Special Interest Groups

1
Special Interest Groups

• Lobbying and PACs

2
Lobbying

• Our government is a supportive environment for
  interest groups
• Interests can benefit in having influence over
  federal policies programs
• Lobbying efforts of groups to influence public
  policy through contact with public officials

3
What is a lobbyist?

• They are the primary instruments for fostering a
  special interest groups goals to the policymakers

• Negative publicity govt. officials becoming and
  vice-versa
• Positives specialists to Congress, create
  coalitions, take legal action for group, provide
  official ratings, use the media to exercise
  viewpoint

4
Inside Lobbying

• Direct communication between organized interests
  and policy makers- value of close contacts
• Bribes do survive, but tend to be more subtle
• Many are former members of Congress
• The targets are all branches of government
• IG lobbying is generally most effective on
  narrow, technical issues that are not
  well-publicized

5
Inside Lobbying the 3 branches

• Legislative branch both groups and members of
  Congress can gain, fair play and aboveboard
  approach are best 3rd house of Congress
• Executive agencies Bureaucrats are key targets-
  administrative and policy decisions. Ex.
  Regulatory Agencies!
• The Courts trying to influence selection of
  federal judges, lawsuits, amicus curiae

6
Should their be regulations on lobbying?

• 1946 Federal Regulation of Lobbying Act (too many
  loopholes!)
• Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995
• Tightened up registration and disclosure
  requirements and restrictions
• On gifts and expenses Congress receives

7
Lobbying. Good or Bad?
-

• Provides info to govt.
• Representation by interest
• Linkage mechanism
• 1st amendment right!

• Rich and powerful overrepresented
• National interests sacrificed!

8
What is an Iron Triangle?

• Small and informal, yet STABLE set of
  bureaucrats, legislators, and lobbyists who seek
  to develop policies
• Inside track to legislators and bureaucrats
  (ironclad)

9
Issue Networks

• More common pattern of influence today
• Informal grouping of officials, lobbyists, and
  policy specialists who are brought together
  temporarily by an issue
• Ex participants coming together over the issue
  of forest being opened to logging

10
Outside Lobbying

• A form of lobbying in which an interest group
  seeks to use public pressure as a means of
  influencing public officials
• Making use of constituency connections
• Forms grassroots lobbying (AARP), votes and PAC
  money

11
Political Action Committees

• The organization through which an interest group
  raises and distributes funds for elections
  (candidates)
• Must be voluntary contributions
• The amount of contributions has skyrocketed, but
  downward trend
• Calls for reform (Common Cause) dominated by
  rich, business,
• The FECA passed Mc-Cain-Feingold

12
The biggest contenders

• The Assoc. of Trial Lawyers of America PAC
• International Brotherhood of Elec. Workers
• The American Federation of State County and
  Municipal Employees

13
What has happened to the number of PACs?

• There has been explosive growth
• In 1974 600, today 4100
• Why?
• Legislation intending to prevent a few wealthy
  from buying elections
• This opened up contributions to the masses
  (represented by PACs)

14
Discussion Why might business PACs be so
numerous? What is the effect?
15
Legislation effects

• FECA of 1974 and ex. Of this type of legislation
• Currently, 5000 limit per candidate w/NO overall
  cap!
• PACs can contribute much more than indiv.
• More of their money goes to Congressional than
  presidential funds

16
PAC funds between the two What obstacles to
challengers face?