GROUPS AND INTERESTS
(INTEREST GROUPS?)
INTEREST GROUPS
Interest group- an organized
group of individuals or
organizations that makes policy
related appeals to the government.
 Interest groups = lobby
 People who work on their behalf =
lobbyists
 Political Action Committee
(PAC) — A popular term for a
political committee organized for
the purpose of raising and spending
money to elect and defeat
candidates.

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PACS
AND INTEREST GROUPS?

Difference between interest
groups and PACs






PACs focus on winning
elections
Interest groups focus on
influencing elected officials
PAC focus on personnel of
government
Interest groups focus on the
policies of government
http://www.opensecrets.org/p
acs/toppacs.php
http://www.opensecrets.org/i
ndustries/
SUPER PACS

FEC: Federal Election Commission





http://restoreourfuture.com/
http://www.prioritiesusaaction.org/
Administers the campaign finance laws and enforces
compliance with their requirements
Super PAC: A PAC to which corporations, unions, and
other organizations can donate. Can take in and give out
unlimited amounts of money.
Did not exist prior to Citizens United v. FEC
Citizens United decision, in which the Supreme Court
ruled that corporations must be treated as individuals in
terms of having "protected speech", including the right to
spend money on political causes.
SpeechNow.org v. FEC, a D.C. Circuit Court decision
holding that contribution limits could not apply to
political committees that do not make direct
contributions to or coordinate their activities with federal
candidates.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cet3NcNNSc4
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UOGKO7tM
34
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qulpucVacM8
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSLGt0-bHIA

PUT IT ALL TOGETHER
What
can a SuperPac
do in America today and
what can it not do?
HACK
Do you think that private
organizations should be
allowed to spend as much as
they want to try and get
someone elected or not
elected? Why or why not?
WHY DO WE HAVE THEM?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Help organize and represent
people’s interests in
government
Become a knowledge shortcut
for voters
Become a knowledge shortcut
for policy makers
Encourage democratic
participation from their
members
Monitor government
programs and report progress
NOT SO BENEFICIAL
Madison warns, “The public good is disregarded
in the conflict of rival (factions), …citizens…who
are united and actuated by some common
impulse of passion, or of interest, adverse to the
rights of other citizens, or to the permanent and
aggregate interests of the community.”
 “Good for all” vs. “Good for me”
 Solution for Madison, “Take in a greater variety
of parties and interest (and) you make it less
probable that a majority of the whole will have a
common motive to invade the rights of other
citizens… (Hence the advantage) enjoyed by a
large over a small republic

HACK
Do you agree with Madison’s
view of how the greater
variety of parties and interests
fixes the problem?
USUALLY ECONOMICALLY FOCUSED
1.
Producer or Manufacturing based

2.
Labor unions

3.
AFL-CIO, United Mine Workers
Professional lobbies

4.
American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity
American Medical Association
Sometimes public good is addressed

Union of Concerned Scientists
NEEDS
Money
Leadership
1.
2.

Revolving Door in Washington

Name for the ability of electoral losers and former
government “big wigs” to be hired into interest groups
as lobbyists or into major corporation
NEEDS CONTINUED
3. Members
Upper-class bias,
 Have money, free time, and education

4. Respond to changes in the political environment
at a moments notice
PROBLEM WITH GROUPS

The Logic of Collective Action
Some groups don’t form or are counter active
 Why?
 Main reason: Someone thinks that someone else will take care of
it.
 Another version of the Free Rider problem

SELECTIVE BENEFITS OF GROUP
MEMBERSHIP
 Informational
benefits-special newsletters,
periodicals, training programs, conferences, and
other information provided to members of groups
to entice others to join.
SELECTIVE BENEFITS OF GROUP
MEMBERSHIP
 Material
benefits- special goods,
services, or money provided to members of
groups to entice them to join.
SELECTIVE BENEFITS OF GROUP
MEMBERSHIP
 Solidary
benefits- selective benefits of
group membership that emphasize
friendship, networking, and
consciousness-raising
SELECTIVE BENEFITS OF GROUP
MEMBERSHIP
 Purposive
benefits- selective benefits of
group membership that emphasize the
purpose and accomplishments of the
group
HOW THEY INFLUENCE

Direct Lobbying- an attempt by a group to influence the
policy process through persuasion of government officials

7,000 groups are registered to lobby congress.
Provide information to busy elected officials
 Most retain good relationships with both parties, others have
better relationships with one
 Regulations

Lobbying is no longer a tax write off for businesses
 Trade associations must report the proportion of their dues which
go to lobbying
 Gifts limited to $50 and no more than 100$ a year

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTbtKRdYbY
o
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WizxbDRJ1p
Y

Think, Pair, Share- Is direct lobbying a good thing? Is there a way to make it better
or “fix” it?
COURTS
Use the courts to win policy
arguments
 ACLU does this very often
 Affect public policy in 3 ways

1.
2.
3.
By bringing suit directly on
behalf of the group
By financing suits brought by
individuals
By filing a companion brief as
amicus curiae to an existing
court case.
MOBILIZING PUBLIC OPINION
Interest groups appeal to the public to
pressure government
 Going Public- the act of launching a
media campaign to build popular
support.
 Using advertisements and media
outlets to reach the public and urge
them to act.
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3yH
a8brzNA

USING ELECTORAL POLITICS
Watergate scandal- Nixon’s campaign received
millions from corporate executives.
 Individual contributions are now limited to $2600
to any candidate for federal election.
 A (regular) Political Action Committee can
contribute $5000 as long as it contributes to at
least 4 different federal candidates each year.
 http://www.fec.gov/pages/brochures/contriblimits.
shtml

INITIATIVES
Many Interest Groups
support initiatives in states to
by-pass local government and
get their issue directly on the
ballot.
 Initiatives were originally
designed in the late 19th
century as a reform to allow
the people to govern directly.


Ironically, it was originally
seen as a way to limit interest
group’s influence on the
legislative process.
http://www.youtube.c
om/watch?v=s87O7J
m8VH8
EXIT PASS
Write your name
 Write how you felt about your understanding
 Write one thing you learned about interest
groups.
 Answer these questions

1.
2.
3.
4.
Name one kind of benefit that interest groups
provide members
What is it called when interest groups try and
inform citizens about an issue?
Name one interest group
Explain how interest groups use the courts