Interest Groups
AP Government
Unit 3 Chap 16
The Development of American
Interest Group?

Interest groups have existed since the
country’s founding.
– The open nature of the American government
invites organized political participation.

James Madison in Federalist #10 argued
that no one group should get control over
other groups.
What is an Interest Group?
An association of people who
hold common views and
who work together to
influence what the
government does
What do Interest Groups do?
Try to influence public policy
– Lobbyists try and persuade public officials to
believe a specific view
– Every branch and every level of government
is affected by interest groups
– Promote interest in public affairs
– Provide useful information
– Serve as watchdogs
– Represent the interest of Citizens
Interest Group have been
Criticized for
 Ignoring
the wider interest of society
 Producing confusion and deadlock in
Congress
 Generating so much emotion that they
make reasoned discussion difficult
 Having too much influence
Interest Groups: Good, Bad, or Ugly?
Lately, interest groups have become synonymous with
the “evil” special interest. What is “special interests”?
 Over 20,000 associations hoping to promote, persuade
or prevent something
 Aliases:
– Interest Groups
– PACS
– Lobbyists
 In a typical day, a senator can meet with 15 lobbyists in
their office, plus those that approach him/her in the
halls of Congress.
What do Interest Groups need?
 Social
capital
– The large number of relationships 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
Interest Groups in America

America is considered pluralistic
– many different groups seeking to secure its
members interests

Work outside of the political system,
(separate and independent from the
actual government structure)
The Roots and Development
of American Interest Groups

National Groups Emerge (1830-89)
– The beginnings of lobbying and interest groups
 Anti-Slavery groups
 Temperance Groups
 The Grange

The Progressive Era (1890-1920)
– Important groups created
– Organized Labor
 The American Federation of Labor (AFL) (1886)
– Business and Trade Associations
 The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) (1895)
The Roots and Development
of American Interest Groups

The Rise of the Interest Group State (1960-70)
– A new sense of progressivism
 ACLU, Common Cause, NAACP
– Religious and Ideological Groups
 Christian Coalition, Moral Majority
– Business Groups, Trade and Professional Associations
 Chamber of Commerce, Business Roundtable
– Organized Labor
 AFL-CIO
 Teamsters
Interest Groups in Politics

The closer the ties to political issues,
personalities and organizations, the more
effective the group

Contributions of Interest Groups
– provide link to gov't
– provide info
– encourage participation
– stabilize other groups
Goal: Influence Politics





Assist in election campaigns
Influence judicial appointments
Form PACs
File amicus curiae briefs and lawsuits
Grassroots work (advertise opinion, letter
writing, social protests)
– A form of pressure-group activity that attempts to
involve individuals who contact their representatives
directly in an effort to influence policy
– Persuading ordinary voters to act as the group’s
advocates
Lobbyists

A Lobbyist is someone whose task it is to
influence legislation or policymaking
– Generally works for an interest group

Lobbyists are hired by:
– Businesses
– Trade associations
– Colleges or universities
– Foreign countries
– Anyone else wanting their voice heard on policy
matters (Health issues, parent issues…)
What Lobbyists Should Do

A lobbyist must be honest and truthful if he
or she wants to remain effective.
– Access to lawmakers is critical and if a lobbyist
gets a reputation of being untruthful or
disingenuous legislators doors will close.

Good lobbyists will also make lawmakers
aware of the downsides of a bill and the
arguments on the other side as well.
Goal: Lobbying

An attempt to influence the shape of
legislation coming out of Congress and
other rule making bodies
– The activities of a group or organization that seeks to
influence legislation and persuade political leaders to
support the group’s position
Goal: Lobbying

Employs more than 80,000 in Washington DC alone

Named from days when Congress didn't live in
Washington and stayed in boarding homes or hotels
where lobbies were only place to catch and attempt to
sway to your side

