How Do Interest Groups Raise Money

Chapter x: Involvement Groups and Lobbying

Interest Groups Defined

Learning Objectives

By the terminate of this section, you volition be able to:

• Explain how interest groups differ from political parties
• Evaluate the different types of interests and what they do
• Compare public and private interest groups

While the term interest group is non mentioned in the U.South. Constitution, the framers were enlightened that individuals would band together in an effort to utilize government in their favor. In Federalist No. ten, James Madison warned of the dangers of "factions," minorities who would organize around issues they felt strongly about, perhaps to the detriment of the majority. But Madison believed limiting these factions was worse than facing the evils they might produce, because such limitations would violate private freedoms. Instead, the natural way to control factions was to allow them flourish and compete confronting each other. The sheer number of interests in the United States suggests that many have, indeed, flourished. They compete with similar groups for membership, and with opponents for admission to decision-makers. Some people propose there may be too many interests in the United States. Others argue that some have gained a disproportionate amount of influence over public policy, whereas many others are underrepresented.

Madison'due south definition of factions can employ to both interest groups and political parties. But dissimilar political parties, involvement groups do not function primarily to elect candidates under a sure party characterization or to directly control the operation of the government. Political parties in the United States are generally much broader coalitions that stand for a significant proportion of citizens. In the American ii-party organization, the Democratic and Republican Parties spread relatively broad nets to try to encompass large segments of the population. In dissimilarity, while involvement 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. They may stand for interests ranging from well-known organizations, such equally the Sierra Club, IBM, or the American Lung Association, to obscure ones, such as the North Carolina Gamefowl Breeders Clan. Thus, with some notable exceptions, specific interest groups take much more limited membership than do political parties.

Political parties and involvement groups both work together and compete for influence, although in different ways. While interest group action ofttimes transcends party lines, many interests are perceived as beingness more supportive of one political party than the other. The American Conservative Union, Citizens United, the National Burglarize Association, and National Correct to Life are more than probable to have relationships with Republican lawmakers than with Autonomous ones. Americans for Democratic Action, Moveon.org, and the Democratic Governors Association all have stronger relationships with the Democratic Party. Parties and interest groups practice compete with each other, however, ofttimes for influence. At the land level, we typically find an inverse relationship between them in terms of power. Interest groups tend to have greater influence in states where political parties are insufficiently weaker.

WHAT ARE Interest GROUPS AND WHAT Exercise THEY Want?

Definitions abound when it comes to interest groups, which are sometimes referred to equally special interests, interest organizations, pressure groups, or just interests. Almost definitions specify that interest group indicates any formal clan of individuals or organizations that effort to influence authorities decision-making and/or the making of public policy. Often, this influence is exercised by a lobbyist or a lobbying firm.

Formally, a lobbyist is someone who represents the involvement organization earlier government, is commonly compensated for doing so, and is required to annals with the regime in which he or she lobbies, whether land or federal. The lobbyist's primary goal is unremarkably to influence policy. Most interest organizations engage in lobbying activity to achieve their objectives. As you might expect, the involvement hires a lobbyist, employs one internally, or has a member volunteer to antechamber on its behalf. For present purposes, we might restrict our definition to the relatively broad one in the Lobbying Disclosure Act.^[1] This act requires the registration of lobbyists representing any interest grouping and devoting more than than 20 percent of their time to it.^[two] Clients and lobbying firms must as well annals with the federal regime based on like requirements. Moreover, campaign finance laws require disclosure of campaign contributions given to political candidates by organizations.

Visit this site to research donations and campaign contributions given to political candidates by organizations.

Lobbying is not express to Washington, DC, notwithstanding, and many interests lobby at that place besides as in ane or more states. Each country has its own laws describing which individuals and entities must register, and so the definitions of lobbyists and interests, and of what lobbying is and who must register to do it, also vary from state to state. Therefore, while a denizen contacting a lawmaker to discuss an event is by and large not viewed equally lobbying, an system that devotes a sure amount of time and resources to contacting lawmakers may be classified every bit lobbying, depending on local, country, or federal law.

