Essence and history Essence and history of interest groupsof interest groups

DefinitionDefinition

A collection of individuals linked A collection of individuals linked together by professional together by professional circumstance, or by common circumstance, or by common political, economic, or social interest political, economic, or social interest such that:such that:– Its name does not appear on a ballotIts name does not appear on a ballot– It uses some portion of its resources to It uses some portion of its resources to

influence decisions made by some influence decisions made by some government entitygovernment entity

– It is organized externally to governmentIt is organized externally to government

Historical Historical DevelopmentDevelopment Existed pre-RevolutionExisted pre-Revolution Early groups organized at state levelEarly groups organized at state level Explosion of groups 1870-1900: why?Explosion of groups 1870-1900: why?

– Disturbance theoryDisturbance theory– Changes in CongressChanges in Congress

Second explosion since 1960Second explosion since 1960– Disturbance theoryDisturbance theory– Social movementsSocial movements– Educated middle classEducated middle class

Early groupsEarly groups

1833 American Anti Slavery Society1833 American Anti Slavery Society 1834 National Trades Union1834 National Trades Union 1847 American Medical Association1847 American Medical Association 1867 National Grange1867 National Grange 1871 National Rifle Association1871 National Rifle Association 1886 American Federation of Labor1886 American Federation of Labor 1892 Sierra Club1892 Sierra Club 1909 NAACP1909 NAACP 1912 US Chamber of Commerce1912 US Chamber of Commerce 1924 National League of Cities1924 National League of Cities

The contemporary The contemporary group landscapegroup landscape

Types of groupsTypes of groups

Membership organizationsMembership organizations– Trade and Professional AssociationsTrade and Professional Associations– Labor unionsLabor unions– Citizen groupsCitizen groups

Institutional interestsInstitutional interests– Charitable and Religious GroupsCharitable and Religious Groups– CorporationsCorporations– Intergovernmental LobbyIntergovernmental Lobby

Setting prioritiesSetting priorities

What affects members most?What affects members most? What issues are most central to What issues are most central to

group’s goals?group’s goals? Timing in political environmentTiming in political environment Hard to drop an issueHard to drop an issue

What do they do to get What do they do to get what they want?what they want? Testify at Congressional hearings (99%)Testify at Congressional hearings (99%) Contact government officials (98%)Contact government officials (98%) Engage in unofficial contact with officials (95%)Engage in unofficial contact with officials (95%) Present research or technical info (92%)Present research or technical info (92%) Send letters to officials (92%)Send letters to officials (92%) Enter into coalitions with other groups (92%)Enter into coalitions with other groups (92%) Attempt to shape implementation of law (90%)Attempt to shape implementation of law (90%) Talk with the media (89%)Talk with the media (89%) Help draft legislation (85%)Help draft legislation (85%) Inspire letter writing campaigns (84%) Inspire letter writing campaigns (84%) Shape govt agenda by raising new issues Shape govt agenda by raising new issues

(84%)(84%)

What do they do to get What do they do to get what they want?what they want?

Have influential constituents contact members of Have influential constituents contact members of Congress (80%) Congress (80%)

Mount grassroots lobbying efforts (80%)Mount grassroots lobbying efforts (80%) Alert members of Congress to effects of legislation on Alert members of Congress to effects of legislation on

their districts (75%)their districts (75%) Filing suit (72%)Filing suit (72%) Contribute to campaigns (58%)Contribute to campaigns (58%) Doing favors for elected officials (56%)Doing favors for elected officials (56%) Publicize candidates’ voting records (44%)Publicize candidates’ voting records (44%) Run ads in the media (31%)Run ads in the media (31%) Conribute work or personnel to electoral campaigns Conribute work or personnel to electoral campaigns

(24%)(24%) Endorse candidates (22%)Endorse candidates (22%) Protest/demonstrate (20%)Protest/demonstrate (20%)

Funding the group’s Funding the group’s activitiesactivities

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Profit groups Nonprofit groups Citizen groups

Member contributions Individual giftsFoundations GovernmentOther groups

Expenditures on Expenditures on lobbying, 2008lobbying, 2008

US Chamber of CommerceUS Chamber of Commerce $91,725,000$91,725,000 Exxon MobilExxon Mobil $29,000,000$29,000,000 AARPAARP $27,900,000$27,900,000 PG&E CorpPG&E Corp $27,250,000$27,250,000 Northrop GrummanNorthrop Grumman $20,743,252$20,743,252 American Medical Assn American Medical Assn $20,555,000$20,555,000 Pharmaceutical Pharmaceutical RsrchRsrch & Mfrs of America & Mfrs of America$20,220,000$20,220,000 American Hospital Assn American Hospital Assn $20,102,684$20,102,684 Koch IndustriesKoch Industries $20,023,000$20,023,000 General ElectricGeneral Electric $19,379,000$19,379,000 Verizon CommunicationsVerizon Communications $18,020,000$18,020,000 National Assn of RealtorsNational Assn of Realtors $17,340,000$17,340,000 Boeing CoBoeing Co $16,610,000$16,610,000 Lockheed MartinLockheed Martin $15,961,506$15,961,506 Blue Cross/Blue ShieldBlue Cross/Blue Shield $15,560,165$15,560,165

Top campaign Top campaign expenditures in 2008expenditures in 2008 Employees International UnionEmployees International Union $71,019,477$71,019,477 ActBlueActBlue $54,382,729$54,382,729 Moveon.orgMoveon.org $38,123,571$38,123,571 EMILY'sEMILY's List List $34,965,661$34,965,661 American American FednFedn of St/ of St/Cnty/MunicCnty/Munic Employees Employees

$33,035,182$33,035,182 Friends of Fred ThompsonFriends of Fred Thompson $24,316,838$24,316,838 American Federation of TeachersAmerican Federation of Teachers $20,995,532$20,995,532 National Assn of RealtorsNational Assn of Realtors $18,383,414$18,383,414 Intl Brotherhood of Electrical WorkersIntl Brotherhood of Electrical Workers $17,128,126$17,128,126 National Rifle AssnNational Rifle Assn $16,828,298$16,828,298 Teamsters UnionTeamsters Union $16,148,705$16,148,705 United Auto WorkersUnited Auto Workers $13,121,064$13,121,064