23 ways for lobbyists and organizations to lobby on the
state and national level
 Most often they: testify at legislative hearings,
contact government officials directly, help draft
legislation
Lobbying Congress
Members of Congress are targets of
lobbyists
 Many lobbyists are former members
 Lobbyists work closely with those
members who share their interests
 The effectiveness of a lobbyist depends on
their reputation for fair play and accurate
information

Reform Attempts
Federal Regulation of Lobbying Act, 1946
 Lobbying Disclosure Act, 1995

– Employs a strict definition of lobbyist
– Requires lobbyists to:
 Register with the clerk of the House and the secretary
of the Senate
 Report their clients and issues and the agency or house
they lobbied
 Estimate the amount they are paid by each client
– Makes it easier for watchdog groups to track the
lobbying activity
Lobbying the Executive Branch

Has expanded As the scope of federal
government has expanded
– Many potential access points
– Lobbyists seek influence at policy formation
and implementation stages.
– An especially strong link exists between
interest groups and regulatory agencies
– Groups often monitor the implementation of
the laws or policies they advocated.
Types of Interest Groups

Economic
– establish
standards,
better working
conditions
 Determined
by the way
people earn a
living
 Business &
professional,
labor,
agricultural

NAM (National Association of
Manufacturers)

American Bankers Association

AFL-CIO

General Motors

AMA (American Medical Association)

ABA (American Bar Association)

National Grange

NEA (National Education Association)
Types of Interest Groups

Social Action
– Membership is
determined by birth
– Gender, Race,
Ethnicity

NOW
– National
Organization of
Women

NAACP
– National
Association for
Advancement of
Colored Persons

National Council
of Senior Citizens
Types of Interest Groups

Religious
– support or oppose
laws morally
 U.S. Catholic
Conference
 700 Club
 Christian Coalition

Ideological
– Have a specific
political agenda
– Have become the
center of PAC activities
 Heritage Foundation
 Brookings Institute
 People for the American
Way
Types of Interest Groups

Single Issue
– Focus on one policy
area
 MADD (Mothers Against
Drunk Driving)
 NRA (National Rifle
Association)

Public Interest
– Environment, Voter
Registration,
Consumer Protection,
Historic preservation
 League of Women
Voters
 Sierra Club
 Common Cause
Problems with Interest Groups

Overrepresentation of views of privileged
class

Utilization of free-rider concept of representation
– Benefits go to all in an industry, not just group
members
Benefits that go to members only (better health
care, etc.)
 Reliability of funding sources and sponsorship
 Could be double influence (corporations,
foundations, etc.)

Business Role in Interest Groups

Most large corporations
– Have their own governmental affairs department
– Employ D.C.-based lobbyists to keep them
apprised of legislation
– Have given substantial soft money in the past
– Still use PACS & 527s which means they still
contribute a great deal of money
Legislators tend to vote:

FOR:

legislation that confers
significant benefits on
relatively small (but
organized and active)
groups and imposes
small costs on the
public at large
Ex. Farm Subsidies


AGAINST:

legislation that imposes
costs on small (but
organized and active)
groups and deprives the
public at large of
relatively small benefits
Ex. Benefits cuts for
military

Why People Join Interest Groups
1. Solidarity Incentives
• For the social contacts
• League of Women Voters, NAACP, PTSA,
American Legion
2. Material Incentives
• For economic reasons
• AARP, Farmers Groups, Labor Unions
3. Purposive Incentives
• For moral causes / crusades
• Right to-Life, Pro-Choice, Greenpeace
Who Joins Interest Groups?

