Government Chapter 10: Interest Groups and Lobbying
7. What is a membership organization?
individuals join voluntarily and to which they usually pay dues. Membership groups often consist of people who have common issues or concerns, or who want to be with others who share their views. The National Rifle Association (NRA) is a membership group consisting of members who promote gun rights (
11. What is inside lobbying?
inside lobbying or direct lobbying, which takes the interest group's message directly to a government official such as a lawmaker.11
16. What functions do interest groups perform for the political system?
interest groups also monitor government activity, serve as a means of political participation for members, and provide information to the public and to lawmakers.
57. What was the purpose of the Federal Election Campaign Act?
setting limits on how much presidential and vice-presidential candidates and their families could donate to their own campaigns.65 The law also allowed corporations and unions to form PACs and required public disclosure of campaign contributions and their sources.
42. What are issue networks?
Hugh Heclo of George Mason University has sketched a more open pattern he calls an issue network that includes a number of different interests and political actors that work together in support of a single issue or policy.
17. What issues are important to the NAACP and the AARP?
(NAACP) will keep track of proposed voter-identification bills in state legislatures that might have an effect on voting rights. AARP (formerly the American Association of Retired Persons) has approximately thirty-seven million members and advocates for individuals fifty and over on a variety of issues including health care, insurance, employment, financial security, and consumer protection
45. What are political action committees (PACs)?
(PACs), groups that collect funds from donors and distribute them to candidates who support their issues.
56. Do interest groups have a constitutional right to lobby government on behalf of their cause?
?? The 1995 Lobbying Disclosure Act defined who can and cannot lobby, and requires lobbyists and interest groups to register with the federal government.
4. What are examples of groups closely aligned with the Republican Party?
American Conservative Union, Citizens United, the National Rifle Association, and National Right to Life
5. What are examples of groups closely aligned with the Democratic Party?
Americans for Democratic Action, Moveon.org, and the Democratic Governors Association
49. What is the significance of Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission?
As a result of a 2010 Supreme Court decision, Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, there is no limit to how much money unions or corporations can donate to super PACs.
39. How do pluralist scholars assess the role of interest groups?
David Truman suggest that people naturally join groups and that there will be a great deal of competition for access to decision-makers.42 Scholars who subscribe to this pluralist view assume this competition among diverse interests is good for democracy. Political theorist Robert Dahl argued that "all active and legitimate groups had the potential to make themselves heard."43 In many ways, this is an optimistic assessment of representation in the United States.
2. How did Madison propose to control factions?
to let them flourish and compete against each other.
1. Did James Madison believe factions were good or bad?
Madison believed limiting these factions was worse than facing the evils they might produce, because such limitations would violate individual freedoms.
47. What is a Super PAC?
PACs through which corporations and unions can spend virtually unlimited amounts of money on behalf of political candidates
29. What is a grassroots movement?
Some interest groups develop as grassroots movements, which often begin from the bottom up among a small number of people at the local level. Interest groups can amplify the voices of such individuals through proper organization and allow them to participate in ways that would be less effective or even impossible alone or in small numbers.
35. What is interest group specialization?
different interests represent the more specialized needs of different specialties
9. What is a legislative lobbyist?
government affairs person to represent its interests before the legislature.
48. What is the maximum amount of money a Super PAC can contribute to a candidate?
super PACs cannot contribute money directly to individual candidates.
14. What tactics do outside lobbyists use?
tactics include issuing press releases, placing stories and articles in the media, entering coalitions with other groups, and contacting interest group members, hoping that they will individually pressure lawmakers to support or oppose legislation.
21. With what concept is Mancur Olson most closely associated?
In his classic work, The Logic of Collective Action, economist Mancur Olson discussed the conditions under which collective actions problems would exist, and he noted that they were prevalent among organized interests.
