In the American Political System

U.S. Government Chapter 6

Interest Group - A DefinitionInterest Group - A Definition

An interest group is a private An interest group is a private organization of like-minded organization of like-minded

people whose goal is to people whose goal is to influence and shape public influence and shape public

policy.policy.

Interest groups are “extra-Interest groups are “extra-constitutional”.constitutional”.

The Nature of Interest Groups

Interest groups are private organizations whose members share certain views and work to shape public policy.

Interest groups exist to shape public policy

Interest groups are “extra-constitutional”.Interest groups are “extra-constitutional”.

Valuable Functions of Interest Groups

Interest groups raise awareness of public affairs, or issues that concern the people at large, seek to influence legislation

Early DevelopmentEarly Development

Date back to the time of the Date back to the time of the “Founding Fathers”“Founding Fathers”

Seen as power-hungrySeen as power-hungry Believed to “promote Believed to “promote

instability, injustice, and instability, injustice, and confusion”confusion”

Criticisms Some groups have an influence far

out of proportion to their size or importance

In rare cases, groups use tactics such as bribery, threats, and so on.

Lobbying Lobbying is any activity by which a

group pressures legislators and influences the legislative process

Types of Interest Groups Economic Ideological or single-issue Public interest Foreign policy Governmental

Types of Interest Groups

1. Professional: Such as the American Medical Association

AMA building inChicago

Economic Groups

Business Trade Associations Labor Professional Associations

2. Labor Unions

3. Business- Example:

Ideological: A cause or idea such as environmental organizations, issues such as gun ownership

Public Interest Groups

Motivated by such issues as the environment, safe energy, consumer protection, and good government.

4. Religious

5. Certain group of people, such as retired persons

Foreign Policy Interest Groups Concerned with the relationship

between the United States and foreign nations. Examples include the Council on Foreign Relations, and AIPAC—the American-Israel Political Action Committee.

Government Interest Groups Represent the interests of

government employees, as well as elected officials from state and local governments.

Characteristics and Power of Interest Groups

Size and resources Cohesiveness Leadership Techniques Intensity

Interest Group Techniques

Appeals to the public and mass media

Mass mailings Influence of rule making Litigation Election

Activities/electioneering Forming a political party Lobbying

Growth of Interest GroupsGrowth of Interest Groups

0

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

1960 1970 1980 1990

Number

Interest Groups vs. Interest Groups vs. Political PartiesPolitical Parties

Interest groups…Interest groups… support candidates, support candidates,

but cannot but cannot nominate themnominate them

take a narrow focus take a narrow focus on most issueson most issues

compete for compete for influence over influence over elected officialselected officials

Interest Groups vs.Interest Groups vs.Political Parties (con’t.)Political Parties (con’t.)

Political parties…Political parties… can nominate can nominate

candidatescandidates focus on a broad focus on a broad

range of issues to range of issues to appeal to a broad appeal to a broad range of peoplerange of people

compete for compete for control of the control of the branches of govt. branches of govt. to control policy to control policy makingmaking

Proposals for Reform

Increasing the number of groups Full disclosure Increased federal and state

regulations

The Influence of Lobbyists A. Who are the lobbyists

1. Employees of associations who try to influence policy decisions and positions in the executive and especially legislative branches of government.

2. The revolving door is the employment cycle from government to interest group.

IRON TRIANGLES

3. Iron triangles are mutually supporting relationships among interest groups, congressional committees and subcommittees, and the government agencies that share a common policy concern

B. What do Lobbyists do? 1. Provide money for congressional

election campaigns 2. A “third house” of Congress,

representing people on the basis of interests

3. Interest groups provide 2 types of info A. political-who supports/opposes legis. B. Substantive-impact of proposed laws

Contributions regulated by the federal government that are given directly to a candidate

Soft Money: Previously unlimited and unregulated campaign contributions to federal candidates and the national parties

Supposedly for generic "party building" activities (ex: get-out-the-vote drives, bumper stickers, yard signs, and “issue ads"

