Interest Groups
A Necessary Evil?
http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/wedapril-3-2013/you-stuck-what-where-now-
Learning Objectives
After studying this topic, students should be able to:
• Distinguish the essential differences between interest groups and political parties
• Understand three basic theories of interest group politics:
–
–
–
•
•
•
•
•
Pluralist theory,
Elite theory,
Hyperpluralist theory.
Determine the factors that tend to make an interest group successful.
Differentiate between a potential group and an actual group, and determine how the
free-rider problem applies.
Explain how interest groups try to shape public policy and how lobbyists represent
interest groups in influencing the legislative agenda.
Describe 4 types of interest groups: Economic, Business, Labor, Public Interest Groups
Analyze the appropriate role of interest groups within a democratic environment.
Opener
• Jon Stewart Interviews Grover Norquist,
President of Americans for Tax Reform, a
taxpayer advocacy/interest group
Those Who Have Taken the
Pledge
•238 Representatives
•41 Senators
•Only 1 Democrat
Daily Show: Grover Norquist
60 Minutes: Grover Norquist
Interest Group
• Definition: Organization dedicated to a certain
unified cause with the primary goal of influencing
public policy to their benefit
– Present at every level of government
• How do political parties and interest groups differ?
– Parties: nominate candidates, contest elections, and
seek to gain control of government v. IG: seek to support
public officials & influence public policies
– Parties: Policy generalists v. IG: Policy specialists
– Parties: Responsible to voters v. IG: resp. to members
Daily Show--Interest Groups
Colbert--Democrats, Republicans, and Lobbyists
Colbert--Better Know A Lobby (Meat Industry-start video at 1:45)
Over 22,000 I.G….Why Are There
So Many?
•
•
•
•
Variety of Divisive Issues= Many interests
Federalism?
Dealignment/Weakening Political Parties
Campaign Finance Reform Act?
– Made It Legal to Form PACs (FECA of 1974)
• 1st Amendment?
• Expanded Role of Govt
– Billions in federal $ available
Basic Functions
• Represent Specific
Interests
– Educate; Raise Awareness
• Linkage Institution
• Agenda Setting
• Influence Actions of
Government
– What bills/laws are written;
how they are written; if
they’re passed
– Enforcement of Laws
What Determines the Effectiveness of Interest Groups?
• Common Characteristics:
– Financial Resources
• Hire lobbyists, support PACs, write amicus curiae briefs
– Organizational Skills
– Intensity
• Often single issue groups w/ narrow focus able to mobilize intensely
committed members; smaller demands
– Size of the group?
• A large group may have a lot of sway, but more subject to the Free-Rider
problem
• Small groups are easier to organize/rally
• Business I.G.
– Many financial resources; Contribute heavily to campaigns
– Many been around long so connections w/ Congress
– Push for narrow, minute tax laws most don’t notice
Categories/Types of I.G.
• Business/Labor/Agricultural Groups (Economic):
– Form to promote/protect economic interests
– Well funded/either rep. large constituencies or employs one
• Professional Associations
• Environmental groups
• Public Interest & Single Issue
– Org. around well defined set of policy issues
– Some Single Issue: Powerful b/c intensity of supporters
– P. I. Groups: Usually concerned w/ environment, consumer protection,
civil rights
• Government Interest Groups:
– States/cities now employ lobbyists…why?
• What role might mandates play in this?
AFL-CIO (American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organization) [ranked #5]
American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) [ranked #1]
American Bankers Association [ranked #11]
American Farm Bureau Federation [ranked #21]
American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) [ranked #22]
American Israel Public Affairs Committee [ranked #4]
American Medical Association [ranked #13]
Association of Trial Lawyers of America [ranked #6]
Chamber of Commerce [ranked #7]
Credit Union National Association [ranked #18]
Health Insurance Association of America [ranked #25]
International Brotherhood of Teamsters [ranked #23]
Motion Picture Association of America [ranked #17]
National Association of Broadcasters [ranked #20]
National Association of Home Builders [ranked #16]
National Association of Manufacturers [ranked #14]
National Association of Realtors [ranked #15]
National Beer Wholesalers Association [ranked #19]
National Education Association (NEA) [ranked #9]
National Governor's Association [ranked #12]
National Federation of Independent Business [ranked #3]
National Restaurant Association [ranked #10]
National Right to Life Committee [ranked #9]
National Rifle Association (NRA) [ranked #2]
United Auto Workers (UAW) [ranked #24]
History
• Madison:
– Why did Madison argue the Constitution would protect
against the effects of factions/special interests?