Upper class interest groups- Big Business
– More affluent join and are active
– White collar workers
– Professional groups

Working class interest groups- Big Labor
– Labor unions have been very powerful in past
– The AFL-CIO broke up in 2004, cutting big
labor’s power
Interest Group
Area of Concern/Cause
Who are They? Who Do They
Support??
AARP -American
Association of Retired
Persons
Benefits for retired people- Important voting
block!
Both; Middle-aged Republicans;
Very old people Democrats
AFL-CIO
Workplace issues and benefits for workers
Labor Union/Blue collar workers;
Usually votes for Democrats
American Bar
Association
Concerned with legal issues such as caps on
awards to victims; malpractice
Lawyers; Usually Republicans but
not always
ACLU-American Civil
Liberties Union
Concerned with Bill of Rights and Civil Liberties
Can be both but more associated
with Democrats/Libertarians
AMA- American Med.
Association
Medical issues; Stem cell research; malpractice
Doctors; Usually Republicans
Amnesty International
Concerned about the treatment of prisoners
worldwide; political prisoners
Usually Democrats
AIPAC
Also B'nai B'rith )
Civil rights; Interested in Israel issues
Jewish Americans; Mostly
Democrats
Children's Defense Fund
Issues involving children- insurance,
Mostly Democrats
Christian Coalition
Religious issues; pro-life An important voting
block!
Republicans
Interest Group
Area of Concern/Cause
Who are They? Who Do They Support??
Common Cause
Reform in government; watchdogs
Both
Focus on the Family
Family- oriented issues; pro-life
Republicans
League of Women
Voters
Voting issues; Debates
Both but many are Democrats
MADD-Mothers Against
Drunk Driving
Concerned about teenage driving safety; age laws
Parents/moms; Both
NAACP –Nat’l Assoc.
for the Advancement of
Colored People
Concerned with issues voting, and other civil rights
issues; An important voting block!
African Americans; Democrats
NEA- National
Education Association
Education issues; protect teacher jobs; generally
against NCLB or want to reform NCLB
Teachers- High % usually vote for
Democrats
NOW- Nat’l Org. for
Women
Women’s issues; Pro-Choice
Women; Democrats
NRA- National Rifle
Association
Pro Guns/2nd Amendment Issues; Less restrictive
gun laws and gun control
Republicans/Libertarians
National Right to Life
Organization
Pro- Life/ Anti Abortion
Republicans
National Wilderness
Society
Environmental Issues
Mostly Democrats- Some
Republicans
Sierra Club
Environmental Issues
Mostly Democrats
Veterans of Foreign
Wars/American Legion
Veterans; Concerned with issues about benefits
Both but generally Republicans
Facts About the AARP

Among those over 50, AARP members are
more likely to vote than nonmembers.
% of Americans Registered to vote:
85%
% of AARP Members Registered to
Vote90%
% of American who always vote in
local elections:
50%
% of AARP Members who always
vote in Local Elections57%
% of Americans who always vote in
presidential elections
77%
% of AARP Members who always
vote in presidential elections84%
Economic Interest Groups
•
Most interest groups are based on
economics
•
•
•
•
Businesses (create favorable environment for
business to prosper)
Agriculture (work for price supports from gov’t,
but also limit gov’t influence)
Labor (Call public attention to the legitimate needs
of working people. Accomplishments …eight-hour
work day …child labor laws …minimum wage laws
...workplace health & safety laws)
Professional (protect and advance their
professional field -- to do this, they...publish
journals…give awards for excellence
...communicate their opinions to gov’t officials)
Other Types of Interest Group?
•
Cause-based
•
•
(National Wildlife Federation, League of Women
Voters, National Rifle Association, MADD, Emily’s
List)
Concerned with the welfare of people
•
•
(AARP – senior citizens, NAACP – African
Americans)
Religious Organizations
•
(Christian Coalition, American Jewish Congress)
Interest Group Techniques
Direct Techniques:
 Lobby at Capitol Hill
 Have private meetings
 Meet at social occasions
 Testify at hearings
 Drafting legislation
 Providing political info
 Supply nomination
suggestions
Indirect Techniques:
 Generating Public
Pressure
 Use public pressure on
“hot button” issues
 Use constituents to call
lawmakers
 Build alliances with other
groups
What Makes an Interest Group
Successful?
1. Leaders – having a prominent leader aids in
the reputation of the group and enhances a
group's ability to attain its goals.
2. Patrons and Funding – funding is critical.
Without money, it is hard to get your
message out.
3. Members – a group must have members to
be successful. Organizing members allows for
strength in numbers and pooling of financial
support.
Where Does the $$$ Come
From?
Member dues
 Federal grants
 Direct mail appeals for cash
 Internet sites
 Dinners and fundraisers
 PAC’s !!!!