34. Why has the number of interest groups increased?
In some cases, it simply reflects new interests in society. Forty years ago, stem cell research was not an issue on the government agenda, but as science and technology advanced, its techniques and possibilities became known to the media and the public, and a number of interests began lobbying for and against this type of research...................The devolution of power also explains some of the increase in the number and type of interests, at least at the state level. As power and responsibility shifted to state governments in the 1980s, the states began to handle responsibilities that had been under the jurisdiction of the federal government. ............................................We have also seen increased specialization by some interests and even fragmentation of existing interests. ......................................................The size of the economy has a bearing on the number of interests, but only up to a certain point, after which the number increases at a declining rate. ........................................................Over the last few decades, we have also witnessed an increase in professionalization in lobbying and in the sophistication of lobbying techniques. ....................................................there has been an increase in the number of contract lobbying firms.
12. What tactics do inside lobbyists use?
Inside lobbying tactics include testifying in legislative hearings and helping to draft legislation. nearly all report that they contact lawmakers, testify before the legislature, help draft legislation, and contact executive agencies.
51. Do interest groups target all members of Congress or just some?
Interest groups likely cannot target all 535 lawmakers in both the House and the Senate, nor would they wish to do so.
55. How do groups lobby the judicial branch?
Lobbying the judiciary takes two forms, Interest groups may lobby the executive branch about judicial appointments the president makes and lobbying the Senate to confirm these appointments. The second form of lobbying consists of filing amicus briefs, which are also known as "friend of the court" briefs. These documents present legal arguments stating why a given court should take a case and/or why a court should rule a certain way.
15. What issues are important to the NRA, NARAL Pro-Choice America, Sierra Club, and National Right to Life?
National Right to Life, an anti-abortion interest group, lobbies to encourage government to enact laws that restrict abortion access, while NARAL Pro-Choice America lobbies to promote the right of women to have safe choices about abortion. Environmental interests like the Sierra Club lobby for laws designed to protect natural resources and minimize the use of pollutants. NRA- encourage protecting the 2nd amendment - the right to purchase and carry guns
22. What is the problem of collective action?
People tend not to act when the perceived benefit is insufficient to justify the costs associated with engaging in the action. Many citizens may have concerns about the appropriate level of taxation, gun control, or environmental protection, but these concerns are not necessarily strong enough for them to become politically active. In fact, most people take no action on most issues, either because they do not feel strongly enough or because their action will likely have little bearing on whether a given policy is adopted.
18. What are particularized benefits?
Private interests usually seek particularized benefits from government that favor either a single interest or a narrow set of interests.
62. How is lobbying regulated?
The 1995 Lobbying Disclosure Act defined who can and cannot lobby, and requires lobbyists and interest groups to register with the federal government. The Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007 further increased restrictions on lobbying. For example, the act prohibited contact between members of Congress and lobbyists who were the spouses of other Congress members. Second, the federal and state governments prohibit certain activities like providing gifts to lawmakers and compensating lobbyists with commissions for successful lobbying. Third, governments require varying levels of disclosure about the amount of money spent on lobbying efforts. Finally, there are penalties for violating the law. Lobbyists and, in some cases, government officials can be fined, banned from lobbying, or even sentenced to prison.
41. What are iron triangles?
The iron triangle is a hypothetical arrangement among three elements (the corners of the triangle): an interest group, a congressional committee member or chair, and an agency within the bureaucracy.49 Each element has a symbiotic relationship with the other two, and it is difficult for those outside the triangle to break into it. The congressional committee members, including the chair, rely on the interest group for campaign contributions and policy information, while the interest group needs the committee to consider laws favorable to its view. The interest group and the committee need the agency to implement the law, while the agency needs the interest group for information and the committee for funding and autonomy in implementing the law.
64. What is the purpose of disclosure laws?
The logic here is that lawmakers will think twice about accepting money from controversial donors. The other advantage to disclosure requirements is that they promote transparency.
33. How have interest groups changed over the last three or four decades?
The most significant change is the tremendous increase in both the number and type of groups.
24. How do groups overcome the free rider problem?
They can sometimes maintain themselves by obtaining financial support from patrons outside the group. Groups with financial resources have an advantage in mobilizing in that they can offer incentives or hire a lobbyist. Smaller, well-organized groups also have an advantage. For one thing, 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. ...................................................................Group leaders also play an important role in overcoming collective action problems. For instance, political scientist Robert Salisbury suggests that group leaders will offer incentives to induce activity among individuals.
