Interest Groups Politics of Influence

5Interest GroupsPolitics of Influence

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Video: The Big Picture 5

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Video: The Basics 5

I. Interest Groups Past and President: “Mischiefs of

Faction”

5.1 Learning Objective:Explain the role of interest groups and social

movements in American politics

When a group of people share a common interest, they can form interest groups or even political parties to enact their goals into public

policy. The Founders called these groups “factions,” and they worried that majority factions

might trample on the rights of minorities.

5.1

A. A Nation of Interests

1. Interest groups: People that come together with similar goals or ideas who want to influence government.

a. Demographic distinctions such as race, ethnicity, age, gender, religion, occupation, sexual orientationb. Ideology/policy preferences such as gun control or tax reformc. “Special interests” is a derogatory term used for groups whose policy goals are contrary to the public interest

5.1

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Video: In Context 5.1

B. Social Movements

1. Origin of interest groupsa. Social movements begin when people join together and take action for a significant issue, idea, or concern: Women’s, animal, civil, gay, immigration, environment, etc.

2. Bill of Rightsa. Free speechb. Free assemblyc. Due process

5.1

5.1Arab Spring

5.1 What is a modern term for faction?

a. Special interest

b. Political party

c. Interest group

d. All of the above

5.1

5.1 What is a modern term for faction?

a. Special interest

b. Political party

c. Interest group

d. All of the above

5.1

II. Types of Interest Groups

5.2

Lesson Objective: Categorize American interest groups into

types

A. Economic Interest Groups (most numerous)

1. Businessa. Large corporations such as auto and banking industries b. Small Business Federation

2. Trade and Other Associationsa. National Association of Realtorsb. Chamber of Commerce

3. Labor, began with industrialization a. Unions form to improve wages, benefits & working cond.b. AFL-CIO ¾ of unionized labour 13% of populationc. Open v. closed shopd. Democratic Party

5.2

4. Professional Associations1. AMA and ABA2. State-level lobbying

A. Economic Interest Groups

5.2

FIGURE 5.1: Union membership in the United States compared to other countries

5.2

FIGURE 5.2: Labor force and union membership, 1930-2011

5.2

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Video: Thinking Like a Political Scientist

5.2

B. Ideological and Single-Issue Interest Groups

5.2

1. Members share common viewpointa. Single-issue groups (abortion, gun control, taxes) b. Unwilling to compromise

2. National Rifle Association (NRA)a. Largest and most powerful with 4 million members

C. Public Interest Groups

1. Claim to represent public interest such as Common Cause. Emerged from 1960’s social movements.

a. Conducts and publish researchb. Educates the publicc. Lobbies politicians

5.2

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Video: In the Real World 5.2

D. Foreign Policy Interest Groups1. Council on Foreign Relations

http://www.cfr.org/about/

2. Israel-Arab relations subject of many groupsa. AIPAC http://www.aipac.org/

3. Nongovernmental organizations (NGOs)a. Greenpeaceb. Amnesty International

5.2

E. Public Sector Interest Groups

1. Governments are interest groups a. National Governors Associationb. National League of Citiesc. National League of Counties

2. Government employeesa. National Education Association (NEA) 3.2 million members

5.2

E. Other Interest Groups

1. Why we join groupsa. Common interestb. Shared identificationc. Shared issue or concern

2. What groups doa. Educate publicb. Lobby elected officialsc. Provide information

5.2

TABLE 5.1: Environmental groups’ resources and strategies

5.2

5.2 Which type of interest group is the most numerous?

a. Economic

b. Human rights

c. Environmental

d. Labor unions

5.2

5.2 Which type of interest group is the most numerous?

a. Economic

b. Human rights

c. Environmental

d. Labor unions

5.2

III. Characteristics and Power of Interest Groups

Lesson Objective: Analyze sources of interest

group power

http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/

5.3

A. Size and Resources

1. Size mattersa. Offer incentives

2. So does spreadb. Concentration helps at state and local level versus dispersal which has members in every congressional district

3. Resources matter, too! Broader its reach into centers of power

a. Moneyb. Volunteersc. Expertisec. Reputation

5.3

B. Cohesiveness and Leadership

1. Types of membersa. Formal leadersb. actively-involved membersc. Members in name only

2. Single-issue group = stronger cohesiona. planned Parenthood

3. Leadershipa. Tricky when group is diverse

5.3

5.3AARP

C. Techniques for Exerting Influence

1. Publicity, mass media, and the Interneta. Influencing the public to contact representativesb. Businesses have financial advantagec. Social media (moveon.org) d. Internet increases civic participation because communication is faster and cheaper

