Chapter 16: Interest Groups



Chapter 16: Interest GroupsSocial capital—the myriad relationship that individuals enjoy that facilitate the resolution of community problems through collective action.Civic virtue—the tendency to form small-scale associations for the public good.I Roots of the American Interest Group System Interest groups—an organized group that tries to influence public policy.Interest group “any group that, on the basis of one or more shared attitudes, makes certain claims upon other groups in society for the establishment, maintenance, or enhancement of forms of behavior that are implied by shared attitudes.”Interest groups are differentiated from political parties largely by the fact that interest groups do not run candidates for office.Pluralist theory—the theory that political power is distributed among a wide array of diverse and competing interest groups.Disturbance theory—the theory (by David B. Truman) that interest groups form in part to counteract the efforts of other groups.According to this approach anytime there is a disturbance in a political system, a group will arise. One wave of groups will give way to another wave of groups representing a contrary perspective. ( a countermovement)The government in turn should provide a forum in which the competing demands of groups and the majority of the US population can be heard and balanced.Transactions theory—the theory that public policies are the result of narrowly defined exchanges among political actorsThis theory arose out of criticisms of the pluralist approach.Transactions theorists make two contentions:It is not rational for people to mobilize into groups.The groups that do mobilize will represent elites.Neopluralists have found a middle ground, population ecology theory.Population ecology theory—the theory that the life of a political organization is conditional on the density and diversity of the interest group population in a given area.This theory build on the biological idea that the resources of an ecosystem can only support a certain number of any one species.Growth occurs in an s curve.Population ecology theorists believe that interest group growth follows a similar pattern and is constrained by the relative abundance of resources in a particular environment.A Kinds of Organized InterestsPublic Interest GroupsPublic interest group—an organization that seeks a collective good that will not selectively and materially benefit group members.Economic Interest GroupsEconomic Interest Group—a group with the primary purpose of promoting the financial interests of its members.Ex. American Medical Association, AFL-CIO, organizations representing farmers.They exist to make profits and to obtain economic benefits for their ernmental UnitsState and local governments are becoming strong organized interests as they lobby the federal government or even charitable foundations for a vast array of state and local programs.State and local governments may spend a significant proportion of their revenues trying to win federal earmarks.Earmark—funds that an appropriations bill designates for a particular purpose within a state or congressional district.Political Action Committees (PACs)Political Action Committees—federally regulated, officially registered fund-raising committee that represents interest groups in the political process.II The Development of American Interest GroupsA National Groups Emerge (1830-1889)It was not until the 1830s as communication improved did the first national interest groups emerge.Among the first of these groups was the American Anti-Slavery Society founded in 1833 by William Lloyd Garrison.Perhaps the most effective organized interest of the day was the railroad industry.Lobbyist—interest group representative who seeks to influence legislation that will benefit his or her organization or client through political persuasion.B The Progressive Era (1890-1920)1890’s a profound change occurred;Rapid industrialization, an influx of immigrants, and monopolistic business practices created a host of problems including crime, poverty, squalid and unsafe working conditions, and widespread political corruption.The political and social movement that grew out of these concerns was called the Progressive Movement.In response to the pressure applied by Progressive era groups, the national government began to regulate anized LaborThe AFL, American Federation of Labor, was created in 1886.1914 massive lobbying led to the passage of the Clayton Act which was called the Magna Carta of the labor movement by leader Samuel Gompers.Clayton Act allowed unions to organize free from prosecution and also guaranteed their right to strike, a powerful weapon against employers.Business Groups and Trade AssociationsTrade associations—a group that represents a specific industry.C The Rise of the Interest Group StateConservative Response: Religious and Ideological GroupsChristian Coalition and the National Rifle Association NRABusiness Groups, Corporations, and AssociationsOrganized LaborIII What Do Interest Groups Do?Interest groups become active when they believe that government policies threaten or affect group goals.Interest groups also enhance political participation by motivating like-minded individuals to work toward a common goal.They are assumed to represent the interests of their members to policy makers at all levels of government.Downside to interest groups: because they make claims on society, they can increase the cost of public policies.Interest groups play an important role in US politics b/cIn addition to enhancing the democratic process by providing increased representation and participation, they increase public awareness about important issues, help frame the public agenda, and often monitor programs to guarantee effective implementation.Increasing cause for concern is that fact that the rich and powerful are doing more lobbying than the poor who need it more.A LobbyingMost interest groups put lobbying at the top of their agendas.Lobbying—the activities of a group or organization that seeks to influence legislation and persuade political leaders to support the group’s position.Most politically active groups use lobbying to make their interests heard and understood by those who are in a position to influence or cause change in governmental