Date post: | 14-Dec-2015 |
Category: |
Documents |
Upload: | godfrey-cooper |
View: | 216 times |
Download: | 1 times |
What are interest groups?
Interest Group: An organization of people with a common goal or interest that lobbies to influence policy decisions Institutional Interests: Organizations that
represent other organizations and institutions General Motors, Chamber of Commerce
Membership Interests: Organizations of individual members with common political goals NAACP, NRA When entire public benefits (not just members):
public-interest lobby
Why interest groups?
There is a diversity of interests and opinions in America
American government is set up to give groups the opportunity to influence policy Interest groups are protected as a form of political
speech Our laws permit private organizations and
nonprofit organizations to have tax-exempt status OR lobby for their interests National Organization for Women
Our political parties leave something to be desired…
What do interest groups do?
Supply updated information on policy issues to lawmakers
Give political cues to officials by describing how policy changes will affect the public and how the issue fits in with the political party platform and agenda
Make ratings to influence public opinion of lawmakers
Public opinion polls Encouraging
constituents to write to their Congressmen
Writing editorials supporting the interest group’s position
So what is “credible”
information?
Provide Credible Information
How?
What do interest groups do?
Try to influence policy on particular issues by encouraging lawmakers to vote one way or the other on the issue at hand
What kind of knowledge is most
persuasive?
PACs: Political Action Committees aligned with interest groups can spend money to influence legislatures
Protests: Sit-ins, marches, picketing
Persuade Legislators How?
How are interest groups funded?
Foundation grants Federal grants
and contracts Federal grants
support projects that the group sponsors, not the lobbying itself
Mailings to supporters Appeal to
emotions
Grants Solicitation
• Over 50% interest groups represent corporate interests
• 1/3 of interest groups are professional organizations
• 4% of interest groups are public-interest groups
• 2% of interest groups represent civil or minority rights
Who do interest groups represent?
What is the bureaucracy?
A large, complex organization of appointed officials Congress and the President both have
authority over the American bureaucracy Federal agencies work with state and local
agencies to ensure laws are carried out properly
Government by proxy: Lawmakers use the bureaucracy to staff and administer federal programs and do the work of the laws
What does today’s bureaucracy look like?
The Great Depression paved the way for greater government involvement in economic and social problems
WWII required more bureaucracy to oversee the war effort
9/11 created a new department (Homeland Security)
Merit: Competitive Service Exam
Civil servants who align with President’s views Cabinet, judges,
ambassadors Confidential positions
(aides) Noncareer executive
assignments (policy)
History Recruitment
What does today’s bureaucracy look like?
56% Male 44% Female 69% White 31% Racial
Minorities
Laws restrict ability to hire, fire, build, sell
Congress typically assigns several agencies to one job
As a result… Government is slow to
act Agencies are
inconsistent “Red tape”
Demographics (2004) Constraints
How does Congress oversee the bureaucracy?
Congress approves every agency All money spent by agencies is first approved
by Congress (power of the purse) Authorization legislation sets spending limits on
programs Approved funds must be appropriated for a
specific purpose House Appropriations Committee approves each
agency’s budget Except when trust funds are used for public benefits
(SS)
How does Congress oversee the bureaucracy?
Legislative veto: Congress would block Presidential actions by voting them down before they took effect Ruled UNCONSTITUTIONAL
Congressional investigations: Congress can investigate an agency’s decisions and outcomes