Why did only 50.7% of Americans vote?

Declining Turnout in Presidential Elections, 1836-1996

81 84 82 80

70

60

5057 60

51

64 61 6256 55 54 54

5056

50

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

Lack of Mobilization 1876-1896, turnout in presidential

elections averaged 80%Now, 50.7% despite unprecedented

GOTV Decreasing party mobilization Fewer competitive races for Congress elections are less important

Systematic Explanations Too many elections! 521,000 elected

offices hassle to vote in US

Registration No compulsory voting elections are held on Tuesdays

Voter Registration Voting is a 2 step process; increases “costs” in

time and information Only 71% of citizens are registered to vote Consequence-- skewed electorate; better

educated, higher income, fewer minorities Solutions-

Same day registration Motor voter law

Who do non registered voters prefer? 43% Gore, 28% Bush

Costs v. Benefits of Voting Costs

Registration Hassles Information

========

Solutions

1. Easier registration

2. E vote, mail in ballots

3. Group mobilization

4. Fewer elections

Benefits Psychic Policy

Solutions

1. Minority voters

2. Conservatives in 98’

3. Reduce cynicism about politics

4. Vote matters

Should we be concerned that only 50.7% of Americans voted?

low turnout NOT a problem reflects contentment George Will “As more people are

nagged to the polls, the caliber of the electorate declines.

no difference between voters and non-voters preferences

Low Turnout IS a problemVoting pool is unrepresentative of nation

HMO bill of rights vs uninsuredStates with higher voter turnout have

large and more comprehensive welfare

MosleyAmerica’s Youth: New Forms of

Political Engagement ? Are youth politically apathetic? If they don’t vote, what do they do instead?

Why? Evidence? Plausibility? Who votes? Cost-benefit analysis

Government is too beholden to special interests and does not listen to people like me.

True or false?

Home Schooling Story Although most citizens don’t participate

actively in politics, many are associated with groups that are

mobilizing inactive citizens is an effective strategy of political influence

IG have adopted state of the art technologies to replace traditional strategies of lobbying and electing sympathetic candidates

elected officials are highly responsive to organized and aroused interests.

Definition of Interest Groupan organized body of individuals who

share some goals and who try to influence public policy Parties largely try to determine who

occupies positions in government interest groups primarily try to affect

the decisions that others make

Evolution of IGTocqueville “Americans are forever

forming associations”Four Waves of IG Formation

broad based or peak organizations NAM, AMA

Narrow economic groups, American Soybean Association

public non profit groups US police Canine association

Ideological Groups NOW

Normative ?s about IG Is this growth of interest groups a good

thing? What is the appropriate role of interest

groups in a democracy? Madison

Causes of Factions Are Sown Into the Nature of Man

Remedy is Worse Than the Disease

PluralismPolitics is a struggle between groupsFor every interest, there is a groupPolicy reflects the balance of power

between groups in societyReflects the intensity of preferences as

well as the direction No permanent losers

Critiques of Pluralism "The heavenly chorus of the interest

group process sings with an upper-class accent."

Collective Action problemOvercoming the free rider problem

Solidarity benefits Material benefits Purposive benefits

Goals of Interest Groups Improve Probability that Their Interests

Will Be Treated Favorably Influence Policy-Making Process

Inside GameFocus is on Governing Officials

Lobbying Litigation Electoral Politics Political Action Committees (PAC’s)

BRIBERY IS NOT WIDESPREAD!!!

PACs– Good or BadPACs political action committeesSolicit $$ from members of groupFormal way for interest groups to get

involved in politicsDo PACs exercise a corrupting

influence on election and policy making process

"The Outside Game" Focus is on shaping public opinion

Indirect influence Publicity and Mass Appeal Mass Mailing Organize the District

Why Groups Use Different Tactics group characteristics

Exxon vs. Greenpeacesituational characteristics

Outs vs. the InsConvergence between outside and

inside strategies MICROSOFT, The Empire Strikes Back

Interest Group Influence empirical component

how powerful are they?normative component

how powerful should they be?

Iron Triangles Alliance of common interest between an

interest group, a congressional committee, and a bureaucratic agency

Department of Defense/Pentagon- House and Senate Armed Services Committee—and Defense Contractors

interest groups play the dominant role Outsiders are shut out Lowi’s interest group liberalism

Issue Networks larger and looser connection of interest

groups, committees, and agencies in a particular policy area

Case of Tobacco PolicyMore open and less stable than old

trianglesMore closely resembles that of pluralist

doctrine

Hyperpluralism Too many interest groups= Gridlock

3,400 lobbyists in 1975; 9,000 in 1990 608 PACs in 1975; 4,000+ in 1990

Example of health care reformdemosclerosis

Influence of IG is conditional most influential

on low profile issues In blocking actions; hard to originate When unopposed by other groups If they have plentiful resources