Wednesday, October 29th, 2008

October 29, 2008

How do interest groups form?

• Pluralists see interest groups naturally forming when people are adversely affected by a disturbance
• Yet, some people who are adversely affected do not organize. Janda gives the example of Boston's West Enders.
• Other political scientists argue that the quality of leadership is a ke determinant of successful interest group formation.
• They see an interest group leader as an entrepreneur who must convince potential members that there are compelling reasons to join the organization. Janda gives the United Farm Workers Union as an example.
• Who is being organized is also an important force affecting group formation. The wealthy and the well educated are more likely to form and join lobbies.

Interest groups have resources

• Large politically active membership
• Business, professional, and trade associations have an easier time holding onto members than citizen groups do.
• Citizen groups must rely largely on idealogical appeals. Many try to attract new members through direct mail.
• Free-Rider problem. Nonmembers can obtain public policy benefits of the organization; lobbying even though they pay no dues.
• Many people join interest groups anyway. Some join for the selective benefits or because they realize that if everyone decides to "leg George do it" it won't get done.
• Lobbyists can be either full-time employees of the organization or hired from law firms or public relations firms.
• The typical interaction between a lobbyist and a policy maker is the transmission of info from the lobbyist to the official.
• Lobbyist is trying to convince the policy maker that the lobbyist's data is accurate and deserves more attention than those presented by other lobbyists.
• Financial Resources/Political Action Committees pool contributions from group members and donate those funds to candidates for office.
• Two types of PACs have shown the greatest growth in numbers
• Corporate PACs
• Non-connected PACs
• The role of PACs in financing elections has become the most controversial aspect of interest group politics.

How interest groups work

• Lobbying
• In direct lobbying a group's representatives have direct contact with a policy maker by phone, email, or letter. They also
• Make personal presentations
• Testify before committees
• Grass roots lobbying influence representatives by
• Letter writing
• Political Protests
• Electioneering
• Interest groups need to get and keep people who support their causes in office and do so by providing money to candidates. PACs do a lot of electioneering.
• Litigation
• Groups can sue businesses and the government, and they can send amicus curiae.