Tuesday December 3, 2013• OBJ: SWBT understand types of interest

groups and how they work by reading an article on immigration.

• Drill: What are the benefits of interest groups? What are three reasons people join interest groups? What is the free rider problem?

• Homwork:

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Answers• Checking the power of the majority

• Better representation of interests

• Avenue for political involvement

• Dispersal of costs

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Answers• Purposive benefits: The emotional and

psychological benefits members receive knowing they have contributed to a cause they feel is worthwhile

• Solidarity benefits: The social benefits members receive after meeting new people and friends they worked with to promote the cause

• Informational benefits: The educational benefits members receive after having learned more about the issues that matter to them 3

Answers

• A person who chooses to receive the benefits of a "public good" or a "positive externality" without contributing to paying the costs of producing those benefits.

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What methods might you use to get the boy or girl that you like to notice/talk

with/etc. you?

This can be applied to interest groups

• What are the 2 ways interest groups try to promote change?– Inside Strategies– Outside Strategies

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Local State Federal

E E E

L L L

J J J

Insider Strategies

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Local State Federal

E E E

L L L

J J J

Outsider StrategiesA

M

E

R

I

C

A

N

P

E

O

P

L

E

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Inside StrategiesRely on trust, access, quality information, and personal relationships

• Lobbying Congress• Testifying at Congressional Committee

hearings• Writing and distributing briefs and

reports on issues and legislation• Working with White House staff to

develop policy positions• Drafting legislation • Lobbying bureaucratic offices to gain

support for rule changes• Writing and submitting Amicus Curie

(Friend of the Court Briefs) to the Supreme Court

• Issuing report cards that grade elected officials on how consistent they are with the interest group’s beliefs

• Sharing information (poll data, election results, research findings, etc.)

• Take elected officials on “fact-finding” tours related to issues important to the group

• Campaign contributions to elected officials through PAC’s

Outside strategies

Rely on message, access to the media, and money

• Distributing pamphlets, flyers, magazines, and sponsoring membership drives

• Making speeches• Appear as an “expert” for TV sound

bites• Direct mailings • Sponsoring litigation (Class action and

individual cases)• Campaigning for and against

candidates• Mobilizing and educating voters• Soliciting monetary donations through

PAC’s• Issuing report cards that grade elected

officials on how consistent they are with the interest group’s beliefs

• Protests, demonstrations, or other forms of mass mobilization

• Developing TV and Radio spots• Offering potential voters “political

cues” on issues • Polling

Health Care Reform• In the 1990’s President and Mrs. Clinton

wanted to reform the health care system.

• They tried a number of different avenues.

• Read the article and underline any example of an inside strategy, circle any example of an outside strategy.

• Which do you think is more effective? Why?

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Immigration Reform• Recently there has been a debate over

how to reform immigration.

• Congressmen and interest groups tried a number of different avenues.

• Read the article and underline any example of an inside strategy, circle any example of an outside strategy.

• Which do you think is more effective? Why?

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Interest Group Ratings of Selected Member of Congress

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Top Lobbying Expenditures

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Sandy,

Who should decide the future of Social Security and Medicare?

A small commission or all of Congress?

Tell your senators that these decisions are too important to be made without an open public debate.

If you and I don't act now – the future of Social Security and Medicare could be decided for us without a public debate. Next week your senators will decide whether to give a special commission the power to propose drastic cuts to the programs that millions of seniors depend on: Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security. The proposals could be voted on immediately, without full transparency and accountability – and without our voices being heard. We can't let that happen. Tell Sen. Mikulski and Sen. Cardin to say "no" to fast-track proposals on Medicare and Social Security by voting against the Conrad-Gregg amendment. Make no mistake – AARP and most Americans are deeply concerned about increasing debt, health care costs and the long-term solvency of Social Security. But as some of the most fundamental challenges we face as a nation, surely these issues deserve full and open debate by all members of Congress. You elected your members of Congress to make the tough decisions, not to punt them to a special "commission." Tell your senators to vote "NO" on the Conrad-Gregg amendment. Thank you for your help on this urgent matter. Sincerely, Barry Jackson Senior Manager, Grassroots

AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization for people 50 and over www.aarp.org/about_aarp/aarp_overview/a20021218aarpmission.html

Visit AARPs Politics & Advocacy page at www.aarp.org/makeadifference/politics/ to learn more about AARP legislative activities.

