Interest groups
Another ugly term
• Madison in Fed #10- warned against factions
• Today still hated- “ My mom never introduces me
as ‘My son the lobbyist’. I can’t say I blame her”
• “Glorified pimp”
• The government, which was designed for the
people, has got into the hands of the bosses and
their employers, the special interests. An invisible
empire has been set up above the forms of
democracy. - Woodrow Wilson
No joke, they really are hated
• A minister and a Lobbyist arrived at the pearly gates, Saint Peter
greeted both of them and gave them their room assignments.
"Pastor, here are the keys to one of our nicest efficiency units. And for
you, sir, the keys to our finest penthouse suite."
"This is unfair!" cried the minister.
"Listen," Saint Peter said, "ministers are a dime a dozen up here, but
this is the first Lobbyist we've ever seen."
• Q: What do you call 25 skydiving lobbyists?
A: Skeet.
• Q: What’s the difference between a lobbyist and an onion?
A: You cry when you cut up an onion.
Hated? Here’s why…..
Pluralist or elitist?
• Pluralist view:
• Groups provide link from voters to
government
• Groups compete- none dominate
• Usually play by rules
• Groups weak in ne resource use another –ex.
Unions have numbers, big business has $
• Elitist view:
• Numerous groups mean nothing because power
varies
• Large corporations dominate, no other even close
• Iron triangles- bureaucracy/int group/ cong
committee ( now issue network with others
added
• Interlocking directorates increase their power1/3 of top positions( corp boards, university
trusteeships,foundations) held by people on
more than one board
Interlocked big shots
Are interest groups effective?
• University of Toronto study in 2001:
• More pork $ to school districts that spent
money on lobbying BUT:
• School districts with a senator on
Appropriations Committee received $18-$128
for every $ spent. Those with a member on
the House Appropriations Comm. Got $45-$55
for every $ spent. All other received $1 for
every $41 spent . OUCH.
Are the effective con’t
• Mr. Senator meet Mr NRA
Do they really work this way?
• One could only hope
Why so common?
• Got an issue, you’ve got a group:
– Irritate your representative
So why so many?
1. Lots of cleavages
2. Federalism creates various levels on entry
3. Political parties are weak, we use interest groups
instead
What the heck do they do?
• Lobbying- provide info, help pass legislationiffy as it is hard to get a person to change
ideological viewpoint
• Electioneering- campaign/PAC money etc
• Litigation- Brown v the Board (NAACP) amicus
brief
• Going public- public opinion polls etc report
cards Who got an A?
• Form own party- Green party an example
Number of groups lobbying in 2009 on healthcare bill
Periods of growth
• 1820’s-40’s Anti slavery
• 1860’s rise of the labor movement
• 1900-1920- professional associations,
women’s suffrage, reform movement
• 1960’s 70’s- environmental and political
reform
• 70% of those that exist now were formed in
the 70’s or later
Why join?
• Solidary incentive-Pleasure/companionshipPTSA, League of Women Voters
• Material incentive AARP
• Purposive incentive- ( ideological inertest
groups) influence gov’t- Greenpeace, NRA
etc.
Types of groups
• Economic interest- labor ( AFL-CIO) business trade
associations like the Nat’l Manufacturers Assoc and
corporations like GE
• Environmental- Some older ( Sierra Club) many began
in 70’s- Now over 10,000!! Revenue of 2.9 billion
• Ideological- or single interest- NRA
• Foreign policy-Middle East Policy Council
• Intergovernmental- gov’t lobbies gov’t
• Civil Rights- NAACP
• Religious- Moral Majority , Christian Coalition
So who hates special interest groups?
• That would be anti-government conservatives,
typically Tea Party types, found in traditionally
conservative or red states. BUT………
And when those groups are
effective….
Intergovernmental works?
• Membership
– 3 groups
• Formal leaders- full time employees
• People actively involvedmeetings/legwork
• Members in name only- rank and file
Unions a good example
• If it is so bad then why is it not outlawed?
– Well, it isn’t bad for those that it helps
– Politicians don’t want it to stop
– And MOST importantly it is protected by the Bill of
Rights ( 1st amendment free speech, right to
assemble , right to petition government)
Laws to keep it clean
• Lobbying Disclosure Act (1995)- tightened
registration and disclosure requirements for
lobbyists, had to report names of clients, income,
issues etc.
• Honest Leadership and Open Government Act
(2007)- former Senators can’t lobby for two years
instead of one, gifts restricted, increased
penalties for breaking laws etc
• And of course, campaign finance laws that
restrict contributions
Conclusion- What does it get us?
• "I have never seen more senators express discontent
with their jobs. I think the major cause is that, deep
down in our hearts, we have been accomplices to doing
something terrible and unforgivable to this wonderful
country. Deep down in our hearts, we know that we
have bankrupted America and that we have given our
children a legacy of bankruptcy. ... We have defrauded
our country to get ourselves elected." -- Senator John
Danforth