Chapter 7 Interest Groups and Political Parties
Chapter 7 Interest Groups and Political Parties
Defining Interest Groups and Political parties What is an Interest Group? an organized group of individuals who share common goals or objectives who attempt to influence policymakers in all three branches of government, and at all levels What is a political party? a group of activists who organize to win elections, to operate the government and to determine public policy
Defining Interest Groups and Political Parties What is an Interest Group? • an organized group of individuals • who share common goals or objectives • who attempt to influence policymakers in all three branches of government, and at all levels What is a political party? • a group of activists who organize to win elections, to operate the government and to determine public policy
Types of Interest Groups Economic Interest Groups -groups formed to promote economic interests Business Interest Groups- business and trade organizations that attempt to influence government policy to their benefit Agricultural Interest Groups- advocate for farm interests enjoy disproportionate influence Labor Interest Groups- groups that represent the working class Interests Public Employee Unions -interest groups that represent employees of governments, including the American Federation of State County, and Municipal Employees(AFSCME)and teachers Interest Groups of Professionals-interest groups that advocate for professional associations, like the American Bar Association and the American medical association
Types of Interest Groups Economic Interest Groups – groups formed to promote economic interests • Business Interest Groups – business and trade organizations that attempt to influence government policy to their benefit • Agricultural Interest Groups- advocate for farm interests • enjoy disproportionate influence • Labor Interest Groups – groups that represent the working class interests • Public Employee Unions – interest groups that represent employees of governments, including the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) and teachers • Interest Groups of Professionals – interest groups that advocate for professional associations, like the American Bar Association and the American Medical Association
Types of Interest Groups(cont o Environmental Interests-groups that advocate for pro-environmental policies, including the Sierra Club, the National Audubon Society and the Nature Conservancy Public Interest Groups-groups that advocate the interests of the collective. overall community o Single Interest Groups -narrowly focused interest groups ● Foreign Governments
Types of Interest Groups (cont.) • Environmental Interests – groups that advocate for pro-environmental policies, including the Sierra Club, the National Audubon Society and the Nature Conservancy • Public Interest Groups – groups that advocate the interests of the collective, overall community • Single Interest Groups – narrowly focused interest groups • Foreign Governments
Interest Group Strategies Direct Techniques Lobbying-meeting officials and attempting to convince of your position on an issue Lobbying also entails Ratings scoring legislators based on their votes in congress, then making interested constituents aware of those scores Campaign Assistance- providing workers for political campaigns
Interest Group Strategies • Direct Techniques – Lobbying - meeting officials and attempting to convince of your position on an issue; Lobbying also entails – Ratings – scoring legislators based on their votes in congress, then making interested constituents aware of those scores – Campaign Assistance – providing workers for political campaigns
Interest Group Strategies (cont ● Indirect Techniques Generating Public pressure - trying to influence the government by using public opinion on an Issue Using Constituents as Lobbyists shotgun approach means having large numbers of constituents act in concert by writing, emailing, phoning or sending postcards to a legislator rifle approach involves having an influential constituent contact a legislator on a particular issue
Interest Group Strategies (cont.) • Indirect Techniques – Generating Public Pressure – trying to influence the government by using public opinion on an issue – Using Constituents as Lobbyists • shotgun approach means having large numbers of constituents act in concert by writing, emailing, phoning or sending postcards to a legislator • rifle approach involves having an influential constituent contact a legislator on a particular issue
PAC Growth 1977 to Present 2000 1800 1600 1400 1200 1000 800 600 400 200 0 1977 1980 19831986 1989 1992 1995 1998 2000 Cooperative Corporate without stock Labor Trade/Membership/Health Nonconnected Corporate SOURCE: Federal Election Commision. 2001
PAC Growth, 1977 to Present 0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800 2000 1977 1980 1983 1986 1989 1992 1995 1998 2000 Cooperative Corporate without stock Labor Trade/Membership/Health Nonconnected Corporate SOURCE: Federal Election Commision, 2001
PAC Contributions to Congressional Candidates, 1986 to 2000 口 Incumbents口 Challengers■ Open Seats S200 S150 S100 S50 SO 1985-1987-1989-1991-1993-1995-1997-1999 19861988199019921994199619982000 SOURCE: Federal Election Commision. 2002
PAC Contributions to Congressional Candidates, 1986 to 2000 $0 $50 $100 $150 $200 1985- 1986 1987- 1988 1989- 1990 1991- 1992 1993- 1994 1995- 1996 1997- 1998 1999- 2000 Incumbents Challengers Open Seats Millions of Dollars SOURCE: Federal Election Commision, 2002
Attempts at Regulating Lobbyists Legislative reorganization Act of 1946 provided for public disclosure failed because it did not have an enforcement mechanism Some regulations on lobbying passed in 1995-96 include defining"lobbyist as anyone who spends 20 percent of his/her time lobbying members of congress, congressional staffs, or executive branch officials requiring lobbyists to register with the Secretary of the House or clerk of the Senate requiring semiannual reports on the nature of lobbying activities
Attempts at Regulating Lobbyists Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 • provided for public disclosure • failed because it did not have an enforcement mechanism Some regulations on lobbying passed in 1995-96 include • defining “lobbyist” as anyone who spends 20 percent of his/her time lobbying members of congress, congressional staffs, or executive branch officials • requiring lobbyists to register with the Secretary of the House or clerk of the Senate • requiring semiannual reports on the nature of lobbying activities
Functions of political parties in the United states Recruiting candidates for public office Organizing and running elections Presenting alternative policies to the electorate Accepting responsibility for operating the government o Acting as the organized opposition to the party in power
Functions of Political Parties in the United States • Recruiting candidates for public office • Organizing and running elections • Presenting alternative policies to the electorate • Accepting responsibility for operating the government • Acting as the organized opposition to the party in power
