Interest Groups Notes

Interest Groups

• Definition: An organization whose goal is to influence government. It is an $8 billion-dollar industry with an estimated 200,000+ interest groups in operation. Approximately 90,000 professionals lobby the U.S. government, with 12,000 registered with Congress.
  • 3 in 4 are groups public advocacy/citizen groups; remainder represent corporate interests

What Interest Groups Do

• Inform stakeholders: Provide information to members/other stakeholders about important issues.
• Communicate views: Communicate policy positions of members to elected leaders/bureaucracy.
• Mobilize public: Organize protest and advocacy campaigns to influence elected leaders.

Theories about Interest Groups in Democracy

• Pluralism: An open, participatory style of government in which many different interests are represented.
• Hyperpluralism: The collective effect of the vast number of interest groups in slowing the process of policymaking.
• Power elite theory: A view that a small handful of wealthy, influential Americans exercises extensive control over government decisions.

Types of Interest Groups

• Business Groups: Alphabet, Exxon, Bank of America
• Labor Groups/Unions: AFL-CIO, Fraternal Order of Police, UAW
• Trade or private associations: American Bar Association, National Association of Realtors, American Medical Association
• Citizens/Public Interest Groups: NRA, M4BL, US Palestinian Council
• Intergovernmental Groups: US Conference of Mayors, NCLS, NGA

Benefits to Group Members

• Material benefits: Items distributed by public interest groups to members as incentives.
• Expressive benefits: Values or deeply held beliefs that inspire individuals to join a public group.
• Solidarity benefits: Feelings of shared commitment and purpose experienced by members.

What Lobbyists Do

• Research
• Witness/provide testimony
• Assert positions
• Build coalitions
• Socialize
• Organize issue campaigns (grassroots or elite-led)

How Lobbying Congress Works

• Iron triangle: A cozy relationship in one issue area between interest-group lobbyists, congressional staffers, and executive branch agencies.
• Issue network: Shifting alliances of public and private interest groups, lawmakers, and other stakeholders all focused on the same policy area.
• Revolving door: The tendency of many Washington lobbyists to move from government work to lobbying and back again.

How Lobbying the Courts Works

• Judicial nominations
• Amicus Curiae briefs
• Sponsoring litigation

Interest Group Spending

• The transcript includes a graph depicting interest group spending over the years 2000-2018.

Biggest-Spending Lobbying Clients, 2017 (Table 12.2)

• U.S. Chamber of Commerce: $82,190,000$
• National Assn. of Realtors: $54,530,861$
• Business Roundtable: $27,380,000$
• Pharmaceutical Research & Manufacturers of America: $25,847,500$
• Blue Cross/Blue Shield: $24,330,306$
• American Hospital Assn.: $22,094,214$
• American Medical Assn.: $21,535,000$
• Alphabet Inc.: $18,150,000$
• AT&T Inc.: $16,780,000$
• Boeing Co.: $16,740,000$
• Open Society Policy Center: $16,110,000$
• DowDuPont: $15,877,520$
• National Assn. of Broadcasters: $15,460,000$
• Comcast Corp.: $15,310,000$
• Lockheed Martin: $14,464,290$
• Amazon.com: $13,000,000$
• Southern Co.: $12,970,000$
• National Retail Federation: $12,890,000$
• NCTA the Internet & Television Assn.: $12,790,000$
• Oracle Corp.: $12,385,000$

Democratic Harms and Benefits of Interest Groups

• Harms:
  • Corruption
  • Division and Hyperpluralism
  • Accountability issues
  • Restricted Access
• Benefits:
  • More representation
  • Communication and information dissemination
  • Mobilization and organization
  • Stability