The Last Word: No Homework

FrontPage: How is the practice of lobbying both good and bad for our democracy?

October 1st: National Homemade Cookies DayOctober 2nd: National Name Your Car DayOctober 4th: National Taco DayOctober 8th: Canadian Thanksgiving

Though it does not mark a specific gathering of two groups like the U.S. version, Canadian Thanksgiving offers a great excuse to gobble down a turkey dinner in the name of neighborly solidarity.October 14th: national lowercase dayOctober 15th: Global Handwashing DayOctober 18th: National No Beard DayOctober 19th: Evaluate Your Life DayOctober 24th: National Bologna Day

Bologna has roots in Bologna, Italy, derived from a sausage made there called mortadella. October 30th: Devil’s Night

17 Offbeat Holidays You Can Celebrate in October

Affecting Public Policy: (aka)…Influencing the Decisions of Government

• What are the two ways that interest groups can influence the government?1. Influence the decision-makers…

2. Change the decision-makers

L#@bying..

(#1 - influencing the decision-makers)

The Dirty Word in Politics:

Influencing Officials - Lobbying– Lobbyist: Person who advocates on behalf of himself or a

client (e.g., interest group) to pass a law or to make changes to a bill being considered in a federal or state legislative body, or to help shape policy in the executive branch and its regulatory departments. • Who becomes a lobbyist?

• In the course of meeting with representatives and government officials, what must a lobbyist NEVER do?

• What can lobbyists do to have a direct effect on the bills that placed before Congress?

• Why do you think lobbying is controlled and monitored?

How much is spent on lobbyists?

Top spenders on lobbyists

#2: Changing the Decision-makers: Influencing Elections

Aside from influencing the decision-makers, many groups in

society try to change the decision-makers

They do this in many different ways…not just with campaign contributions.

Influencing Elections: Interest Groups

Although interest groups are barred from contributing to candidates, they still have

“weapons” in their arsenal to try and influence who wins an

election.1) Candidate endorsement2) Voter mobilization3) Some types of issue advocacy

Influencing Elections: PACs

• Political Action Committee– A group whose sole purpose is to raise and spend money

on candidate campaigns– Usually, but not always, affiliated/associated with an

interest group• PACs exist because IGs, unions, corporations, etc.

are prohibited from contributing to campaigns• Example:– AFT and the CSPE

Contribution limits - FEC

To candidate To Party Other PACs Special Limits

Individualmay give $2,500* $30,800* $5,000

$117,000* overall biennial limit:• $46,200* to all candidates

• $70,800* to all PACs and parties[2]

Partymay give $5,000 No limit $5,000

$43,100* to Senate candidate per campaign

[3]PAC

may give $5,000 $15,000 $5,000 No limit

Influencing Elections: PACS

PACs raise and spend money directly on candidate’s campaigns

Don’t typically run ads or do voter mobilization

PAC money – candidate – candidate ad

Influencing Elections: 527 groups• A relatively new player on the scene, – A 527 is a non-profit organization formed under Section 527 of the

Internal Revenue Code, • These groups actively influence elections and policy debates at all levels of

government, but do not advocate explicitly for election or defeat of candidates.

• On the federal level, 527s cannot coordinate with or contribute to a federal candidate in any way. – May not expressly advocate for the election or defeat of a specific federal candidate

(“magic words”), but can run ads that “paint a picture”» include “vote for,” “elect,” “support,” “cast your ballot for,” “Smith for Congress,”

“vote against,” “defeat,” and “reject.”

– At the state level, the rules are different. Section 527 organizations generally can, and frequently do, give money directly to state and local candidates.

Top 527s– 2011-2012

527 ad

Influencing Elections: Super-PACs

• The newest player on the scene, • Created in July 2010 as a result of

SpeechNow.org v. Federal Election Commission.– Technically known as independent expenditure-

only committees, Super PACs may raise unlimited sums of money and spend unlimited sums to overtly advocate for or against political candidates.

• They are forbidden to donate directly to candidates

Top Super PACs

Super PAC ad

SO…what is the point?

• What’s the point of all this…different groups, doing different things…trying to influence government, who it is and what it does, and spending a lot of money in the process?