Largely for this reason, there is no comprehensive list of all involvement groups to tell u.s.a. how many there are in the United States. Estimates of the number vary widely, suggesting that if nosotros use a broad definition and include all interests at all levels of authorities, there may be more than 200,000.^[iii] Post-obit the passage of the Lobbying Disclosure Act in 1995, we had a much better understanding of the number of interests registered in Washington, DC; however, it was not until several years after that nosotros had a complete count and categorization of the interests registered in each of the fifty states.^[4] Political scientists have categorized interest groups in a number of ways.^[5]

First, involvement groups may take the form of membership organisationsouth, which individuals join voluntarily and to which they usually pay dues. Membership groups oftentimes consist of people who have common issues or concerns, or who want to be with others who share their views. The National Burglarize Association (NRA) is a membership group consisting of members who promote gun rights ((Effigy)). For those who abet greater regulation of access to firearms, such as background checks prior to gun purchases, the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence is a membership organization that weighs in on the other side of the event.^[vi]

Figure i. A Florida member of the NRA proudly displays his support of gun rights (a). In December 2012, Ideology, a San Francisco telecommunications company that supports progressive causes, chosen on the NRA to stop blocking Congress from passing gun control legislation (b). (credit a: modification of work by Daniel Oines; credit b: modification of piece of work by Josh Lopez)

Involvement groups may likewise form to correspond companies, corporate organizations, and governments. These groups exercise not have individual members but rather are offshoots of corporate or governmental entities with a compelling interest to be represented in front of i or more branches of government. Verizon and Coca-Cola volition register to lobby in guild to influence policy in a way that benefits them. These corporations will either have one or more than in-house lobbyists, who work for one interest grouping or firm and represent their organisation in a lobbying capacity, and/or volition hire a contract lobbyist, individuals who work for firms that represent a multitude of clients and are oftentimes hired because of their resources and their ability to contact and lobby lawmakers, to represent them before the legislature.

Governments such every bit municipalities and executive departments such equally the Department of Pedagogy register to anteroom in an effort to maximize their share of budgets or increase their level of autonomy. These government institutions are represented past a legislative liaison, whose chore is to present problems to decision-makers. For case, a country academy normally employs a lobbyist, legislative liaison, or government affairs person to represent its interests before the legislature. This includes lobbying for a given university'due south share of the budget or for its continued autonomy from lawmakers and other state-level officials who may attempt to play a greater oversight part.

In 2015, 13 states had their higher education budgets cutting from the previous twelvemonth, and about all states have seen some cuts to higher teaching funding since the recession began in 2008.^[7] In 2015, equally in many states, universities and community colleges in Mississippi lobbied the legislature over pending budget cuts.^[8] These examples highlight the need for universities and country university systems to have representation before the legislature. On the federal level, universities may lobby for enquiry funds from government departments. For example, the Departments of Defense force and Homeland Security may be willing to fund scientific inquiry that might better enable them to defend the nation.

Interest groups as well include associations, which are typically groups of institutions that join with others, often within the same trade or manufacture (trade associations), and have similar concerns. The American Potable Association^[9] includes Coca-Cola, Red Bull North America, ROCKSTAR, and Kraft Foods. Despite the fact that these companies are competitors, they accept mutual interests related to the manufacturing, bottling, and distribution of beverages, as well equally the regulation of their business activities. The logic is that at that place is strength in numbers, and if members tin can lobby for tax breaks or eased regulations for an entire industry, they may all do good. These common goals practise not, nevertheless, prevent private association members from employing in-firm lobbyists or contract lobbying firms to represent their own business organization or organization also. Indeed, many members of associations are competitors who besides seek representation individually before the legislature.

Visit the website of an association similar the American Beverage Association or the American Bankers Association and look over the primal problems it addresses. Practice any of the issues it cares virtually surprise you? What areas do you think members tin can agree about? Are there issues on which the membership might disagree? Why would competitors bring together together when they ordinarily compete for business organisation?

Finally, sometimes individuals volunteer to represent an arrangement. They are called apprentice or volunteer lobbyists, and are typically not compensated for their lobbying efforts. In some cases, citizens may lobby for pet projects because they care near some upshot or cause. They may or may not be members of an interest group, but if they register to lobby, they are sometimes nicknamed "hobbyists."

Lobbyists representing a diverseness of organizations employ different techniques to achieve their objectives. Ane method is inside lobbying or direct lobbying, which takes the interest group's message straight to a government official such as a lawmaker.^[x]

Inside lobbying tactics include testifying in legislative hearings and helping to typhoon legislation. Numerous surveys of lobbyists take confirmed that the vast bulk rely on these inside strategies. For case, almost all study that they contact lawmakers, testify before the legislature, help draft legislation, and contact executive agencies. Trying to influence government appointments or providing favors to members of regime are somewhat less common insider tactics.

