Interest Groups

4/19/2012

Clearly Communicated Learning Objectives in Written Form

• Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:– discuss and critically analyze political events in the

United States government– students will be able to identify and explain the

role of informal institutions and their effect on policy.

– students will be able to assess the 2010 and 2012 elections without resorting to partisan bickering.

Office Hours and Readings

• Chapter 7

• Office Hours– No office hours today – Monday 10-2

THE LOGIC OF COLLECTIVE ACTIONAn Alternate theory of Group Formation

Collective Action

• The Writings of Mancur Olson

• Groups form if it is convenient

• Groups form for Benefits

Logistics of Group Formation

• Potential Membership– Big groups form more easily (fewer costs)– Small groups have to share less (more benefits)

• Geography (not as important today)

Direct Benefits

• Benefits that only members get

• Excludes Non-members

• Economic benefits are most lucrative

Collective benefits

• Benefits that the group works for....

• Everyone gets

• No One is Denied

Groups that Provide Collective Benefits

Overcoming the Free-Rider Problem

• You have to offer people some incentive to join

• Appeal to our greed, or appeal to our ideology

• These are selective incentives

Selective Incentives

Tangible Benefits• Real benefits given to

members by the group

• People outside of the group do not get the goodies

• The AARP

Ideological Benefits• Moral incentives

• Appeals to one’s ideology

• Guilt-ing People

Groups that cannot offer any benefits will not be able to form

KINDS OF INTEREST GROUPS

Private Interest Groups

• Limit their Membership and their benefits

• Business Groups

• Labor Unions

Public Interest Groups

• Concerned with that group’s perception of the general welfare of the population

• Anyone can join

• Everyone receives the benefits

Single Issue Groups

• Concerned with a single policy issue

• Ensures that members know what they do

Umbrella Groups

• Concerned with multiple issues within a larger policy area

• Potential for more resources

• Potential for in-fighting

Interest Groups Today

• Fragmentation

• Specialization

• Cannibalization– Greenpeace vs. Whale

Wars

COMPONENTS OF INTEREST GROUP POWER

Money and Size

• This is a recursive relationship

• There is a problem of being “too big”

Cohesion and Intensity

• Does the group stick together

• Are the members willing to fight for the interests of the group

Access

• The Number one goal of an interest group

• If no one hears your message, it is wasted

TACTICS OF INTEREST GROUPSDirect Lobbying

Direct Lobbying

• Traditional Interest group tactic

• All about making contacts

• Exchanging Resources

Direct Lobbying

• An Exchange of Resources

• What Resources do interest groups have for legislators?

• What resources do legislators have for interest groups

The Revolving Door

• 1 year moratorium

• People move out of Congress and on to “K” Street

Why former Congressmen?

• Familiarity

• Ability to get access

Direct Lobbying is not Cheap

INDIRECT LOBBYINGTactics of Interest Groups

What is Outsider/Indirect Lobbying

• Pressure from outside the beltway

• Pressure without direct contact

Tactics of Indirect Lobbying

• Electoral Threats

• Using the media to shape opinion

• Reports and publications

Politicians dislike indirect tactics

ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAILInterest groups and the electoral connection

Why Get involved?

• You want to keep people you trust in position

• You want to control the agenda

Getting the membership active

• Encouraging members to donate

• Hitlists

• Scorecards

How Much Can Members Give?

SPENDING MONEY

Money is a form of Political Speech

• Buckley v. Valeo

• At the federal level, fundraising is not capped

• Neither are expenditures

Political Action Committees

• The Money Giving Arm of an Interest Group

• Can Give $5,000 per candidate per election

Different PACs have different Goals

• Issue PACS

• Labor PACS

• Ideological PACS

• Leadership PACS

PACS Give to Safe Seats

• Money flows to safe seats

• Giving money to losers has no return on investment

• If I wanted to buy seats, I would give to underdogs and closer races

Pacs Give To Incumbents

• I care about the issues, not the label

• I want to keep my supporters in office

• Keep my enemies out

PACS Give to People Who Already Support them

• “Corporations Love Everyone”

• You want them to get reelected

• You want them to continue to support your ideas

PACS do not Give To Undecided Members

• Money could convince them to vote my way

• But what if it doesn’t

• Its safer to hang on to it

PACS do not give to their enemies

• My money is not going to change their votes

• They won’t take my money anyway

The Goal Of PAC Money

• Access

• A chance to meet with legislators

• Ensure my views are represented