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Interest Groups AP Government Unit 5

Interest Groups AP Government Unit 5. What is an Interest Group??. Interest groups are organizations that seek a collective good, and which will not selectively or materially benefit the members.

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Interest Groups AP Government Unit 5

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  1. Interest Groups AP GovernmentUnit 5

  2. What is an Interest Group?? • Interest groupsare organizations that seek a collective good, and which will not selectively or materially benefit the members. • “An interest group is an organization made up of people who share common objectives and who actively attempt to influence government policymakers through direct and indirect methods.” • “Interest Group is an organization of people with similar policy goals that tries to influence the political process to try to achieve those goals.”

  3. What SHOULD Interest Groups do?: • Promote interest in public affairs • Provide useful information • Serve as watchdogs • Represent the interest of Citizens

  4. What do Interest Groups do? • Try to influence public policy • Lobbyists try and persuade public officials to believe a specific view • Every branch and every level of government is affected by interest groups

  5. Interest Groups have been criticized for… • Ignoring the wider interest of society • Producing confusion and deadlock in Congress • Generating so much emotion that they make reasoned discussion difficult • Having too much influence

  6. Political Parties vs. Interest Groups • Political Parties • Nominate candidates • Want to win elections • Concerned with many issues • Interest Groups • Don’t nominate • Want to influence policies • Concerned with one issue

  7. Lobbyists • A Lobbyist is someone whose task it is to influence legislation or policymaking • Generally works for an interest group • Lobbyists are hired by: • Businesses • Trade associations • Colleges or universities • Foreign countries • Anyone else wanting their voice heard on policy matters (Health issues, parent issues…)

  8. What Lobbyists SHOULD Do • A lobbyist must be honest and truthful if he or she wants to remain effective. • Access to lawmakers is critical and if a lobbyist gets a reputation of being untruthful or disingenuous legislators doors will close. • Good lobbyists will also make lawmakers aware of the downsides of a bill and the arguments on the other side as well. • And I have some swamp land in Florida for sale for a GREAT price!! 

  9. The Development of American Interest Groups • Interest groups have been part of the American political landscape since the country’s founding. • The open nature of the American government invites organized political participation. • James Madison in Federalist #10argued that no one group should get control over other groups.

  10. The Roots and Development of American Interest Groups • National Groups Emerge (1830-89) • The beginnings of lobbying and interest groups • Anti-Slavery groups • Temperance Groups • The Grange • The Progressive Era (1890-1920) • Important groups created • Organized Labor • The American Federation of Labor (AFL) (1886) • Business and Trade Associations • The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) (1895)

  11. The Roots and Development of American Interest Groups • The Rise of the Interest Group State (1960-1970) • A new sense of progressivism • ACLU, Common Cause, NAACP • Religious and Ideological Groups • Christian Coalition, Moral Majority • Business Groups, Trade and Professional Associations • Chamber of Commerce, Business Roundtable • Organized Labor • AFL-CIO • Teamsters

  12. Why People Join Interest Groups • Solidary Incentives • For the social contacts • League of Women Voters, NAACP, PTSA, American Legion • Material Incentives • For economic reasons • AARP, Farmers Groups, Labor Unions • Purposive Incentives • For moral causes / crusades • Right to-Life, Pro-Choice, Greenpeace

  13. Who Joins Interest Groups? • Upper class interest groups- Big Business • More affluent join and are active • White collar workers • Professional groups • Working class interest groups- Big Labor • Labor unions have been very powerful in past • The AFL-CIO broke up in 2004, cutting big labor’s power

  14. Important Interest Groups to Know • Emily’s List- Early money is like yeast – makes the Dough rise (Democratic women) • AARP- American Association of Retired persons • NRA- National Rifle Association • ACLU- American Civil Liberties Union • NAACP- National Association for the Advancement of Colored People • Sierra Club- Environmental advocate group • AFL-CIO- American Federation of Labor

  15. Sites for Research California State University @ Chico http://www.csuchico.edu/~kfountain/ About.com http://usgovinfo.about.com/blorgs.htm

  16. Economic Interest Groups • Most interest groups are based oneconomics • Businesses(create favorable environment for business to prosper) • Agriculture (work for price supports from gov’t, but also limit gov’t influence) • Labor (Call public attention to the legitimate needs of working people. Accomplishments …eight-hour work day …child labor laws …minimum wage laws ...workplace health & safety laws) • Professional (protect and advance their professional field -- to do this, they...publish journals…give awards for excellence ...communicate their opinions to gov’t officials)

  17. Other Types of Interest Groups • Cause-based • (National Wildlife Federation, League of Women Voters, National Rifle Association, MADD, Emily’s List) • Concerned with the welfare of people • (AARP – senior citizens, NAACP – African Americans) • Religious Organizations • (Christian Coalition, American Jewish Congress)

  18. Interest Group Techniques Direct Techniques: • Lobby at Capitol Hill • Have private meetings • Meet at social occasions • Testify at hearings • Drafting legislation • Providing political info • Supply nomination suggestions Indirect Techniques: • Generating Public Pressure • Use public pressure on “hot button” issues • Use constituents to call lawmakers • Build alliances with other groups

  19. What Makes an Interest Group Successful? • Leaders – having a prominent leader aids in the reputation of the group and enhances a group's ability to attain its goals. • Patrons and Funding– funding is critical. Without money, it is hard to get your message out. • Members – a group must have members to be successful. Organizing members allows for strength in numbers and pooling of financial support.

  20. Where does ALL the $$ Come From in Interest Groups?? • Member dues • Federal grants • Direct mail appeals for cash • Internet sites • Dinners and fundraisers

  21. Regulating Lobbyists • 1946 • Federal Regulation of Lobbying Act • Lobbyists must register and file reports • 1878 • Ethics in Government Act • Officials must disclose finances and employment after leaving government service • 1995 • The Lobbying Disclosure Act • Must Register and Report clients • Estimate how much they are paid FYI- Approximately 4 Million Dollars were spend lobbying EACH member of Congress in 2005!

  22. Jack Abramoff Scandal • “Super-Lobbyist” Abramoff plead guilty to corruption charges in 2006 • Abramoff pleaded guilty to defrauding the Native American tribes that were his clients, to tax evasion and to conspiring to bribe public officials • He illegally gave gifts and made campaign donations to legislators in return for votes or support of legislation • Several federal officials were also accused and found guilty in the scandal

  23. Political Action Committees • A popular term for a political committee organized for the purpose of raising and spending money to elect and defeat candidates. • Most PACS represent business, labor or ideological interests. • PACS are the so-called “political arms” of interest groups • The “revolving door” • PACS hire former members of Congress to lobby their old friends, committees, etc… • This is legal but …Is this Ethical???

  24. Money from PACS • PACs may receive up to $5,000 from any one individual, PAC or party committee per calendar year. • PACs can give$5,000 to a candidate committee per election (primary, general or special). • They can also give up to $15,000 annually to any national party committee, and $5,000 annually to any other PAC. • PACS support candidates with campaign money • ½ sponsored by corporations; 1/10 by unions • 1/3 liberal and 2/3 conservative (2001) • Incumbents get the most PAC money!!

  25. Money Limits • Individuals can give up to $2400 to a candidate but PACS can give $5,000 to a candidate • Federal money will match presidential campaign money but…. • Parties need at least 5% of vote in previous year for presidential candidate to receive funds • If that doesn’t happen you need PAC’s!!!

  26. Read Chapter 16!!!

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