Many lobbyists also use outside lobbying or indirect lobbying tactics, whereby the involvement attempts to get its bulletin out to the public.^[eleven]

These tactics include issuing press releases, placing stories and articles in the media, entering coalitions with other groups, and contacting involvement group members, hoping that they volition individually pressure lawmakers to back up or oppose legislation. An ecology involvement group like the Sierra Club, for case, might upshot a press release or encourage its members to contact their representatives in Congress almost legislation of concern to the group. Information technology might as well use exterior tactics if there is a potential threat to the environment and the group wants to raise sensation among its members and the public ((Figure)). Members of Congress are likely to pay attention when many constituents contact them nearly an issue or proposed bill. Many interest groups, including the Sierra Club, will utilize a combination of inside and outside tactics in their lobbying efforts, choosing whatever strategy is most likely to assistance them achieve their goals.

Effigy two. In February 2013, members of the Sierra Club joined a march on Los Angeles City Hall to demand action on climatic change and protest the development of the Keystone pipeline. (credit: Charlie Kaijo)

The chief goal of virtually interests, no matter their lobbying approach, is to influence decision-makers and public policies. For case, National Correct to Life, an anti-abortion involvement grouping, lobbies to encourage government to enact laws that restrict abortion access, while NARAL Pro-Pick America lobbies to promote the right of women to have rubber choices about abortion. Ecology interests like the Sierra Club antechamber for laws designed to protect natural resources and minimize the use of pollutants. On the other hand, some interests vestibule to reduce regulations that an organization might view equally burdensome. Air and water quality regulations designed to meliorate or protect the environment may be viewed as onerous by industries that pollute as a byproduct of their production or manufacturing process. Other interests lobby for budgetary allocations; the subcontract foyer, for example, pressures Congress to secure new subcontract subsidies or maintain existing ones. Farm subsidies are given to some farmers because they grow certain crops and to other farmers so they will non grow certain crops.^[12]

Equally expected, whatever bill that might attempt to alter these subsidies raises the antennae of many agricultural interests.

Involvement GROUP FUNCTIONS

While influencing policy is the primary goal, involvement groups likewise monitor government activeness, serve equally a ways of political participation for members, and provide information to the public and to lawmakers. Co-ordinate to the National Briefing of State Legislatures, past November 2015, thirty-half dozen states had laws requiring that voters provide identification at the polls.^[13]

A ceremonious rights group like the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) will keep track of proposed voter-identification bills in state legislatures that might take an upshot on voting rights. This system will contact lawmakers to voice blessing or disapproval of proposed legislation (inside lobbying) and encourage group members to accept action past either donating money to information technology or contacting lawmakers well-nigh the proposed bill (outside lobbying). Thus, a fellow member of the arrangement or a citizen concerned about voting rights demand non be an expert on the legislative process or the technical or legal details of a proposed bill to be informed well-nigh potential threats to voting rights. Other interest groups part in like means. For example, the NRA monitors attempts past country legislatures to tighten gun control laws.

Interest groups facilitate political participation in a number of ways. Some members become agile within a group, working on behalf of the organization to promote its agenda. Some interests work to increase membership, inform the public about bug the group deems important, or organize rallies and promote get-out-the-vote efforts. Sometimes groups will utilize events to mobilize existing members or encourage new members to join. For example, following Barack Obama's presidential victory in 2008, the NRA used the election as a rallying cry for its supporters, and it continues to attack the president on the event of guns, despite the fact that gun rights have in some ways expanded over the course of the Obama presidency. Involvement groups also organize letter of the alphabet-writing campaigns, stage protests, and sometimes hold fundraisers for their cause or even for political campaigns.

Some interests are more than broadly focused than others. AARP (formerly the American Association of Retired Persons) has approximately 30-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 ((Figure)).^[14]

This organization represents both liberals and conservatives, Democrats and Republicans, and many who do not identify with these categorizations. On the other hand, the Clan of Black Cardiologists is a much smaller and far-narrower organization. Over the last several decades, some interest groups have sought greater specialization and take fifty-fifty fragmented. As you may imagine, the Association of Black Cardiologists is more specialized than the American Medical Association, which tries to represent all physicians regardless of race or specialty.