• Federalism/Separation of Powers
– Theory: Power decentralized/balanced
– Practice: creates divisions and access points
• Federalists & Anti-Federalists
• Growth of Interest Groups
– 1830s: Most, single issue…Abolitionists
– 1890-1920s: Progressive Era…groups for reform
– 1950-1970s: Groups form in support of minorities, the
poor, elderly, & consumers (Nader)
Fundamental Goals of Interest
Groups
1. Gain access to policymakers
2. Influence public policy
3. Support sympathetic policymakers
I.G. Strategies
• Lobbying: Process by which interest groups
attempt to influence the decisions of
policymakers
– Carried out by “Lobbyists”
– Approx. 30,000 lobbyists; spend $2 billion/yr. lobbying
Congress…alone
• Target govt. officials, esp. legislators/ bureaucrats
– Key Target: Undecided leg. or bureaucrat…Why?
– Regulatory Agencies
• Goal: pursue their leg. Agenda; influence appt.
NRA Stands Its Ground v. Surgeon
General Nominee
I.G. Strategies
• “My boss demands a
• Testify before Congressional
speech and a statement for
Committees & executive
the Congressional Record
agencies = experts
for every bill we introduce
• Provide members of
or co-sponsor—and we
Congress with information
have a lot of bills. I just
– Must appear
can’t do it all myself. The
reliable/trustworthy; provide
better lobbyists, when they
accurate credible info…but
have a proposal they are
biased
pushing, bring it to me
– Help craft/write legislation
along with a couple of
• Bring influential
speeches, a Record insert,
constituents to D.C. to meet
and a fact sheet.”—
w/ reps.
Congressional Aide
I.G. Strategies
• Amicus Curiae Briefs
• “Social Functions”
– “Fine Dining Experiences”
• Endorsement
– Publicly announce support
• Rally membership/grassroots
– Get public involved & organized
I.G. Strategies
• Contributing $ to Candidates
– Financial support to candidates & parties that support
their cause/interest
– Political Action Committees (PAC)
• Formed by business, labor, or I.G. to raise money and make
contributions to the campaign of political candidates whom they
support.
• Goal: Influence elections to gain better access to politicians
– Make large contributions to incumbent members of the
House
– Contribute to House members who serve on
committees/subcommittees that consider legislation
affecting the I.G.
– Limited to $5,000 direct contributions…but Citizens United
Power of Lobbying
I.G. Strategies
• Shaping Public Opinion
– Use expensive P.R. campaigns to bring issues to
public’s attention
– Use ads to promote their image
– May use grass roots strategies
• i.e. visible protests (civil rights orgs)
Oil/Natural Gas Commercial
Lobbying the Executive and Courts
• Executive:
– Most presidents have a staffer to act as a gateway
between interest groups and the administration.
– Interest groups pay close attention to gaining
access to regulatory agencies of the exec. branch
• Courts:
– Judicial branch designed to be free from public
opinion, but…
• Submit amicus curiae briefs
• Use of litigation to achieve goals (NAACP)
• Prominent role influencing nominees to Supreme and
Federal Courts
Discussion Prompt
• Are lobbyists buying access to our politicians
and having undue influence on our elections?
How are these groups impacting policy?
• How does the influence of special interests
impact our federal deficit and debt? Why?
Accessing Lawmakers:
The Revolving Door
• Contacting officials…meeting privately…How
do lobbyists gain access?
– Revolving Door
• The movement of individuals between roles as
legislators/staffers/regulators and the industries
affected by the legislation and regulation
• Over 5,800 congressional staffers and former
lawmakers have left Capitol Hill to become federal
lobbyists in the past 10 years
– Why are so many people on Capitol Hill recruited
as lobbyists?
– What is the impact of the revolving door? How
does this influence legislation?
Revolving Door at Work…
60 Minutes: Under the Influence
Revolving Door at Work
• “As Bush Sr.'s Secretary of Defense, Dick
Cheney steered millions of dollars in
government business to a private military
contractor [Brown and Root Services] -- whose
parent company [Halliburton] just happened
to give him a multi-million dollar job after he
left the government.”