policies.Table 16.2 p. 581—there are least 23 legal ways for lobbyists and organizations to influence policy at the state and national level.Lobbying CongressLobbyists try to develop close relationships with senators and House members in an effort to enhance their access to the policy-making process.A symbiotic relationship between members of Congress, interest group representatives, and affected bureaucratic agencies often develops.In these Iron Triangles and issue networks (discussed in ch9) congressional representatives and their staff members, who face an exhausting workload and legislation they frequently know little about, often look to lobbyist for information.Lobbyist work most closely with representatives who share their interests.A lobbyist’s effectiveness depends largely on his or her reputation for fair play and provision for accurate information.Many people who work on Capitol Hill retire to become lobbyistsLobbying the Executive BranchEfforts have increased to lobby the executive branch as it has tried to have more of an effect on legislation.An especially strong link exists between interest groups and regulatory agencies.Lobbying the CourtsGenerally interest groups lobbying for the courts can take two forms:Direct sponsorshipFiling of amicus curiae briefs.Litigation and efforts to influence the outcome of judicial nominations to the federal courts are not the only ways that interest groups lobby jurists.It is becoming increasingly common for interest groups of all persuasions to pay for trips for judges to attend “informational conferences” or simply to interact with judges by paying for club memberships and golf outings.Grassroots LobbyingGrassroots lobbying is a form of interest group activity that prompts individuals to contact their representatives directly in an effort to affect policy.In essence, the goal of many organizations is to persuade ordinary voters to serve as their advocates.Protests and Radical ActivismB Election ActivitiesCandidate Recruitment and EndorsementsCandidate recruitment is often key for attracting women and minority candidates. (endorsements are just as important)Getting Out the VoteRating the Candidates or Office HoldersPolitical Action CommitteesPACs contributions are not tax deductible, PACs have contributors who write checks specifically for the purpose of campaign donations.PAC money plays a significant role in the campaigns of many congressional incumbents, often averaging over half a House candidate’s total campaign spending. PACs generally contribute to those who have helped before and who serve on committees or subcommittees that routinely consider legislation of concern to that group.IV What Makes Interest Groups Successful?Historically, corporate interests often prevail over the concerns of public interest groups such as environmentalists.All interest groups have one thing in common: they all want to shape the public agenda, whether by winning elections, maintaining the status quo, or obtaining favorable legislation or rulings from Congress, executive agencies, or the courts.Phenomena that contribute to a particular groups’ successes.LeadersPatrons and fundingA solid membership baseA LeadersMost successful groups, especially public interest groups are led by charismatic individuals who devote most of their energies to the cause.Leaders must find ways to attract members.B Patrons and FundingAll interest groups require adequate funding to build their memberships as well as to advance their policy objectives.Patron—a person who finances a group or individual activity.Charismatic leaders often are especially effective fundraisers and recruiters of new members.C MembersOrganizations have three types of members:Top—leaders, small number who devote their energies to a single group.Second tier is involved psychologically as well as organizationally. They are the workers of the group.Bottom tier rank and file members who do not actively participate.People who belong to groups are often higher educated and have more moneyPeople who belong to groups usually belong to more than one.All groups provide some collective good—something of value that cannot be withheld from a nonmember of a group, for example, a tax write-off or a better environment.Downside is a free rider problem—potential members fail to join a group because they can get the benefit, or collective good, sought by the group without contributing the effort.The bigger the group the greater the free rider problem.Factors that help groups overcome the free rider problem:Members representing other groups or institutions are much more likely than individuals to value efforts to obtain collective goals.Once a policy environment appears to threaten existing rights, many individuals come to realize those threats and join groups in exchange for only collective benefits.Small groups often have organizational advantage because in a small group any individual’s share of the collective good may be great enough to make it rational for him or her to join.Patrons often eliminate the free rider problem for public interest groups. They make the cost of joining minimal because they contribute much of the group’s necessary financial support.V Toward Reform: Regulating Interest Groups and Lobbyists1995: Lobbying Disclosure Act: employed a strict definition of a lobbyist: (one who devotes at least 20 percent of a client’s or employer’s time to lobbying activities.)It requires lobbyist to:Register with the clerk of the House and the Secretary of the SenateReport their clients and issues and the agency or house they lobbiedEstimate that amount they are paid by each client.Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007—lobbying reform banning gifts to members of Congress and their staffs, toughening disclosure requirements, and increasing time limits on moving from the federal government to the private sector.Key Words:Civic virtue, collective good, disturbance theory, earmark, economic interest group, free rider problem, Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007, interest group, lobbying, lobbyist, patron, pluralist theory, political action committee (PAC) population ecology theory, public interest group, social capital, trade association, transactions theory. ................
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