Interest groups 12/2-12/4

Interest groups

Groups of people with a special interest/A formal association attempting to influence public policy not win elections

• AKA special interests, interest organizations, pressure groups, lobbies

  • Factions Madison warned about in Federalist 10

Lobbying

Trying to get public policy outcomes to match their objectives

Many governments require lobbyists to register if they represent an organization

Types of lobbyists

In-house lobbyists work for the firm or organization they represent

Contact lobbyists work for lobbyist firms that may represent many clients

Legislative liaisons are hired by government entities to represent their interests

Inside (direct) lobbying vs Outside lobbying

Inside: involves contracting a policymaker

• testifying, meeting with regulators, drafting bills, etc

Outside: attempts to influence

• Media campaigns, protests, social media, member coordination

Membership organizations

Consist of people who have common issues or concerns

• Voluntary associations that typically collect dues from members

  • NRA, MAD, NAACP

Individual organizations

May have lobbying efforts

• Big corporations like Verizon or Walmart

• Nonprofits may organize as multiple different entities

  • 501( c)(3) and 501( c)(4)

Associations of organizations with similar interests

Trade associations like American Beverage Association

Municipal Association of South Carolina

Public interest groups

Claim to speak for broad public concerns

• League of Women Voters, Sierra Club

Interest group functions

Facilitates two-way communication with members

Help members to frame debates and use consistent terminology

Enhance member’s efficacy: confidence in ability to make government hear them

Private vs. public interest groups

Private: seek particularized benefits for their members

Public: seek collective benefits (public goods, common resources)

Disturbance theory

External events or shocks can spark mobilization

• Silent spring (effect that one mosquito repellent had on bird eggs), protest events

Why is there an increase in number and type of interest groups and how does that effect them?

• New interests and technological change

• Redistribution of power via New Federalism

• Creates increased specialization and fragmentation as well as increased professionalism of groups

Collective action problems

Individuals often have disincentives to actually take part in action

Free rider problem: not being a paying member of the group but still getting the benefits (NPR listeners who don’t donate)

How do interest groups overcome collective action problems?

• Organizing

• Material incentives to be a paying member

• Solidarity or purposive incentives

Grassroots vs Astroturf movements

Grassroots: bottom-up efforts that start locally

Astroturf: begin with interest groups and try to achieve mass appeal

Can be difficult to distinguish the two in practice

Interest groups multiple pathways of influence

• Campaign contributions to politicians who support their interests

• Create or donate to a PAC

  • PACs are limited in how much they can donate to one candidate

  • Super PACs can’t donate but they can spend on behalf of a candidate

What is the primary tool of lobbyists?

Information

They must be able to convince a policymaker to go along with them over competing interests

Pluralism

Diversity of interest groups creates a marketplace of ideas

Elite critique

Not all interests have an equal opportunity to be heard

Issue networks

legislators, bureaucrats, and interest groups working together on policy

Replaced the iron triangle model

Lobbying regulation

Gifts and donations are extremely regulated

Revolving door laws requires time between being a policymaker and lobbyist positions

Campaign finance laws aplly to PACs, lobbyists, and candidates