A. A.) Pluralist theory of interest groups in American politicsB. How and why interest groups form: overcoming the collective action problem

C. Interest Group Techniques for Influencing Govt.

PLURALISM--Pluralist theory derived from Federalist 10--For some, both a descriptive and normative theory--Assumptions of pluralism

CRITIQUES OF PLURALISM 1.) US system makes it far easier for

minority groups to block change than for majority groups to make change

2.) Not all groups have resources in proportion to their size

“The flaw in the pluralist heaven is that the heavenly chorus sings with a strong upper-class accent.” E.E. Schattschneider

3.) Pluralism only applies to issues and disputes that actually make it onto the public agenda

4.)****Pluralism assumes that if there is a common interest, a group will form around it

THE RETURN OF THE COLLECTIVE ACTION (or “FREE RIDER”) PROBLEM

---The larger the group, and the more non-excludable the benefit, the worse the problem

HOW REAL-LIFE GROUPS SOLVE THE FREE RIDER PROBLEM:

1.) Offer members “selective benefits” a.) Material benefits (ex. AARP) b.) Social benefits (ex. Sierra Club) c.) Purposive benefits

2.) Risk-Taking Interest Group Entrepreneurs

OVERCOMING THE COLLECTIVE ACTION PROBLEM CONT’D 3.) Very wealthy “Patrons”—individuals, foundations, corporations-----the govt. itself can be an interest group patron! Ex. 1960s War on Poverty emphasis on “community action”4.) Decentralized/federated structure

I. THE ELECTORAL STRATEGY: electing like-minded politicians, and/or providing incentives for incumbents to be more supportive

A.) Political Action Committees (PACs)---where they came from---why they expanded after the FECA law---ways to legally get around contribution limits

B.) Less Regulated Forms of Financial Support ----independent spending

----issue advocacy: avoiding the “magic words” ----------Citizens United v. FEC (2010) Supreme Court

decision

C.) Other methods of electoral support: endorsements, GOTV, personpower, voter guides

II. THE LEGISLATIVE STRATEGYA.) Inside (or direct) lobbying---what lobbyists provide (highly specific political and technical info)---what lobbyists are asking for (not just voting “yea” or “nay” on legislation)

B.) Grassroots (AKA outside or indirect) lobbying ---mobilizing their membership ---media campaigns

Why it’s difficult for PSCists to prove one way or the other1.) The problems of spurious correlation and multiple causation---int. grps. to lobby and finance already supportive legislators

2.) Group influence may be strongest where it’s hardest to observe----committee rather than floor behavior----”private benefits” earmarks, or pressure on regulatory agencies

----relatively small number of undecideds

WHAT THE CONSTITUTION SAYS 1.) Bicameralism

a.) House/Senate differences in structure--how equal state rep. affects policy--how other differences affect policyb.) House/Senate differences in function: treaties, impeachment, confirmations

2.) Powers of Congress as a whole: enumerated and implied

STRUCTURES THAT HAVE EVOLVED SINCE CONSTITUTION

1.) Additional H-S Differences 2.) Parties and Party Leadership ----a.) The party caucuses

----b.) House: Speaker, Majority Leader, Majority Whip, Minority Leader, Minority Whip----c.) Senate: Majority Leader, Minority Leader, Majority Whip, Minority Whip

Different Possible Roles for the Minority PartyProductive Accommodationist, Nemesis/Obstructionist, Presidential Lieutenants

POSSIBLE REASONS FOR CURRENT PARTY POLARIZATION IN CONGRESS1.) House Districts are mostly “safe” for one party---few moderate districts2.) Primary elections and the radicalization of the partisan “base” 3.) New media?4.) Aggressive party leadership?

3.) Committees FUNCTION: legislation, investigation, oversight

“Congress in committee is Congress at work”--Woodrow Wilson

ASSIGNMENT OF MEMBERS TO COMMITTEES: key role of party leaders, deciding committee ratios, processing member requests (based on member goals)

APPOINTING COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSONS1.) Pre-1970s: dominant seniority system2.) Post-1970s: seniority and party loyalty

POWERS OF THE CHAIRPERSON

1.) Bill Sponsorship and Co-Sponsorship ---why bill drafting (and reading!) is difficult 2.) Referral to Committee 3.) Committee Hearings 4.) Committee Markup---if successful, followed

by committee reporting bill to whole chamber 5a.) From Committee to Floor: House ---Importance of House Rules Committee:

schedules, regulates debate, amendments

--Open, closed, and restrictive special rules 5.b.) From Committee to Floor: Senate

