interest groups and campaign finance

interest groups

Forms to advocate something in public policy, usually groups of coprorations/industries or social cause — American Federation of labor, Rifle association, older citizens

Iron triangle

Stable, mutually beneficial three way alliance between interest groups, congress, and the bureaucracy (example: retired persons association, congress subcommittee on aging and social security in bureaucracy). Long lasting

Free Rider problem

When people who didn’t help push for the policies or get involved benefit from resulting actions (ex: retired persons benefitting from the retired person interest group’s hard work).

Issue Network

Group of individuals/public officials and interest groups that form around a PARTICULAR issue, includes lots of players and is very temporary

Direct lobbying

Method interest groups use to influence policy by speaking directly to bureaucrats and officials

Inside strategies

Working with DC, through direct lobbying and drafting legislation, sue

outside strategies

Outside of DC, interest groups influencing policy through campaign contributions, media coverage and encouraging constituents

PACs

Registered fundraising to interest groups, political action committees that represent an interest group to raise $ BUT HAS LOTS OF LIMITS

Salience

Degree to which the general public is aware of a policy issue

Single issue group

Interest group with only 1 issue, like Natl Rifle Association

Soft money

Money that doesn’t have as many regulations, like general “party building”, banned after the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act

Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act 2002

Limited soft money and money directly from official political parties, but could not limit money from outside groups like super pacs. Reduced attack ads

Citizens United v FEC

2010 case Allowed citizens to show a controversial Hillary movie under notion of free speech > when this was challenged, Court found that political speech can’t be restricted under 1st amendment of free speech, allowing independent expenditure from corporations, labor unions & non profits as long as not directly tied to campaign

Do corporations have the right to spend money on supporting / opposing candidatures for federal offic?

YES, under citizens united v fec. Direct contributions to campaigns are still illegal

corporation

legally registered business entity that acts as a separate “person” distinct of its owners

super pacs

independent expenditure only, unlimited $$,