I analyze the relationship between merit pay bill outcomes and the two measures of power using data on merit pay policies across all 50 states between and For each state, I recorded the final outcome of the merit pay bill that went furthest in the legislative process during this period using LegiScan and the Education Commission of the States. Not so for campaign contributions. Figure 2 — Membership rates, not campaign contributions, are related to policy outcomes. Despite the narrative of big campaign spenders and lobbyists controlling politics in the United States, interest group strength comes from having legislative allies setting the policy agenda.
In fact, it is likely that contributions are often defensive. If groups are most influential where they spend the most, one might assume that the NRA spends the most in conservative, pro-gun states.
In fact, according to National Institute on Money in Politics , the group spends the most in battleground and blue states, such as Colorado, Washington, California, and Nevada. This is likely because the group already has the ability to set the agenda in the most conservative states through a large number of allies in the legislature and instead focuses funds where its influence is more tenuous.
Scholars and pundits should take heed that what often appears to be the origin of interest group strength may in fact reflect defensiveness or be supplementary to what is the real source of power — having allies setting the agenda. Please read our comments policy before commenting.
Leslie K. Finger — Harvard University Leslie K. Finger is a lecturer on government and social studies at Harvard University. Her research focuses on interest group influence and the politics of education. Click here to cancel reply.
Facebook Facebook. Interest groups are involved in all stages: They testify before administrative hearings, submit comments or file briefs, and draft the regulations their clients are required to operate under. One of the criticisms of lobbyists is that they have too direct a role, based on their relationships with government officials, in how laws are written and implemented.
The term iron triangle also known as a cozy triangle describes the ties between congressional committees, administrative agencies whose funding is set by the committees, and the lobbyists who work closely with both.
Few policy areas are still governed by tightly knit subgovernments, however. Policy in areas such as telecommunications and banking generally emerges from much more complex issue networks involving diverse players who are united, if anything, by their expertise in the area. An interest group can influence policy by marshalling its constituents and appealing to the public for support. It may urge its members to write to their representative and senator or even call them on the eve of an important vote.
The NRA is known for its effective use of this tactic. Direct mail can also reach people who are not members and solicit both their backing for a particular policy and a contribution. Interest groups may also directly help candidates who support their positions by providing them with campaign workers and using their own members to get people to vote; they may publicly endorse candidates for office as well as give money to the candidates' campaign funds.
Political action committees PACs are groups that raise and distribute money to candidates. They may be affiliated with an existing interest group, such as a labor union or trade association, but they can be independent. When changes in campaign financing laws in limited the amount of money an individual could contribute, PACs became a major force in American politics. The number of PACs has grown dramatically in the last 20 years, as has the amount of money they donate. Hodges , the Supreme Court case that legalized same-sex marriage nationwide, numerous interest groups filed amicus briefs.
In a 5—4 decision, the U. Supreme Court agreed. Hodges decision is announced. The briefs submitted in Obergefell v. Hodges are available on the website of the U. Supreme Court. While some scholars note that lobbyists sometimes try to influence those on the fence or even their enemies, most of the time, they support like-minded individuals.
Thus, contributions are unlikely to sway lawmakers to change their views; what they do buy is access, including time with lawmakers. The problem for those trying to assess whether interest groups influence lawmakers, then, is that we are uncertain what would happen in the absence of interest group contributions. For example, we can only speculate what the ACA might have looked like had lobbyists from a host of interests not lobbied on the issue.
Interest groups support candidates sympathetic to their views in hopes of gaining access to them once they are in office. PACs and super PACs collect money from donors and distribute it to political groups that they support. Lobbyists also target the executive and judiciary branches. Interest groups and lobbyists often attempt to gain access by first supporting candidates when they run for office.
Since incumbents have an advantage, lobbyists often contribute to them. Second, once legislative members are in office, interest groups and their lobbyists try to encourage them to sponsor legislation the groups wants.
They may target sympathetic lawmakers, legislative leaders, and members of important committees. Skip to main content. Search for:. Pathways of Interest Group Influence Learning Objectives By the end of this section, you will be able to: Describe how interest groups influence the government through elections Explain how interest groups influence the government through the governance processes.
Examine websites for the American Conservative Union and Americans for Democratic Action that compile legislative ratings and voting records. On what issues do these organizations choose to take positions?
Where do your representatives and senators rank according to these groups? Are these rankings surprising? Practice Questions How do interest groups lobby the judicial branch? How do interest groups and their lobbyists decide which lawmakers to lobby?
And where do they do so? Show Selected Answer 2.
0コメント