AARP Membership: Join/Renew at www.aarp.org/join/

Make a donation today to AARP and help us ensure the voices of our 39 million members are heard in the nations capital and state capitals across the country.

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Number of Lobbyists

1998 10,690

1999 13,341

2000 12,763

2001 12,077

2002 12,347

2003 13,161

2004 13,403

2005 14,440

2006 14,874

2007 15,329

2008 14,453

PAC Name Total Amount Dem Pct Repub Pct

National Assn of Realtors $3,872,400 57% 43%

Intl Brotherhood of Electrical Workers $2,985,850 98% 2%

AT&T Inc $2,965,700 45% 55%

National Beer Wholesalers Assn $2,845,000 53% 47%

National Auto Dealers Assn $2,725,500 34% 66%

American Bankers Assn $2,671,893 41% 59%

Operating Engineers Union $2,660,320 87% 13%

International Assn of Fire Fighters $2,651,900 77% 23%

American Assn for Justice $2,576,000 95% 5%

Honeywell International $2,494,116 53% 47%

Laborers Union $2,462,850 92% 8%

Air Line Pilots Assn $2,352,000 85% 15%

Credit Union National Assn $2,216,049 54% 46%

Machinists/Aerospace Workers Union $2,193,300 97% 3%

Plumbers/Pipefitters Union $2,187,889 95% 5%

American Federation of Teachers $2,181,250 99% 1%

Service Employees International Union $2,143,250 94% 5%

National Air Traffic Controllers Assn $2,139,975 79% 20%

National Assn of Home Builders $2,139,000 44% 56%

Teamsters Union $2,018,500 97% 3%

The Revolving Door

Lobbyist Work for or as a member

of the legislative or

executive branch

Hart, Vicki E: Lobbyist Livingston Group

Employment History

• Lobbyist 2003-2005 Hart Health StrategiesLobbyist 2002-2003 Piper Rudnick LLP

• Lobbyist 2002-2004 Health Policy Source• Lobbyist 2001-2002 HC Assoc• Lobbyist 2000-2003 Bob Dole Enterprises• Lobbyist 1998-2002 Verner, Liipfert et al• Special Assistant 1994-2002 Lott, Trent• Special Assistant Senate Majority Leader (Bob Dole) 

Which Strategy Works Best?

• Each group will be assigned a scenario, using what you have learned decide on three outside and three inside strategies to solve your problem.

• For each strategy provide an explanation as to why you think it would work.

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Examine your scenario and develop a three step program to

address the problem. Be specific and prepared to explain

your decisions.

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Your interest group is organized to protect reproductive rights. Recently, the president nominated someone to become a Supreme Court Justice that you believe is too conservative. Plan

a combined inside and outside strategy to block the nomination of

this justice.

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Your interest group is focused on informing the public about elected officials’ actions that are consistent and inconsistent with

your group’s beliefs. Your goals are to put pressure on these elected officials to get

consistent or reward them for being consistent. Plan combined inside and

outside strategy that would meet these ends.

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Your interest group supports the rights those opposed to affirmative action. Plan a combined inside and outside

strategy that would allow you to force the Supreme Court to issue a

ruling on a case related to affirmative action. (Hint--this should be a several step process, executed

over a long period of time).

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Your interest group is focused on a bill under consideration by

Congress that would raise the minimum wage in the United

States. Plan an inside strategy that would assist this legislation in

being passed.

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Your interest group is focused on ensuring that access to automatic weapons is more

difficult. Plan an outside strategy that would assist the promotion of your issue onto

the public policy agenda.

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Your interest group is focused on maintaining good relationships with members of Congress and

the Executive Branch that support your stance on issues. Plan an

insider strategy that would enable you to maintain these

relationships.

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Your interest group is heavily involved in assisting candidates

running for office that are sympathetic to your issues. Plan a combined inside and outside strategy that would ensure the

election/reelection of these candidates.

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Your interest group desires to see a bureaucratic rule regarding the disposal of hazardous wastes

changed. Plan an inside strategy that would enable this rule to be

changed.

Wrap Up

• Why might an interest group need to resort to outside strategies? What are the pros and cons of this style?

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