---Why minority leader is more involved ---The ever-present danger of filibuster;

cloture (60 votes) is the only way to stop it ---Unanimous consent agreements used to

restrict debate and amendments voluntarily 6.) What happens on the floor: debate,

amendments, final passage vote

7.) Resolving differences between the House and Senate

----The Conference Committee ----post-Conference final votes 8.) Presidential Signature or Veto ---2/3 of both chambers needed to

override

The possible tension between representation and legislation

Different possible representative roles ---Delegate

---Trustee ---Advocate for “fair share” of fed.

spending (pork barrel) ---Ombudsman (casework)

The Process of Creating House Districts1.) Census determines how many districts each state will have2.) State governments determine where district boundaries should be3.) When the Federal Courts might intervenea.) Population inequality (Wesberry v. Sanders, 1964): one person, one voteb.) Racial/ethnic discrimination

Is partisan gerrymandering legal? So far, yes…..

CREATION BY THE FOUNDERS 1.) How many executives? (Head of State v. Head of

Government) 2.) Vaguely defined powers/functions: Commander in

Chief, veto, State of the Union3.) Implied powers: oath of office, “take care” clause

POWERS/FUNCTIONS ADDED AND STRETCHED OVER THE YEARS1.) The Mt. Rushmore gang: Washington, Jefferson, Jackson, Lincoln, TR

2.) Delegation by Congress to the Pres, and to exec agencies3.) General acquiescence by the Courts, with occasional limits placed (Truman,Nixon, George W)

The Impact of Franklin d. Roosevelt (FDR)---legislator-in-chief

---expansion of exec branch and pres. Staff (EOP)---responsibilities as Dr. New Deal and Dr. Win-the-War set precedents for future prez

---personal relationship with public ---Eleanor’s role

INFORMAL v .FORMAL POWERS1.) Formal powers

----The veto: threatened more than used----The C-in-C power in an age of terror----Executive orders: pres. directives, usually pertaining to exec branch, having the force of law----Executive agreements: treaties that don’t need ratification

2.) Informal Powers – the Power of Persuasion

---Persuading elitesa.) Arguments (e.g. signing statements)b.) Bargaining and horse-trading

---Persuading the publica.) Maintaining popularityb.) “Going public” campaigns on particular issues

1.) Public approval (popularity)Gallup (nonspecific) question

Effects of economy, “rally events,” honeymoons, scandals

2.) Perceived election mandatePresidents with: Reagan 1980, LBJ 1964Presidents without: Bush 2000, Clinton 1996

3.) Control of Congress by President’s party---unified government doesn’t guarantee success---divided government doesn’t rule out success

4.) Unacceptability of status quo---but it’s hard to solve problems proactively

5.) Foreign v. domestic policy 6.) “Windows of opportunity”

FROM THE OUTSIDE IN1.) Cabinet Secretaries and Departments

----Secretary’s dual role: advisor and CEO ----The problem of “capture” or “marrying the

natives” 2.) The Executive Office of the President (EOP)

—focus on POLICY expertise Includes Office of Management and Budget

(OMB), and the 3 policy councils (National Security, Economic, Domestic)

3.) The White House Office (as seen on TV)Includes---a.) Chief of Staffb.) Press Secretaryc.) Director of Communicationsd.) Legislative Affairse.) White House Counsel

Review of civil v. criminal cases US “adversarial” system Reasons why courts (including Supreme

Court) might dismiss or refuse to hear cases1.) Plaintiff’s lack of standing2.) Lack of ripeness3.) Mootness

4.) “Political question” Plea bargains help reduce caseload

HOW JUDGES DECIDE: DIFFERENT THEORIES1.) The legal (traditional) model---Importance of precedent (stare decisis)---Original intent, plain meaning, “living Constitution” (spirit not letter)---Weaknesses of legal model

2.) Attitudinal model---currently popular in PSC---Explains Bush v. Gore?

3.) Strategic model---gaining in popularity----Taking Congressional preferences into account----The influence of solicitor general and/or amicus curiae

THE APPOINTMENT PROCESS1.) District Courts – tradition of “senatorial courtesy”

2.) Appellate Courts – becoming more controversial

3.) The Supreme Court a.) Judiciary Committee hearings: why judges seldom give straightforward answersb.) Media and interest group campaigns

c.) Recent controversial or failed nominations

THE END!!!!!