interested group members & others write letters & emails, make phone calls to influence policymaking
Coalition lobbying: several interest groups w/ common goals join together to influence policymakers
Groups will often hire recently retired members of Congress to use inside experience to outmaneuver another group
Impropriety caused Congress to create a waiting period before former members can be such consultants
Even stricter rules apply to former members of executive branch hired to lobby former agencies
LOBBYIST ACTIVITIES Testify
Attend committee hearings & bring biases and points of expertise
Comment on possible impact of bills, esp. for or against goals of their
group
Meet Personal contacts are way to make political
arguments Paid junkets – lobby organizations pay for
trips & vacations for members of gov’t Highly controversial b/c open bias and bribery
Research Have time & resources to gather data to sway members
of Congress
Lead Sway masses w/in organization to call & write to the
members of gov’t
Fund Raising and contributing of campaign funds Possibly most powerful action
Litigate Turn to courts to attack acts, rules, regulations they feel
are unfair to group
POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEES Campaign finance reforms of 1970s
prohibited corporations and labor unions from making direct contributions to candidates running for federal office
PACs are political arms of interest groups Federal law regulates PACs
Must register w/ federal gov’t Raise money from multiple contributors,
donate to several candidates, follow strict accounting rules
What PACs do Give $$ directly to candidate’s campaigns –
hard money Closely regulated by Federal Election Commission
Give $$ to parties – soft money Use $$ to create ads or messages for
“issues” w/o specifically supporting a particular candidate
These expenditures are unregulated
REGULATION OF INTEREST GROUPS Federal Regulation of Lobbying Act (1946) requires lobbyists to
register w/ clerk of HoR & secretary of Senate if principle purpose is to influence legislation Directed at those who tried to influence members of Congress
1971 & 1974: Federal Election Campaign Acts were passed Limits extent of contributions to presidential campaigns Legitimized & increased number of interest groups b/c it authorized
open participation 1976: Buckley v Valeo – limitations on individuals making donations
in presidential elections were unconstitutional b/c matching public financing was involved
As result: McCain-Feingold campaign finance law & S Court decision… PACs are prohibited from donating soft $ to political parties or presidential candidates
Lobbying Disclosure Act (1995): created stricter regulations by requires registration if lobbying was directed at members of Congress, congressional staff, or policymakers in executive branch 2008 – Obama issued additional regulations to prevent
former lobbyists from receiving appointments to his administration
Lobby reform legislation passed in 2006 made lobbyists disclose how much $ they contributed & raised for candidates Also made illegal gifts lobbyists could give to congressmen Also required congressmen to disclose any earmarks they
inserted in bills Also slowed down how fast lawmakers could become
lobbyists
CURRENT VIEWS Public perception today
Relatively negative b/c of Excessive sums spent to influence elections Rapid creation of new interest groups – conflicts revolve
around power of interest groups Is their ability to donate huge amounts of $$ the decisive factor
between those who influence policy and those ignored? However, 4,600+ PACs means all kinds of groups and opinions
have access to public officials Interest groups run spectrum of political beliefs Can be most effective way for citizens to make
their voices heard by gov’t Often hire professional representatives to lobby for
their interests