Interest Groups

I. Types of Interest Groups
     A. Economic:
        1. Business
            a. regulation of business (anti-trust, monopolies)
            b. Trade Associations
        2. Labor
            a. labor force not heavily unionized (16%)
                1) open shop v. closed shop
                2) shift from industrial to service
           b. oldest unions are farm oriented
           c. AFL-CIO
        3. Professional Associations (AMA, ABA, NEA)
          - try to influence policy favorable to members
    B. Ideological- ACLU, Moral Majority
    C. Public Interest Groups
        1. Common Cause-- electoral reform
        2. PIRGs-- Ralph Nader; promote environment, energy, consumer interests
        3. tax exempt public charity-- 501(c)(3): active in voter education, influencing public opinion;CANNOT participate in elections, support candidates

II. Characteristics & Power of Special Interest Groups
    A. Size and Resources
        1. Size or activity?
        2. Resources differ
        3. “free rider”s:
    B. Cohesiveness
    C. Techniques of Interest Groups
        1. Publicity/ Mass Media: large groups (esp. biz’s) have resources to exploit media.
        2. Mass Mailing:
        3. Litigation:
            a. suing to ensure rights (i.e. NAACP)
            b. amicus curiae briefs to courts (i.e. ACLU)
        4. Influence of Rule Making:
        5. Election Activities: endorse parties/ candidates; donate money to campaigns
            a. target “fringe” candidates
            b. group’s endorsement may be less of a factor (too many cross pressures on members)
        6. Form Political Party:
        7. Cooperative Lobbying:

III. Lobbyists

IV. PACs:
    A. The political arm of associations, interest groups, that is legally entitled to raise funds form members to give to candidates/ parties.
        1. 1996: donated $217.8 million to H&S
        2. PACs greatly influence legislators
    B. Growth
        1. 1970’s: 150; today: 4,000+
        2. Corporations/ trade assocs. most common
    C. How PACs Invest
        1. They...
            a. invest most in influential incumbents
            b. voting record (on the PAC’s issues), access to him/her if elected
        2. Limits (see handout)
    D. Effectiveness
        1. Citizens Against PACs argue too many candidates accept out-of-state PAC money
        2. Can greatly influence small campaigns
        3. Influence incumbents most
        4. “soft money” is unregulated