POL 106 1st Edition Lecture 18 Outline of Last Lecture I. The Role of Public OpinionII. Citizens and Public OpinionIII. Measuring and Tracking Public Opinion Outline of Current Lecture I. PartiesII. Interest GroupsCurrent Lecture PartiesThe Role of Parties in a Democracy:- Political linkage- Unification of a fragmented government- A voice for the opposition3 Components of Political Parties:- Party organization- Party-in-government- Party-in-the-electorateDealignment: Reduction in party identifiers into 1980s but increase in party identifiers since thenDemocrats: Government action to solve social problems, but want government generally to stay out of personal, religious, and moral livesRepublicans: Government should provide social and moral order, but should play little role in the economy Interest GroupsThese notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor’s lecture. GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes, not as a substitute.Faction: A group of citizens, whether amounting to a majority or minority of the whole, united and actuated by some common impulse of passion or interest, adverse to the rights of other citizens, or to the permanent and aggregate interests of the communityInterest Group: An organization of individuals who share a common political goal and are united for the purpose of influencing government decisions- Represent specific public interestso Lobbying: Interest group activities aimed at persuading policymakers to support the group’s positionso Direct Lobbying: Direct interaction with public officials for the purpose of influencing policy decisions Personal contacts Campaign contributions- PACs- Recent regulations and loopholes coalition Use of professional lobbyists- Revolving Door: Tendency of public officials, journalists, and lobbyists tomove between public and private sectors Providing expert testimony- Accurate information to Congress Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 Subsequent easing of restrictions The President- Target president and Executive Office of the White House- Office of Public Liaison- Revolving door exists here as well The bureaucracy- Lobby to get laws implemented favorably- Strong relationship with regulators and private sector- Iron triangles The judiciary- Lawsuits and amicus curiae briefso Indirect Lobbying: Attempts to influence government policymakers by encouraging the general public to put pressure on them Education: place issues on public’s agenda using media, direct mail, and publicitystunts- Issue advocacy ads- Reforms- 527 groups Mobilize the public Larger membership groups are more successful Get-out-the-vote movements Unconventional tactics- Social Protest and Mass Movements: Public activities designed to bring attention to political causes; usually done by those without access to conventional means of expressing their views- Participation- Education- Agenda building- Provision of program alternatives- Program monitoring- Use a mix of incentives to encourage group membershipPolitical Action Committee (PAC): The fundraising arm of an interest groupFree Rider Problem: A recruiting difficulty that groups face because potential members can gain the benefits of the group’s actions whether or not they joinCollective Good: A good or service that, by its nature, cannot be denied to anyone who wants to consume itEX) Public safety, clean air, national defenseSelective Incentives: Benefits available only to group members as inducements to get them to join- Material Benefit: Selective incentive in the form of a tangible reward- Solidarity Benefit: Selective incentive related to the interaction and bonding among group members- Expressive Benefit: Selective incentive that derives from the opportunity to express values and beliefs and to be committed to a greater causePublic Interest Groups: Organize to influence government to produce collective goods or services that benefit the general public- Environmental Groups- Sierra Club, Greenpeace- Consumer Groups- Public Citizen, Consumers Union- Religious Groups- Christian Coalition, Anti-Defamation League- Second Amendment Groups- NRA, Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence- Reproductive Rights Groups- Planned Parenthood, National Right to Life Committee- Human Rights- ACLU, Amnesty International- Animal Rights- Humane Society, PETAEqual Opportunity Interest Groups: Organize to promote the civil and economic rights of underrepresented or disadvantaged groups- Age- AARP, Children’s Defense Fund- Race and Ethnicity- NAACP, LULAC, AIM- Gender- NOW, EMILY’S List, Eagle Forum- Sexual Orientation- GLAAD, PFLAG, Log Cabin RepublicansEconomic Interest Groups: ajndksjaGovernment Interest Groups: aljdsjfGrassroots Lobbying: Indirect lobbying efforts that spring from widespread public concern- Pure grassroots lobbying is becoming increasingly rare, but astroturf public interest lobbying is growingAstroturf Lobbying: Indirect lobbying efforts by interest groups that manipulate or create public sentiment, “astroturf” being artificial grassrootsInterest Group Resources:- Moneyo Needed to purchase: Staff Professional assistanceo Also needed to make campaign contributions PACs limited to donating $5000 per primary and general election campaign PAC spending continues to increase faster than inflation Most PAC donations go to incumbents (79%) Most spending goes to incumbents and committee members Contributions buy access, not necessarily votes- Leadershipo Effective leadership can offset other resource disadvantages (money, influence)- Membership: size and intensityo Larger groups generally have advantages (AARP)o Intensity can make up for lack of numbers (NRA)o Best possible situation is to have both- Informationo Can defeat powerful interest with solid