60. What was the purpose of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act?
To close the soft money loophole, Senators John McCain and Russell Feingold sponsored the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act in 2002 to ban parties from collecting and distributing unregulated money.
30. What is an astroturf movement?
a political movement that resembles a grassroots movement but is often supported or facilitated by wealthy interests and/or elites (TEA Party is an example)
32. What was the significance of the riots at the Stonewall Inn in New York City?
also raised awareness of the struggles faced by members of the gay and lesbian community.
20. What are collective goods?
collective goods are benefits—tangible or intangible—that help most or all citizens. These goods are often produced collectively, and because they may not be profitable and everyone may not agree on what public goods are best for society, they are often underfunded and thus will be underproduced unless there is government involvement.
46. What is the maximum amount of money a PAC can contribute to a candidate?
contribute no more than $5,000 per candidate per election
40. What is the elite critique of the pluralist approach?
elite critique suggests that certain interests, typically businesses and the wealthy, are advantaged and that policies more often reflect their wishes than anyone else's. Political scientist E. E. Schattschneider noted that "the flaw in the pluralist heaven is that the heavenly chorus sings with a strong upperclass accent."44 A number of scholars have suggested that businesses and other wealthy interests are often overrepresented before government, and that poorer interests are at a comparative disadvantage. The ability to overcome collective action problems is not equally distributed across groups; as Mancur Olson noted, small groups and those with economic advantages were better off in this regard.46 Disadvantaged interests face many challenges including shortages of resources, time, and skills.
28. What is disturbance theory?
explain why groups mobilize due to an event in the political, economic, or social environment. For example, in 1962, Rachel Carson published Silent Spring, a book exposing the dangers posed by pesticides such as DDT.24 The book served as a catalyst for individuals worried about the environment and the potential dangers of pesticides. The result was an increase in both the number of environmental interest groups, such as Greenpeace and American Rivers, and the number of members within them.
36. What is interest group fragmentation?
fragmentation can occur when a large interest like this has diverging needs. Example: While the American Medical Association may take a stand on stem cell research, the issue is not critical to the everyday activities of many of its members. On the other hand, stem cell research is highly salient to members of the American Neurological Association, an interest organization that represents academic neurologists and neuroscientists.
10. What is an association?
groups of institutions that join with others, often within the same trade or industry (trade associations), and have similar concerns. The American Beverage Association10 includes Coca-Cola, Red Bull North America, ROCKSTAR, and Kraft Foods. Despite the fact that these companies are competitors, they have common interests related to the manufacturing, bottling, and distribution of beverages, as well as the regulation of their business activities.
8. What is the difference between in-house lobbyists and contract lobbyists?
in-house lobbyists: work for one interest group or firm and represent their organization in a lobbying capacity, ...................................................................................................................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, to represent them before the legislature.
6. What is an interest group?
indicates any formal association of individuals or organizations that attempt to influence government decision-making and/or the making of public policy.
3. What is the difference between an interest group and a political party?
interest groups do not function primarily to elect candidates under a certain party label or to directly control the operation of the government. have much more limited membership than do political parties...............................Political parties in the United States are generally much broader coalitions that represent a significant proportion of citizens. Parties spread relatively wide nets to try to encompass large segments of the population. In contrast, while interest groups may support or oppose political candidates, their goals are usually more issue-specific and narrowly focused on areas like taxes, the environment, and gun rights or gun control, or their membership is limited to specific professions.
54. Why do interest groups lobby the executive branch after legislation is passed?
interest groups may target the executive branch of government, whose job is to implement the law. As a result, interest group members may be appointed to positions in which they can influence proposed regulation of the industry of which they are a part.
37. Why are wealthy people more influential than lower-income people?
lobbyists are expensive and not every interest group can afford high-priced contract lobbyists to represent it
59. What is soft money?
money that interests can spend on behalf of candidates without being restricted by federal law
43. What do neopluralist scholars believe about the influence of interest groups?
neopluralist scholars argue that certainly some interests are in a privileged position, but these interests do not always get what they want.53 Instead, their influence depends on a number of factors in the political environment such as public opinion, political culture, competition for access, and the relevance of the issue. Even wealthy interests do not always win if their position is at odds with the wish of an attentive public. And if the public cares about the issue, politicians may be reluctant to defy their constituents.