Goal: Form Political Action
Committees (PACs)

Organizations, formally independent of
candidates themselves
– channel money from interest groups to political
candidates sympathetic to their groups' policy
preferences
Electioneering experts who aid candidates
financially with member support
 Blossomed as a result of FECA of 1974
 Buckley v. Valeo created the “PAC man”
 Most money goes to incumbents

Political Action Committees

A popular term for a political committee
organized for the purpose of raising and spending
money to elect and defeat candidates.
– Most PACS represent business, labor or ideological
interests.

PACS are the so-called “political arms” of interest
groups
– PACS are used to elect or defeat government officials
and promote legislation

The “revolving door”
– PACS hire former members of Congress to lobby their
old friends, committees, etc…
– This is legal but …Is this Ethical???
The Birth of PACS




In 1944, the Congress of Industrial Organizations,
(CIO) wanted to help President Franklin Roosevelt get
re-elected.
Standing in their way was the Smith Connally Act of
1943, which made it illegal for labor unions to contribute
funds to federal candidates.
The CIO then urged individual union members to
voluntarily contribute money directly to the Roosevelt
campaign.
It worked very well and PACs, or political action
committees were born.
Political Action Committees
(PAC’s)
A PAC must register six months
in advance, have at least fifty
contributors, and give to at least
five candidates.
 Corporations, unions, or other
associations may establish PAC’s.
 There are over 4,000 PACs registered
with the Federal Election Commission.
 PAC’s gave over

– $217 million to congressional candidates
in 1996
– $373
million in 2010!!!
Money from PACS
PACs may receive up to $5,000 from any one
individual, PAC or party committee per calendar
year.
 PACs can give $5,000 to a candidate committee
per election (primary, general or special).

– They can also give up to $15,000 annually to any
national party committee, and $5,000 annually to any
other PAC.

PACS support candidates with campaign money
– ½ sponsored by corporations; 1/10 by unions
– 1/3 liberal and 2/3 conservative (2001)

Incumbents get the most PAC money!!
Money Limits

Individuals can give up to $2600 to a
candidate but PACS can give $5,000 to a
candidate
– Federal money will match presidential
campaign money but….
– Parties need at least 5% of vote in previous
year for presidential candidate to receive funds
– If that doesn’t happen you need PAC’s!!!
http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-reportvideos/379369/march-30-2011/colbert-pac---trevor-potter
Important PAC’s
The Laborers International Union of North
America
 The National Association of Realtors
 The National Rifle Association (NRA)
 Microsoft Corp
 Exxon Mobil
 EMILY’s List- Early money is like yeast –

makes the Dough rise (Democratic women)