2. Mass mailing/E-mailing1. Facilitated by computer technology

5.3

C. Techniques for Exerting Influence

3. Direct contact with governmenta. Federal Registerb. “Notice and comments period”

4. Litigationa. Civil rightsb. Amicus curiae briefs (friend of the court)

5.3

C. Techniques for Exerting Influence

5.3

5. Protesta. Demonstrationsb. Occupy Wall Street

6. Contributions to campaigns a. PAC v Super PAC

http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/superpacs.php

C. Techniques for Exerting Influence

5.3

7. Nonpartisana. Donate to incumbentsb. Endorsementsc. Score cards

8. New political partiesa. Green Party

9. Cooperative lobbyinga. Like-minded groups work together in order to have more influence

Vote 4 Energy 5.3

5.3 What are PACs?

a. A coalition of labor unions

b. The interest group that represents public

employees

c. The political arm of an interest group

d. None of the above

5.3

5.3 What are PACs? 5.3

a. A coalition of labor unions

b. The interest group that represents public

employees

c. The political arm of an interest group

d. None of the above

Explore the Simulation: You Are a Lobbyist

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5.3

IV. Influence of Lobbyists

Learning Objective: Describe lobbyists and the

activities through which they seek to influence

policy

5.4

A. Who Are the Lobbyists?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjY5Zkt51wY

5.4

1. Revolving doora. Former public servants (50% of former congress people

work in the lobbying industry)

b. Tools of influence: Money, Charm, Personal influence,

Persuasiveness, Knowledge, Issue networksc. Issue Networksd. Special relationships among interest groups, congressional

committees and subcommittees, and government agencies that

share a common policy concern.

B. What Do Lobbyists Do?http://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/

1. Competition limits influence2. Money most important for re-election

a. Volunteersb. Incumbent advantage

3. Types of informationa. Political: consists of who supports what, and how strongly

b. Substantive: impact of proposed laws and technical language to

go into the legislation.

4. Taking their message to the people

5.4

5.4 Who is most likely to become a lobbyist?

a. A former teacher

b. A former judge

c. A former elected official

d. A former farmer

5.4

5.4 Who is most likely to become a lobbyist?

5.4

a. A former teacher

b. A former judge

c. A former elected official

d. A former farmer

V. Money and Politics

Learning Objective: Identify ways interest groups use money in

elections and assess efforts to regulate this spending

5.5

A. Political Action Committees (PACs)

1. Political arm of interest group a. What PACs do

1. Give money to politicians2. Persuade politicians to act or vote a certain way

b. Interests represented by PACs 1. Corporations, trade, health, unions, ideological

5.5

FIGURE 5.3: Total PAC contributions to candidates for U.S. Congress, 1975-2010

5.5

TABLE 5.2: PACs that gave the most to federal candidates, cumulatively, 2000-2010 (millions of dollars)

5.5

A. Political Action Committees (PACs)

3. Super PACs Citizens United v. FEC (2010)

5.5

5.5TABLE 5.3: Candidate supportive Super PACs and money they spent in 2011-2012

B. How PACs Invest Their Money

1. Incumbentsa. PACs provide 42% of campaign funding

5.5

FIGURE 5.4: PAC contributions to Congressional candidates, 1998-2010

5.5

B. How PACs Invest Their Money

2. Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2004 (BCRA) 3. Contributions to leadership

a. Committee chairs, party leaders

5.5

C. Mobilizing Employees and Members and Other Modes of Electioneering

1. Persuading members how to vote that is consistent with the interest of the group or corporation

2. Soft money used to bypass rules and give money to parties rather than candidates

3. Issue ads have unlimited access to funding due to Citizens United v. FEC

5.5

5.5Todd Akin and abortion controversy

D. Independent Expenditures

1. Unlimited campaign money as long as that expenditure doesn’t directly contribute funds to a candidate or party

a. Disclosure requirements

2. Recent examplesa. Super PAC spent $4.5 million in 2010 Illinois Senate race attacking Democratic candidateb. Super PAC spent $6 million in 2010 Colorado Senate race attacking Democratic candidate

5.5

TABLE 5.4: Independent expenditure by top interest groups, 2004-2010

5.5

E. Campaigning Through Other Groups

1. Issue advocacy: political contributions that avoid disclosure if ads do not use “vote for” or “vote against”

2. 527 organizations: political groups who can spend unlimited amounts of money on election activities.

5.5

5.5 Which type of interest group has the most PACs?

a. Environmental groups

b. Ideological groups

c. Corporations

d. Unions

5.5

5.5 Which type of interest group has the most PACs?

5.5

a. Environmental groups

b. Ideological groups

c. Corporations

d. Unions

Explore Interest Groups: Can Interest Groups Buy Public Policy?

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5.5

VI. How Much Do Interest Groups Influence Elections

and Legislation?

Learning Objective: Evaluate the effectiveness of interest groups in influencing

elections and legislation

5.6

A. Curing the Mischiefs of Faction—Two Centuries Later1. What would Madison think?

a. Influence unequalb. Gridlockc. Incumbent advantage

2. Can we regulate factions and preserve liberty?

a. Disclosure

3. Interest groups foster self-government

5.6

5.6 How can Super PACs sidestep financial disclosure regulations?

5.6

a. Take out ads that do not endorse a specific

candidate

b. Wait to disclose donors until the election is

over

c. Both A and B

d. Neither A nor B

5.6 How can Super PACs sidestep financial disclosure regulations?

5.6

a. Take out ads that do not endorse a specific

candidate

b. Wait to disclose donors until the election is

over

c. Both A and B

d. Neither A nor B

How does money exert influence over public policy? Does the interest group with the most money always get its preferred public policies? What are some arguments for and against restricting the amount of money that groups can contribute to political campaigns?

Discussion Question 5

Video: So What?

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