Federal Election Reform Act19741. Created Federal Election Commission

2. Required disclosure3. Limited amount of money that could be contributed

– HARD MONEY1. Individual contributions may not exceed $1000 per

candidate per election per year

4. No foreign contributions5. Soft Money unlimited

Federal Election Reform Act:Unintended Consequences?1. The rise of Political Action Committees

2. Millions of dollars of unregulated “soft money” used to finance campaigns

Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002a.k.a. McCain-Feingold Bill Ban on national parties

and officeholders raising and spending “soft money”

Special interest groups can only use regulated “hard money for pro-candidate communications with increased limits

Ban on non-partisan “issue ads 60 days before election

B.C.R.A (McCain-Feingold):Unintended Consequences?

1. Rise of 527 tax exempt groups and ads

2. Independent Expenditures

3. Laundering of “dirty money” through political parties that ends up with candidates

Former House Majority Leader Tom Delay indicted for conspiracy and laundering of illegal campaign funds

“527 ‘s”: A 527 group is created primarily to

influence the nomination, election, appointment or defeat of candidates for public office.

Tax-exempt organizations that engage in political activities, often through unlimited soft money contributions.

Most are advocacy groups trying to influence federal elections through voter mobilization efforts and so-called issue ads that tout or criticize a candidate's record.

Campaign Finance Reform: Supreme Court Decisions

Buckley v. Valeo (1976) McConnell v. Federal

Election Commission (2003)

Citizens United

  Presidential RacesTrends in Spending

1996 $425.7 million.

2000 $528.9 million.

2004 Receipts George W. Bush: $367,228,801 John F. Kerry: $328,479,245 Overall: $880.5 million.

. 2008 Obama: 730 million spent http://www.opensecrets.org/pres08/ McCain: 333 million spent FIRST BILLION DOLLAR PRESIDENTAL ELECTION

Money and Politics

A. Role of political action committees(PAC’s) 1. PACs link tow techniques of influence

a. Giving $ and other political aid to politicians

b. persuading office holders to act or vote “the right way” on issues.

2. PACs are categorized by the type of interst they represent

B. The Growth of PACs

1. The committee on Political Education(COPE) –model for most PACS

2. The 1970’s brought a near revolution in the role and influence of PACs as a result of reforms increase from 150-1970

to over 4,000 today

C. How PACs invest their $ 1. Main influence is in their

contribution to candidates 2. The Federal Election Campaign Act

of 1971 limits PACs to $5,000 per election or $10,000 per election cycle; individuals have limit of $2,000 per candidate per election

3. Through “bundling” their contributions, PACs increase their clout with elected officials

The Effectiveness of PACs 1. Depends on the context in which

money is given and received 2. Significant relationship between

PACs $ and outcome of elections 3. PACs can help friendly

incumbents with soft money contributions

“soft money”-unlimited contributions that go for “party-building” activities

Curing the problem of factions: 200 years after Federalist #10

A. Americans’ fears about the power of faction 1. The struggle among factions is not a

fair fight 2. The interest group battle leads to

great inequities because lower-income people are grossly underrepresented

Fears contin…

3. Single-issue groups have led to incoherent policies, waste, delays, inability to plan and react quickly

4. The role of interest groups in elections has made incumbents more secure and enhanced the power of interest groups

5. Safeguarding the value of liberty, but also threatening equality

B. Federal and state regulation

1. Federal legislation, 1925 Federal Corrupt Practices Act and the 1946 Federal Regulation of Lobbying Act—not effective

2. FECA-Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971

3. Problems with FECA include the soft money loophole and ineffective FEC

Regulations contin…

4. Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995-definition of lobbyist was expanded to include part-timers, whose who deal with congressional staff/executive branch agencies, and those who represent foreign-owened companies and foreign entities.

5. Clinton signed into law legislation expanding disclosure requirements on issue ads(freedom of speech issues involved)

Regulations contin…

6. Issue advocacy ads/soft money very important in competitive elections

C. The Effects of Regulation

1. Increased the number and importance of such groups; increased PACs, especially corporate PACs

2. PAC money goes to incumbents(committee chairs, party leaders)

3. Disclosure of how politicians fund their campaigns is issue, also their personal finances