An Inside Look into the Revolving Door
“If retiring from the Senate meant the same thing it meant in
the real world – moving to Florida, buying a condo and playing
golf – Coats could be excused for wanting to return to his
more exciting old life. But senators rarely leave the esteemed
body because they want to sit by the pool and work on
crossword puzzles.
No, senators retire for three possible reasons. First, they’re
frustrated with the Senate: the travel, the long days and,
often, though not in Coats’s case, the difficulty of passing
legislation from the minority party. Second, they think they’re
going to lose, and they don’t want to face a lengthy and
difficult reelection bid. Third, they wish to parlay their power
and influence into financial gain.” Brian Sumers
Attempted Limits on Lobbying
• Federal Regulation of Lobbying Act
– Require lobbyists register & disclose salaries, their employers,
expenses, nature of activities (bills/issues lobby on behalf)
– Defined who was considered a lobbyist
• Ethics in Government Act 1978
– created the U.S. Office of Independent Counsel
• investigate government officials
– Increased length of time an individual must wait between leaving
government position/office and lobbying privately the govt.
agency he or she worked for to 2 years
– Currently ONLY 1 YEAR…How might this open door for corruption?
• Loopholes?: “Consultant”
• Lobbyists Disclosure Act of 1995
– Extends def. of lobbyist to include part-timers
Monetary “Limits”
• McCain Feingold: Citizens Limited to $2,300 per
candidate in primary & general fed. Elections
– $20,000 to pol. parties; $5,000 to PACS
– Adjusted for inflation…
• PACs limited to $5,000 to any one candidate;
$15,000 to national party
• But…Citizens United v. Federal Election
Commission has changed the game…How?
Membership/Negatives
• Typical Members Are:
– Above average income and education
– Generally white collar
• But represent a lot of blue collar interests?
– Free rider: get benefits without the effort
• Negatives to Membership
– “Selfish…”—Promote self-interests of the group
– Expensive—costs to lobby & promote interests
– Legalized Bribery?
Who Has Power and Influence in
the U.S.?
• Elitist Theory
– Small # of super rich individuals, powerful corporate
interest groups, and large financial instit. dominate key
policy areas
– PACs encourage close connection b/n money and politics
(Business PACs undue influence over policymakers)
“Citizens with lower or moderate incomes speak with a
whisper that is lost on the ears of inattentive government
officials, while the advantaged roar with a clarity and
consistency that policymakers readily hear and routinely
follow” –American Political Science Association
Who Has Power and Influence in
the U.S.
• Pluralist Theory
– Many interest groups compete for power in large number
of policy areas; thus, public policy emerges from
bargaining and compromise
– Argue 1 group can’t dominate system b/c system of
federalism and sep. of powers provides many points of
access and influence
– Argue I.G. that lacks financial resources can turn to courts
• Hyperpluralist Theory
– Too many interest groups trying to influence policy
– Efforts to appease competing I.G. leads to confusing and
contradictory policies or officials avoiding hard choices
Discussion Questions
• Do interest groups promote the public interest? In
your response discuss elitism, pluralism, or
hyperpluralism.
• Do interest groups lead to gridlock or do they serve
as an unofficial part of checks and balances?
• The essence of democracy is civic participation and
I.G. embody such participation. If a few such groups
dominated, there would be a problem, but Madison
in Federalist 10 says the U.S. and federal system are
too big for that to happen. Agree or Disagree?
To consider:
• Do interest groups promote the public
interest? In your response discuss elitism,
pluralism, or hyperpluralism.
• How do the various components of the iron
triangle work together to set public policy?
Iron Triangle/Subgovernments
• Shared web of
interests that
connect Cong.
Committees/sub
-committees;
exec. branch
agencies; and
interest groups
Iron Triangles
Congressional Committee
Needs info, votes, campaign contributions
Interest Group
•Offers political support & $ to appointees
& elected officials
•Needs laws and regulations benefiting
members
Executive Agency
Needs political support, appropriations,
and info
Review: Political Parties v.
Interest Groups
Political Parties
• Policy Generalists
• Goal:
– Elect people to office
– Gain control of govt.
Interest Groups
• Policy Specialists
• Goal:
– Influence public policy
– Influence Congress/Govt.
Colbert--Better Know A Lobby (Meat Industrystart video at 1:45)