Journal: Discuss with a partner

• What type of “groups” do you belong to?– Think…clubs, sports, band, charity organizations,

etc…

• Why did you join these groups?

Why do people join groups?

Create a definition of an interest group.

What is it?

What do you think its goals are?

What could be some positive aspects and negative aspects of interest groups?

What we call an interest group, the Founding Fathers called a faction.

Madison’s Constitution also envisions a plurality of groups competing with each other (pluralism).

Interest groups sometimes begin as movements.

What kinds of groups are there?

Economic interest groups

Labor Unions are one of the most important groups representing workers.

Ideological interest groups focus on multiple issues.

Single Issue Interest groups are highly motivated and see politics primarily as a means to pursue one issue.

Public Interest Groups

Public Sector Interest Groups

Interest Groups also organize to promote or oppose foreign policies.

Let’s Review…

1. What are interest groups?

2. A. What are the 6 types of interest groups? B. What is the purpose/function of each type of

group?

Political Scientists have described how groups form and organize to pursue their goals as the pursuit of collective action (also

public choice).

Important Characteristics of Interest Groups

What is the goal of interest groups?

Lobbyists are the employees of associations who try to influence policy decisions and positions in the government.

Moving from a government job to one with an interest group is so common it is called the revolving door.

The revolving door between government and interest groups produces networks of people who care about certain issues (issue

networks)

Litigation occurs when groups find the political channels closed to them. Then, groups may turn to the courts.

Besides litigation, associations can also express their views to the court by filing amicus curiae briefs.

Interest groups also influence politics and public policy by spending money on elections.

A Political Action Committee (PAC) is the political arm of an interest group.

Officeholders can also form their own PACs; these are called Leadership PACs.

PACs sometimes use a process called bundling to help boost their contribution amount.

Until the 2004 election cycle, interest groups and individuals could avoid the contribution limitation to political parties by

contributing soft-money.

Let’s Review…

• 1. What do lobbyists do? Explain their role in the political process?

• 2. What is the “revolving door”?• 3. What is litigation? How does it effect

politics? • 4. How do PACs effect politics?

Homework Questions

1. Lobbyists are often called the “Third House of Congress.” Why do you think they are called this? Do you agree or disagree with this label? Explain.

2. What do you think is the most important technique interest groups use to influence politicians? Explain.

3. What is an independent expenditure? What are the positives of an IE? Negatives?

It’s all about timing . . .

POLITICANS & ELECTED OFFICIALS

ELECTIONS

POLICY

The cycle of influence . . .

Let’s take a quiz.

In 1971, Congress passed the Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA).

The cases behind campaign finance

After Buckley, soft money became more important to campaign finance than the limited and more difficult to raise hard money.

Banning soft money because the primary objective of reformers and led to the passage of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act

(BCRA) in 2002.

But wait, there’s more . . .

Vehicles Used by Special Interest Groups (SIGs) to Influence

“Following the Money” Handout and Chart

The Game Changer

A better tomorrow, tomorrow . . .

What’s the difference between . . .

• PACs and SuperPACs• Hard Money and Soft Money• The FEC and The IRS (in relation to

campaign finance)• 501 groups and 527 groups• 500 groups and PACs/SuperPACs

Setting some limits?

When are contributions limited? When are contributions unlimited?

Think: When (time periods) To Whom (Candidate? Group? Party?) From Whom (Individuals, Corporations, Groups,

Unions, Parties)How much (unlimited $ vs. limited $)