Name Part I. Chapter Outline Date Due Fri., Oct 23 Mon., Oct 26 Tues., Oct 27 2:30pm Dismissal P-T Conferences Wed., Oct 28 Thurs., Oct 29 2:30pm Dismissal P-T Conferences Mon., Nov 2 Tues., Nov 3 Assignment Date 1. Read Edwards p324-329 2. Reading Questions 1-6 1. Read Edwards p329-333 2. Reading Questions 7-9 3. Terms through 25 1. Read Edwards p333-340- 2. Reading Questions 10-14 3. Washington s Once and Future Lobby Washington Post Article and questions 1. Read Edwards 341-349 2. Reading Questions 15-21 3. Terms through 34 4. Can I Lobby You, Washington Post Article and questions 5. In defense of lobbying Washington Post article list the arguments 6. 5 myths about lobbyists Washington Post article and summarize myth v. reality in margins 1. Finish discussion from Tuesday 2. Interest Group Quiz 1. Interest Group Exam 1. Interest Group Assignment Due Part II. Objectives 1. Define interest groups and distinguish them from political parties. 2. Compare and contrast the pluralist, elite, and hyperpluralist theories of interest groups. 3. Explain what makes an interest group successful and why small groups have an advantage over large groups. 4. Identify and describe the strategies that groups use to shape public policy. 5. Describe some of the many types of groups in the American political system. 6. Evaluate interest groups in terms of their influence on democracy and the scope of government. Part III. Timeline 1833 Anti-Slavery Society Founded 1890 National American Woman Suffrage Association formed 1893 Anti-Saloon League formed 1910 Passage of Federal Corrupt Practices Act (rev 1925, replaced 1971) 1912 U.S. Chamber of Commerce formed 1920 American Civil Liberties Union formed 1955 AFL & CIO merge to form the largest labor union 1958 AARP is created but growth comes with the aging of Baby Boomers 1961 Pres. Eisenhower warns against the military-industrial complex 1971 Federal Election Campaign Act passed 1974 Common Cause represents the interests of middle-class reformers
1976 Buckley v. Valeo ruling upholds public financing of presidential elections and contribution limits in congressional elections 2002 McCain-Feingold Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act limits soft money Part IV. Reading Questions 1. Provide a definition of the term interest group. 2. Name two factors that distinguish interest groups from political parties. 3. Complete the following table on the theories of interest group politics. Theory Definition Role of Groups Who Holds Power Pluralist Theory Elite Theory Hyperpluralist Theory Group Impact on Public Policy 4. List five essential arguments of the group theory of politics. 5. List four major points made by elitist view of the interest group system. 6. List three major points of the hyperpluralist position on group politics. 7. What is the difference between a potential group and an actual group? 8. What is Olson s law of large groups? 9. Define the term single-issue group and give an example. 10. List the four general strategies used by interest groups to shape public policy. 11. What are the two basic types of lobbyists? 12. List four important ways lobbyists can help a member of Congress. 13. Why does PAC money go so overwhelmingly to incumbents? 14. What is an amicus curiae brief? 15. What was the main purpose of the Taft-Hartley Act? 16. List three issues that trade and product associations seek when lobbying Capitol Hill. 17. List three items environmental groups have promoted and three items they have opposed. 18. Name two important organizations involved in promoting equality and summarize their goals. 19. What is meant by a public interest lobby? 20. Summarize the pluralist, elitist, and hyperpluralist perspectives on interest groups and democracy. 21. How do interest groups affect the scope of government? Part V. Questions for Can I Lobby You 1. Why and how does the Constitution protect lobbyists? 2. Why does Mr. Baran say that Jack Abramoff was not representative of most lobbyists? 3. Why does he argue that we need lobbyists? 4. Why does he say that the number of lobbyists has grown? 5. Which, if any, of his recommendations for reducing the excesses of lobbying do you believe would work? Part VI. Questions for Washington s Once and Future Lobby 1. Why does Mr. Birnbaum say that lobbying has grown? 2. What are earmarks and why do lobbyists and lawmakers use them? 3. Why have some companies decided to hire or increase their staff of lobbyists? 4. Why do legislators rely on lobbyists? What do these lobbyists do for them?
Part VII. Interest Groups to pick from for your project You should be familiar with the following Interest Groups. Basically, I want you to know the types of issues these groups are involved in and whether they are generally support liberal or conservatives, or on non-ideological. If I gave you an issue you should know which interest groups would be involved. Use this list to pick your interest group for your assignment. 1. AARP American Association of Retired People* 2. Christian Coalition* 3. NARAL National Abortion Rights Action League* 4. ACLU American Civil Liberties Union* 5. Club for Growth 6. NEA - National Education Association* 7. AFL-CIO American Federation of Labor Congress of Industrial Organizations* 8. Council on American-Islamic Relations 9. National Resources Defense Council 10. ABA - American Bar Association* 11. Emily s List 12. NOW National Organization of Women* 13. American Conservative Union 14. Environmental Defense Fund 15. NRA National Rifle Association* 16. American Farm Bureau 17. Family Research Council 18. PETA People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals 19. AIPAC - American Israel Public Affairs Committee 20. Public Citizen* 21. AMA - American Medical Association* 22. Moveon.org 23. Sierra Club* 24. NAACP National Association of Colored People* 25. US Chamber of Commerce 26. The Business Roundtable 27. NAM - National Association of Manufacturers* 28. Veterans of Foreign Wars* Part VIII. Key Terms Identify & Describe 1. K street 2. Lobby 3. lobbyist
4. solidary incentives 5. material incentives 6. purposive incentives 7. Ralph Nader 8. ratings 9. revolving door 10. political cue 11. issue network 12. think-tanks 13. iron triangle 14. trade association -
15. Interest group 16. pluralist theory 17. elite theory 18. hyperpluralist theory 19. sub governments 20. potential group 21. actual group 22. collective good 23. free-rider problem 24. Olson s law of large groups 25. selective benefits
26. single-issue group 27. lobbying 28. electioneering 29. Political Action Committee (PAC) 30. amicus curiae briefs 31. class action lawsuits 32. union shop 33. right-to-work laws 34. public interest lobbies