Unit III - Interest Group Notes

What is an Iron Triangle?

• ^^The Iron Triangle consists of: Congress, interest groups, and the Bureaucracy.^^

• The Iron Triangle has a bidirectional relationship; meaning that all three parties support each other. Basically give to get. One party is in need of the other two parties.

• Factions cannot be rid of; but can be controlled by a diverse Republic.

  note: the Iron Triangle is only a concept; not an institution.

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What would James Madison call interest groups?

• ^^James Madison would call interest groups as factions.^^

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• Free Riders: people who benefit without contributing (in the instance of how beneficial interest groups are.

Rise of Interest Groups:

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Early Beginnings: Sons of Liberty and the Federalists and Anti-Federalists.

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**Economic:**Labor Unions and Farmers. \n

Policy: Changes to policy creates interest groups (like veterans).

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**Social Action/Equality:**Desire for changes to social policy or access. \n

**Expanding Role of Government:**Created as the government’s role expands. \n

Public Interest: Work for the public’s best interest or the perception there of

Kinds of Interest Groups

^^interest groups: any group that seeks to influence public policy.^^

• main goals of an interest group are to raise money or votes to members of Congress to get elected so they can pass laws.

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Institutional: Individuals/organizations that represent their organizations, companies, states, universities and foundations.

• example of a Institutional organization: Amazon.

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Membership: Dependent on members joining and paying dues or donations.

• Membership interest groups are social, business, professional, veteran, charitable, and religious oriented.
  • example of a Membership organization: National Rifle Association.

Lobbying; What is it?

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Lobbying: Any communication “by someone other than a citizen acting on his or her own behalf, directed to a governmental decision maker with the hope of influencing his or her decision.” - Lester Milbrath.

• Lobbying is when someone is hired to go to the nation’s capital to influence the senator/house member assembly to take action on behalf of interest groups.
  • organizations and interest groups hire lobbyist to influence the government at ALL levels.
  • some influences can be good and some is bad.

Lobbyist are known for influencing lawmakers through information.

Why Join an Interest Group?

• builds political efficacy and civic duty.
• want to feel connected to their community.
• League of Women Voters, the NAACP, Rotary, and the American Legion build strong local organizations.
• some farm organizations give discounts for farm supplies to members.
• The American Association of Retired Person (AARP) offers low-cost life insurance and discounted prescription drugs, give advice, and group travel plans.
• Others join interests groups because they believe in the cause and see change happen. (example: environmental groups).

Interest Groups in Action

• Supplying Information: Lobbyist provide credible information to Congress.

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• Raising Support: Grassroots mobilization to put pressure on Congress.

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• Creating PACS: used to funnel money to candidates that they favor.

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• Testifying for Congress: providing expert witness in committee hearing.

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• Socializing: attend and hold events in Washington D.C.

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• Endorsement: announce their support for specific candidate.

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• Propaganda: send our information to promote their views.

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• Litigate: using the Supreme Court to decide on changes.

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• ^^Employing Former Government Officials: the “revolving door” means government officials go to work for interest groups.^^

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• Protest/Disruption: public displays to gain awareness and bring about changes.

Political Action Committees (PACS)

What are PACS?

• Political Action Committee (PAC): created by interest groups to fund candidates they agree with.

  • PACS must be registered with the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
  • Money given directly to the candidates campaign is hard money and is regulated closely.
  • Money given to political parties is soft money; less restriction.

  \n ^^PACS work for candidates and political parties by funneling money to them.^^

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Super PACs

• ^^Super PACs are allowed to raise unlimited amounts of money and spend unlimited amounts of money^^ ^^advocating for or against a candidate. Unlike PACs, they are unable to give directly to candidates.^^
  • created by Supreme Court cases.
  • Citizens United v. FEC: Caps on amount of money a person can give to a PAC is unconstitutional and that corporations and unions could make unlimited donations (spending).

Regulation of Interest Groups - ERA 1

• Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA - 1970): Placed limits on individual contributions to candidates (hard money - limited and regulated) $1000 per candidate per election.
• no labor unions, corporations, or foreign nationals.
• Limited candidate spending.
• Disclosure laws - spending/raising - reported to the FEC (Federal Elections Commission).
• Hard money to candidates and soft money to political parties.

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FECA Loopholes:

• Soft money goes to the parties.
  • not limited or regulated.
• Bundling: money from individuals but given as a group.
• PACs - hard money ($5000 a year as it is 1st Amendment protected).
• Independent Expenditure Group (IEG).
• Citizens who come together but cannot be for a specific candidate or party.

Regulations - ERA 1

Buckley v. Valeo (1976)

• Upheld hard money limits.
• Struck down candidate spending limits - 1st Amendment - unless they accept public funding they are held to a spending limit.
• issue ads - soft money vs. expressed advocacy (“Vote for…”) - hard money.

Regulations - ERA 2 (2002 - 2010)

• Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (McCain - Feingold) (BCRA) tried to remove unlimited funding.
  • raised hard money limits: $5k to candidate $15k to party.
  • banned soft money to parties.
  • limited issue ads before elections.
  • 30 days before a primary.
  • 60 days before a general election. \n

BCRA Loopholes:

• IEGs explode
  • 527 committees which are not regulated the same way.
  • 501 (c4): Tax code - money spend as 51% to social welfare and 49% in political activities. (can hide any donator’s identity).
  • does not have to disclose its donors.

Regulations - ERA 3 (2010 - present)

• Citizens United v. FEC; IEG funded by corporations, labor unions now protected by 1st Amendment.

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Loopholes

• Super PACs can be a labor union or corporation.
  • soft money
  • independent of candidate
  • 527 goes away but 501 (c4) is still active.

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Which current court case made it easier for Super PACs to make an impact on elections? Citizens United v. FEC.

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The government organization who is responsible for regulating campaign finances is known as Federal Election Campaign (FEC).

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Main purpose of PACs is to get money directly and indirectly to candidates they agree with.

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