Interest Groups and Parties

1
Interest Groups and Parties

• Interest Groups
• Lobbying (2)
• Political Science 420
• Mark Stephan

2
Last class, this one

• Lobbying
• Lobbying in D.C. lobbying the Branches of
  Government

3
Congress

• Where does the focus go in Congress?
• Building relationships
• Congressional hearings
• Personal contacts with politicians
• Role for research?
• Constituencies, interest groups, and
  representation

4
The Executive Branch

• Administrative rule-making
• Influencing civil servants?
• Technocrats..
• Getting stalled..
• Facts and politics which wins?
• Influencing the White House?
• Sign of power? Maybe

5
The Courts

• Lobbying the courts?
• Litigation
• Impact of interest groups
• Standing
• Amicus Curiae briefs
• Appointments and interest groups (and recent
  history)

6
News Flash!!!!!

• 9/11 panel and the political parties
• Governor Locke on campus yesterday why? Of
  interest to interest groups?

7
Being Strategic

• Whats the issue under consideration?
• Whos considering it?
• Changes in the political environment short term
  and long term
• What are we good at?
• Who do we know and whats the nature of the
  connection?

8
Preview of Next Class

• Guest speaker on Thursday
• Look for my email
• Groups to compare Gifford Pinochet Task Force,
  Sierra Club, Greenpeace, Environmental Defense,
  Defenders of Wildlife, Earth Liberation Front,
  Natural Resources Defense Council, Audubon Society