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The Influence of Campaign Contributions on Congressional Decision-Making

This piece examines the complex interplay between interest groups, campaign contributions, and the voting behavior of members of Congress. It raises pertinent questions about causation and the factors that influence legislative decisions—including constituents, fellow legislators, the president, and party loyalty. We explore the effectiveness of lobbying and public engagement by interest groups and analyze how contributions may shape decisions on various issues. The findings suggest that while PAC contributions may not directly buy votes, they significantly affect committee activities and influence low-profile legislative outcomes.

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The Influence of Campaign Contributions on Congressional Decision-Making

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Presentation Transcript

  1. Influence

  2. Freewrite Do trailer parks cause tornadoes? Why or why not? Why would somebody ask that? Why do I ask? • Don’t forget to turn this in for participation credit!

  3. Tornados and trailer parks

  4. The problem of “buying votes” • Interest groups do give • To members on committees important to their policy area • More money right before an important vote • Members do vote with the groups that give them money • Problem of simultaneous causation

  5. Which is cause and which is effect?

  6. When members of Congress decide how to cast a vote, what do they consider?

  7. How do members of Congress make decisions?

  8. How do MC’s make decisions? • Fellow members • Constituents • Interest Groups • President • Party • Staff

  9. Complexity of Interest Group influence Campaign Contributions & lobbying Constituents Going public Member of Congress Interest Group Party loyalty Campaign contributions/ revolving door Other members

  10. Interest groups and the public • Get own members to write to/visit member of Congress • Particularly MC’s own constituents! • Lobby the public • Get journalists to cover group’s issue/research/demonstrations • Run TV ads about upcoming vote • Take part in the culture war

  11. Complexity of Interest Group influence Campaign Contributions & lobbying Constituents Going public Member of Congress Interest Group Party loyalty Campaign contributions/ revolving door Other members

  12. Methodological issues • Of course they’d say that. • Is there a mechanism? • How to take all factors into account? • “Statistics”!

  13. Research conclusions • PAC contributions don’t buy votes on issues that constituents are aware of, or party cares about • PAC Contributions may influence… • committee votes on amendments • level of member activity • tax and regulatory bills (low profile) more than spending bills

  14. How could we prove that campaign contributions/access/lobbying affects congressional outcomes?

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