Human Rights Campaign
Big Spenders in 2007-08
Total Amount
Dem Pct
Repub Pct
Operating Engineers Union
$2,612,560
86%
14%
National Assn of Realtors
$2,289,750
59%
41%
Intl Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
$2,286,550
98%
2%
AT&T Inc
$2,065,200
36%
64%
American Assn for Justice
$1,904,000
95%
5%
National Beer Wholesalers Assn
$1,856,500
52%
48%
Machinists/Aerospace Workers Union
$1,840,300
97%
3%
American Bankers Assn
$1,818,520
39%
61%
International Assn of Fire Fighters
$1,787,600
75%
25%
National Auto Dealers Assn
$1,696,000
35%
65%
National Air Traffic Controllers Assn
$1,638,825
77%
23%
Air Line Pilots Assn
$1,634,000
85%
15%
Service Employees International Union
$1,631,000
94%
6%
Laborers Union
$1,548,500
92%
8%
Credit Union National Assn
$1,530,699
55%
45%
American Dental Assn
$1,530,412
52%
48%
Sheet Metal Workers Union
$1,509,010
97%
3%
United Parcel Service
$1,502,001
41%
59%
Plumbers/Pipefitters Union
$1,467,150
94%
6%
American Crystal Sugar
$1,336,500
64%
36%
PAC Name
http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/index.asp
2014 Top PAC Contributions
PAC Name
Operating Engineers
Union
Total Amount
Dem Pct
Repub Pct
$1,571,208
80%
20%
Honeywell
$1,557,029
42%
58%
Northrop Grumman
$1,539,250
40%
60%
Lockheed Martin
$1,503,000
39%
61%
Every Republican is
Crucial PAC
$1,500,000
0%
100%
AT&T Inc.
$1,490,350
40%
60%
National Beer
Wholesalers Assoc.
$1,479,500
41%
59%
Intern. Brotherhood of
Electrical Workers
$1,436,024
97%
3%
Where
does all
the $$ Go?
AKA
If you give you
shall receive!!
Super PACs

Super PACs are a new kind of political
action committee created in July 2010
following the outcome of a federal court
case known as SpeechNow.org v. Federal
Election Commission (after the Citizens
United case).
– Technically they are known as
“independent expenditure-only
committees”
http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-reportvideos/382014/april-14-2011/colbert-super-pac---trevor-potter
Super PACs
Super PACs may raise unlimited sums of money from
– Corporations
– Unions
– Associations and individuals
– They spend unlimited sums to overtly advocate for or
against political candidates.
 Unlike traditional PACs, Super PACs are prohibited from
donating money directly to political candidates.
– Super PACs must, however, report their donors to the
Federal Election Commission on a monthly or quarterly
basis -- the Super PAC's choice -- as a traditional PAC
would

Super PAC Group
Independent
Expenditures
Viewpoint
Total Raised
American Crossroads
$1,135,853
Conservative
$6,643,257
House Majority PAC
$919,562
Liberal
$985,000
Communications Workers of
America
$107,000
Liberal
$295,000
Cooperative of American
Physicians
$102,184
n/a
$1,258,351
Priorities USA Action
$96,555
Liberal
$3,161,535
Majority PAC
$86,550
Liberal
$1,082,407
Club for Growth Action
$51,917
Conservative
$1,144,022
Conservative Action Fund
$25,287
Conservative
$35,000
Lantern Project
$20,435
Liberal
$25,310
Freedomworks for America
$12,295
Conservative
$0
Turn Right USA
$5,792
Conservative
$285
United Mine Workers of America
$4,782
Power PAC
Liberal
$0
Raising Red
$2,125
Conservative
$200,000
Matthew 25 Network
$1,100
Liberal
$0
Acts Regulating Lobbyists

1946 Federal Regulation of Lobbying Act
– Lobbyists must register and file reports

1978 Ethics in Government Act
– Officials must disclose finances and employment after
leaving government service

1995 The Lobbying Disclosure Act
– Must Register and Report clients
– Estimate how much they are paid and report the % to
the government
FYI- Approximately 4 Million Dollars were
spent lobbying EACH member of
Congress in 2005!
Jack Abramoff Scandal




“Super-Lobbyist” Abramoff
plead guilty to corruption
charges in 2006
Abramoff pleaded guilty to
defrauding the Native American
tribes that were his clients, to
tax evasion and to conspiring
to bribe public officials
He illegally gave gifts and
made campaign donations to
legislators in return for votes or
support of legislation
Several federal officials were
also accused and found guilty
in the scandal

http://www.pbs.org/moyers/moye
rsonamerica/capitol/watch.html