American Government Ch 10 Interest Groups and Lobbying

How do interest groups lobby the judicial branch?

- 1st they lobby the executive branch about judicial appointments the president makes, and then lobby the Senate to confirm these appointments. - 2nd they often file amicus curiae (friend of the court) briefs, presenting an argument in favor of a particular issue. Sometimes interest groups file lawsuits against the government or other parties.

What are some barriers to participation?

- They may work two jobs to make ends meet and lack the free time necessary to participate in politics. - It might be costly and paying dues may be a hardship. - are unable to hire expensive lobbying firms to represent them - voter identification laws disproportionately affect people with low socioeconomic status - may also have low levels of efficacy, making them less likely to participate in politics, including voting and joining interest groups.

Why don't lower-income groups participate more in the interest group system?

- They may work two jobs to make ends meet and lack the free time necessary to participate in politics. - It might be costly and paying dues may be a hardship. - are unable to hire expensive lobbying firms to represent them - voter identification laws disproportionately affect people with low socioeconomic status - may also have low levels of efficacy, making them less likely to participate in politics, including voting and joining interest groups.

collective goods

A good such as public safety or clean air, often produced by government, that is generally available to the population as a whole.

issue network

A group of interest groups and people who work together to support a particular issue or policy.

iron triangle

A hypothetical arrangement among 3 elements (the corners of the triangle): an interest group, a congressional committee member or chair, and an agency within the bureaucracy. Each element has a symbiotic relationship with the other two, and it is difficult for those outside the triangle to break into it.

legislative liaison

A person employed by a governmental entity such as a local government, executive department, or university to represent the organization before the legislature.

pluralist

A person who believes many groups healthily compete for access to decision-makers; with people naturally joining groups there will be a great deal of competition for access to decision-makers.

Lobbyist

A person who represents an organization before government in an attempt to influence policy, and are required to register with the government in which he or she lobbies, whether state or federal

neopluralist

A person who suggests that all groups' access and influence depend on the political environment: such as public opinion, political culture, competition for access, and the relevance of the issue.

grassroots movement

A political movement that often begins from the bottom up(local level), inspired by average citizens concerned about a given issue.

astroturf movement

A political movement that resembles a grassroots movement but is often supported or facilitated by wealthy interests and/or elites. EX: Tea Party, which is supported by the Freedom Works political action committee (PAC) is an offshoot of the interest group Citizens for a Sound Economy, which was founded by billionaire industrialists David H. and Charles G. Koch in 1984

Solidary incentives

Benefits based on the concept that people like to associate with those who are similar to them.

material incentives

Benefits that have a monetary value, including money, gifts, services, or discounts received as a result of one's membership in an organization.

Citizens United

Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission was a 2010 Supreme Court case that granted corporations and unions the right to spend unlimited amounts of money on elections.

association

Groups of companies or institutions that organize around a common set of concerns, often within a given industry or trade. EX: The American Beverage Association which includes Coca-Cola, Red Bull North America, ROCKSTAR, and Kraft Foods.

contract lobbyist

Individuals who work for firms that represent a multitude of clients and are often hired because of their resources and their ability to contact and lobby lawmakers.

Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995

Law that requires the registration of lobbyists representing any interest group and devoting more than 20% of their time to it. - Clients and lobbying firms must also register with the federal government based on similar requirements, and campaign finance laws require disclosure of campaign contributions given to political candidates by organizations

soft money

Loophole in which interests could spend money on behalf of candidates without being restricted by federal law.

purposive incentives

Motivation to join an interest group based on the belief in the group's cause from an ideological or a moral standpoint.

What are some ways to overcome collective action problems?

Offer incentives to induce activity among individuals; such as material, solidary or purposive.

Why do some groups have an easier time overcoming collective action problems?

Some groups obtain financial support from patrons outside the group, and with those financial resources have an advantage in mobilizing, can offer incentives or hire a lobbyist. Smaller groups have the advantage of being well-organized, b/c opinions within smaller groups may be more similar, making it easier to reach consensus. It is also more difficult for members to free ride in a smaller group.

voting cues

Sources—including fellow lawmakers, constituents, and interest groups—that lawmakers often use to help them decide how to vote, especially on unfamiliar issues.

elite critique

Suggests that certain interests, typically businesses and the wealthy, are advantaged (over those without resources) and that policies more often reflect their wishes than anyone else's.

inside lobbyist

The act of contacting and taking the organization's message directly to lawmakers in an attempt to influence policy. Tactics include testifying in legislative hearings and helping to draft legislation.

outside lobbyist

The act of lobbying indirectly by taking the organization's message to the public, often through the use of the media and/or by issue press releases, in hopes that the public will then put pressure on lawmakers.

efficacy

The conviction that you can make a difference or that government cares about you and your views.

How might disclosure requirements affect lobbying?

The idea is that they will refrain from suspicious & corrupt activity, b/c lawmakers will have to think twice about accepting money from controversial donors, and the "cooling off" period will restrict former lawmakers from using their connections in government to give them an advantage when lobbying.

free rider problem

The situation that occurs when some individuals receive benefits (get a free ride) without helping to bear the cost.

What does group participation provide to citizens?

They can interact with others with similar views. They can become civically engaged by becoming more connected to their communities, they can participate in protests and letter-writing campaigns, and they can inform others about the issues.

How do interest groups and their lobbyists decide which lawmakers to lobby? And where do they do so?

They target lawmakers, members of relevant committees, and members of the conference committees who will support them, and will consider introducing or sponsoring their legislation They either meet with them directly or target lawmakers when legislation is on the floor of the House and/or Senate.

particularized benifit

a benefit that favor either a single interest or a narrow set of interests. EX: corporations and political institutions may lobby government that benefit individual companies or an industry more generally.

What is a difference between a PAC and a super PAC?

a. PACs can contribute directly to candidates, but super PACs cannot.

Someone who lobbies on behalf of a company that he or she works for as part of his or her job is ________.

a. an in-house lobbyist

Which of the following is the best example of a solidary benefit?

a. joining a group to be with others like you

Revolving door laws are designed to do which of the following?

a. prevent lawmakers from utilizing their legislative relationships by becoming lobbyists immediately after leaving office

in-house lobbyist

an employee or executive within an organization who works as a lobbyist on behalf of the organization

public interest group

an interest group that attempts to promote public, or collective goods.

Membership Organization

an interest group that usually consists of dues-paying members who organize around a particular cause or issue. EX: the NRA

What type of incentives appeal to someone's concern about a cause?

b. purposive incentives

Which of the following is true of spending in politics?

c. The Supreme Court has opposed restrictions on spending on politics.

Which of the following is an aspect of iron triangles?

c. a symbiotic relationship among Congressional committees, executive agencies, and interest groups

How are collective goods different from private goods?

d. Collective goods offer broadly distributed benefits, while private goods offer particularized benefits.

Why might several competing corporations join together in an association?

d. all the above --------------- a. because there is often strength in numbers b. because they often have common issues that may affect an entire industry c. because they can all benefit from governmental policies

What changes have occurred in the lobbying environment over the past three or four decades?

d. all the above ------------------- a. There is more professional lobbying. b. Many interests lobby both the national government and the states. c. A fragmentation of interests has taken place.

In what ways are lobbyists regulated?

d. all the above -------------------- a. Certain activities are prohibited. b. Contributions must be disclosed. c. Lobbying is prohibited immediately after leaving office.

revolving door laws

prevent lawmakers from lobbying government immediately after leaving public office.

Fragmentation

the result when a large interest group develops diverging needs.

disturbance theory

the theory that an external event (political, economic, or social environment) can lead to interest group mobilization.