61. What was the significance of McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission?
opened the door for a substantially greater flow of money into elections. Citizens United overturned the soft money ban of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act and allowed corporations and unions to spend unlimited amounts of money on elections. Essentially, the Supreme Court argued in a 5-4 decision that these entities had free speech rights, much like individuals, and that free speech included campaign spending. The McCutcheon decision further extended spending allowances based on the First Amendment by striking down aggregate contribution limits. These limits put caps on the total contributions allowed and some say have contributed to a subsequent increase in groups and lobbying activities
13. What is outside lobbying?
outside lobbying or indirect lobbying tactics, whereby the interest attempts to get its message out to the public.
53. Who is Grover Norquist and what issue concerns him the most?
political activist Grover Norquist, the founder of Americans for Tax Reform (ATR), asked all Republican members of Congress to sign a "Taxpayer Protection Pledge" that they would fight efforts to raise taxes or to eliminate any deductions that were not accompanied by tax cuts.
63. What are revolving door laws?
prevent lawmakers from lobbying government immediately after leaving public office.
31. What are the functions of interest groups for the political system?
provide a means of representing people and serve as a link between them and government.28 Interest groups also allow people to actively work on an issue in an effort to influence public policy. Another function of interest groups is to help educate the public. Interest groups also help frame issues, usually in a way that best benefits their cause. Interest groups also try to get issues on the government agenda and to monitor a variety of government programs.
19. What are public interest groups?
public interest groups attempt to promote public, or collective, goods.
27. What are purposive incentives?
purposive incentives focus on the issues or causes promoted by the group. Someone concerned about protecting individual rights might join a group like the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) because it supports the liberties guaranteed in the U.S. Constitution, even the free expression of unpopular views.
23. What is the free rider problem?
some individuals can receive benefits (get a free ride) without helping to bear the cost. Example: Why do some students elect to do little on a group project? The answer is that they likely prefer to do something else and realize they can receive the same grade as the rest of the group without contributing to the effort.
50. What is a voting cue?
sources—including fellow lawmakers, constituents, and interest groups—that lawmakers often use to help them decide how to vote, especially on unfamiliar issues
44. What actions do interest groups take to influence election outcomes?
support candidates who are sympathetic to their views in hopes of gaining access to them once they are in office. rate politicians based on their voting records on issues these organizations view as important. Incumbents have electoral advantages in terms of name recognition, experience, and fundraising abilities, and they often receive support because interest groups want access to the candidate who is likely to win. Some interest groups will offer support to the challenger, particularly if the challenger better aligns with the interest's views or the incumbent is vulnerable. Sometimes, interest groups even hedge their bets and give to both major party candidates for a particular office in the hopes of having access regardless of who wins.
25. What are material incentives?
tangible benefits of joining a group. AARP, for example, offers discounts on hotel accommodations and insurance rates for its members, while dues are very low, so they can actually save money by joining.
52. Which ones are interest groups more likely to target?
target lawmakers they think will consider introducing or sponsoring legislation. Second, they target members of relevant committees. Third, interest groups target lawmakers when legislation is on the floor of the House and/or Senate, but again, they rely on the fact that many members will defer to their colleagues who are more familiar with a given issue. Finally, since legislation must past both chambers in identical form, interest groups may target members of the conference committees whose job it is to iron out differences across the chambers. Interest groups also target the budgetary process in order to maximize benefits to their group.
38. What is efficacy?
the conviction that you can make a difference or that government cares about you and your views. People with low levels of efficacy are less likely to participate in politics, including voting and joining interest groups. Therefore, they are often underrepresented in the political arena.
58. What was the significance of Buckley v. Valeo?
upheld Congress's right to regulate elections by restricting contributions to campaigns and candidates. However, at the same time, it overturned restrictions on expenditures by candidates and their families, as well as total expenditures by campaigns.
26. What are solidary incentives?
which provide the benefit of joining with others who have the same concerns or are similar in other ways. Some scholars suggest that people are naturally drawn to others with similar concerns. The NAACP is a civil rights groups concerned with promoting equality and eliminating discrimination based on race, and members may join to associate with others who have dealt with issues of inequality.