POLS 1101 Lecture Notes - Lecture 13: Amicus Curiae, Political Action Committee, Term Of Office
6 Jul 2018
School
Department
Course
Professor
POLS 1101
Bankert
10/10/17
Interest Groups and Congress
Proliferation of interest groups
Number of interest groups has grown exponentially over the last few decades
Why?
How interest groups try to influence the government
Through lobbying
What is lobbying? Strategy by which organized interests seek to influence the passage
of legislation or other public policy by exerting direct pressure on members of the legislature
Using the Courts
Bringing suit directly on behalf of group itself
Financing suits brought by individuals
Filing amicus curiae briefs to an existing court case
Mobilizing public opinion
Institutional advertising
Organizing protests and demonstrations
Grassroots mobilization
Through elections
PACs
Super PACs
Campaign activism
Ballot initiatives
Iron Triangles
Interest groups provide
Campaign contributions to members of Congress and lobbying for larger agency
budgets
Government agencies provide
Government contracts that are helpful to interest groups and members of Congress
Members of Congress provide
Larger budgets for the agency; policies the interest group favors
US Congress
Differences between Senate and House
Term length (6 years vs. 2 years)
Minimum age and citizenship requirement
Degree of deliberation
Document Summary
Number of interest groups has grown exponentially over the last few decades. How interest groups try to influence the government. Strategy by which organized interests seek to influence the passage of legislation or other public policy by exerting direct pressure on members of the legislature. Bringing suit directly on behalf of group itself. Filing amicus curiae briefs to an existing court case. Campaign contributions to members of congress and lobbying for larger agency budgets. Government contracts that are helpful to interest groups and members of congress. Larger budgets for the agency; policies the interest group favors. Representatives have the same racial, gender, ethnic, religious, or educational backgrounds as their constituents. When constituents have the power to hire and fire their representatives. Representatives should adhere to the will of their constituents. Representatives should consider the will of their constituents but act in ways that they believe are best for the long-term interest of the nation.