Figure 3. Wellness care is an important concern for AARP and its members, so the organization makes sure to maintain connections with cardinal policymakers in this area, such as Katherine Sebelius, secretarial assistant of Health and Human Services from 2009 to 2014, shown here with John Rother, manager of legislation and public policy for AARP. (credit: modification of work by Chris Smith, HHS)

PUBLIC VS. PRIVATE INTEREST GROUPS

Interest groups and organizations represent both private and public interests in the United States. Private interests usually seek particularized benefitsouthward from government that favor either a single interest or a narrow prepare of interests. For example, corporations and political institutions may lobby government for tax exemptions, fewer regulations, or favorable laws that benefit individual companies or an industry more more often than not. Their goal is to promote private appurtenances. Private goods are items individuals can own, including corporate profits. An motorcar is a private good; when you buy information technology, you receive ownership. Wealthy individuals are more likely to accrue private appurtenances, and they can sometimes obtain private goods from governments, such as tax benefits, authorities subsidies, or government contracts.

On the other hand, public interest groupdue south endeavour to promote public, or collective, goods. Such collective goods are benefits—tangible or intangible—that help most or all citizens. These goods are frequently produced collectively, and because they may not exist profitable and everyone may not hold on what public goods are best for society, they are oft underfunded and thus will be underproduced unless there is government interest. The Tennessee Valley Say-so, a regime corporation, provides electricity in some places where it is not profitable for individual firms to do so. Other examples of collective goods are public safety, highway prophylactic, public education, and environmental protection. With some exceptions, if an ecology interest promotes clean air or water, most or all citizens are able to enjoy the result. So if the Sierra Gild encourages Congress to laissez passer legislation that improves national air quality, citizens receive the benefit regardless of whether they are members of the arrangement or even support the legislation. Many environmental groups are public interest groups that entrance hall for and raise awareness of issues that affect large segments of the population.^[15]

As the clean air example above suggests, collective appurtenances are generally nonexcludable, meaning all or nearly people are entitled to the public good and cannot be prevented from enjoying it. Furthermore, collective appurtenances are generally not subject to crowding, and then that even every bit the population increases, people still have admission to the unabridged public practiced. Thus, the war machine does non protect citizens just in Texas and Maryland while neglecting those in New York and Idaho, but instead information technology provides the collective good of national defense every bit to citizens in all states. As some other example, even every bit more cars use a public roadway, under most circumstances, additional drivers even so take the choice of using the aforementioned road. (High-occupancy vehicle lanes may restrict some lanes of a highway for drivers who exercise not motorcar pool.)

Summary

Some involvement groups correspond a broad set of interests, while others focus on but a unmarried effect. Some interests are organizations, like businesses, corporations, or governments, which register to anteroom, typically to obtain some benefit from the legislature. Other interest groups consist of dues-paying members who bring together a grouping, usually voluntarily. Some organizations band together, often joining trade associations that represent their industry or field. Interest groups represent either the public interest or individual interests. Private interests often lobby authorities for particularized benefits, which are narrowly distributed. These benefits usually accrue to wealthier members of society. Public interests, on the other hand, effort to represent a wide segment of social club or even all persons.

Notation: The activities beneath will not exist counted towards your final grade for this class. They are strictly hither to aid you check your noesis in preparation for class assignments and future dialogue. Best of luck!

Glossary

association

groups of companies or institutions that organize around a common set up of concerns, often within a given industry or trade

collective skillful

a good such every bit public prophylactic or clean air, often produced by government, that is mostly available to the population as a whole

contract lobbyist

a lobbyist who works for a contract lobbying firm that represents clients before government

in-house lobbyist

an employee or executive inside an arrangement who works every bit a lobbyist on behalf of the organization

inside lobbying

the act of contacting and taking the organization'southward message directly to lawmakers in an attempt to influence policy

legislative liaison

a person employed by a governmental entity such equally a local government, executive section, or university to represent the organization before the legislature

lobbyist

a person who represents an organization before government in an attempt to influence policy

membership arrangement

an involvement group that unremarkably consists of dues-paying members who organize effectually a particular cause or issue

outside lobbying

the deed of lobbying indirectly by taking the organisation's bulletin to the public, frequently through the apply of the media and/or past outcome printing releases, in hopes that the public will and then put pressure on lawmakers

particularized benefit

a benefit that generally accrues to a narrow segment of society

public involvement grouping

an involvement group that seeks a public good, which is something that accrues to all

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Source: https://pressbooks.online.ucf.edu/amnatgov/chapter/interest-groups-defined/

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