AP US Government Chapter 11: Interest Groups (Unit 6)

Purposive Incentives

A benefit that comes from serving a cause or principle. The individuals who do join will have to be those who feel passionately about the goal, who have a strong sense of duty, or for whom the cost of joining is so small that they are indifferent to joining or not.

Political Action Committee (PAC)

A committee set up by a corporation, labor union, or interest group that raises and spends campaign money from voluntary donations.

Institutional Interests

Individuals or organizations representing other organizations. For example General Motors had representatives in Washington, and now it is not uncommon for even medium sized corporations to have one or more full time representatives plus part-time lawyers or public relations consultants working for them in Washington.

Membership Interests

Organizations supported by the activities and contributions of individual citizens.

Ideological Interest Groups

Political organizations that attract members by appealing to their political convictions or principles.

Incentive

Something of value one cannot get without joining an organization. These are needed because free riders who may contribute nothing to an organization reap benefits.

Insider strategy

Strategy of lobbyists that work closely with a few key members of Congress, meeting them privately to exchange information and favors.

Solidary Incentives

The social rewards (sense of pleasure, status, or companionship) that lead people to join political organizations.

How and when do interest groups start?

(1) Broad economic developments that create new interests and redefine old ones. Growth of mass production and factories led to bad working conditions. (2) Changes in government policy. Wars create veterans who demand benefits. (3) Political organizations do not emerge automatically, even when government policy permits them and social circumstances seem to require them. Someone must exercise leadership, often at substantial personal cost. Anti-Slavery organizations were only created until the 1830's and 1930's. (4) The more the government does, the more interest groups that arise. After 9/11 the USA enacted the Patriot Act and many private corporations worked with the Dept. of Homeland Security.

Regulation of Interest Groups

-Political Action Committees (PACs) of interest groups to support endorsed candidates are subject to campaign finance laws and regulation by the Federal Election Committee (FEC). -Laws require lobbyists to register and disclose information about their activities and funding. -Very few regulations placed on interest groups to protect freedom of speech and assembly -Citizens United case has loosened rules regarding independent expenditures by interest groups during campaigns and elections.

Solicitation for Donations: Direct Mail & Electronic

A method of raising money for a political cause or candidate, in which information and requests for money are sent to people whose names appear on lists of those who have supported similar views or candidates in the past.

Lobbyist

A person who tries to influence legislation on behalf of an interest group. They give government people a lot of money. In 2009 $3.5 billion was spent in lobbying.

Public Interest Lobby

A political organization whose goals will principally benefit non members.

Earmark

A provision in a law that provides a direct benefit to a client without the benefit having been reviewed on the merits by all of Congress. It started when colleges started pushing for earmarks to fund their pet projects.

Political Cue

A signal telling a legislator what values are at stake in a vote, and how that issue fits into his or her own political views on party agenda.

Revolving Door

A term describing the movement of individuals from government positions to jobs with interest groups or lobbying firms, and vice versa.

Outsider strategy

Aimed at changing public opinion strategy involves media advertising designed to educate the public or letter writing phone and fax campaigns designed to impress public officials.

Citizens United v. FEC (2010)

Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, 558 U.S. 310 (2010), is a US constitutional law case, in which the United States Supreme Court held that the First Amendment prohibits the government from restricting political independent expenditures by corporations, associations, or labor unions. In a 5-4 decision, the Court held that portions of BCRA violated the First Amendment.

Interest Groups

An organization of people sharing a common interest or goal that seeks to influence public policy. The number of interest groups has spiked since 1960, along with the number of interest groups that have lobbyists. What they do: Provide information Build grassroots support for issues Donate money to candidates through PACs

Ratings

Assessments of a representative's voting record on issues important to an interest group.

Federal Grants and Contracts

Federal government doesn't support lobbying but does support projects that interest groups may be doing and that ultimately helps support the group

Foundation Grants

Funds established usually by prominent families or corporations for philanthropy. Ford Foundation contributes to liberal public interest groups.

Grassroots Lobbying

Methods of gaining support that involve local politics. Designed to generate public pressure directly on government officials.

Material Incentives

Money or things values in monetary terms. For example the Illinois Farm Bureau offers discounts to its members on farming supplies, markets their products, and gives them low cost insurance.

Proliferation of Interest Groups

US has more interest groups than other democracies: diversity of interests in American society. From the 1960s onwards, explosion of interest groups due to social movements, etc. There is a wider base of values and ideas due to the ever increasing, diverse population.

Problem of Bias

Upper class bias, rich people are likely to be active.