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Susan Roberts, Davidson College
The number of interest groups in American politics has multiplied in the last several decades, as have their strategies for influencing public policies and the policymaking process. Originally structured to represent a particular set of concerns and like-minded individuals, interest groups have broadened their lobbying techniques to include contributing to campaigns, get out the vote activities, and recruiting candidates. Commonly termed "interest groups," these associations are also referred to as pressure groups, lobbies, special interests, and organized interests. While these terms are often used interchangeably, interest groups vary in form and focus. These include corporate groups, labor unions, public interest groups, ideological groups, and professional associations. Goals of interest groups are often not readily apparent by their names, and their names often belie an association with a particular political party. Interest groups became embedded in the lexicon of political science in the early 1950s and 1960s through the works of David Truman and Robert Dahl, who initially analyzed them in terms of pluralism, the broadening of the range of voices, and increasing the points of access in the policymaking process. However, interest groups are not as benign as originally assessed. Underlying the evaluation of interest groups in the 2004 U.S. elections is a general understanding of the relationship between money and interests and an appreciation for federal regulation. Political Action Committees (PACs) were defined by the Federal Election Campaign Acts of the early 1970s. These regulations are the product of tortuous legislative battles and are subject to subsequent revisions by legislation and Supreme Court interpretations. Campaign finance laws are currently governed by the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA) of 2002 and its subsequent fine-tuning. These and following questions provide the foundation for evaluating the role of interest groups in the 2004 elections. Contemporary analysis of interest groups includes questions of undue influence of certain groups and their new tactic of direct involvement in campaigns, or electioneering. The 2004 election will therefore prominently feature questions as to the relative influence of interest groups based on at least four components: size, wealth, issue relevance, and group representation. Concerns with size and wealth are one indicator of interest group influence. Are groups with large numbers of members such as the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) effective because of their size or are interest groups such as the Trial Lawyers Association more influential because of their wealth? Given the focus on "values" in both campaigns, attempts by religious and activist social groups that lay claim to the tenets of American society must be closely observed. For example, it remains to be seen whether the issue of same-sex marriage will distinguish either campaign; it is an issue promised to galvanize particular groups, both liberal and conservative. Debate over Homeland Security provisions and the rationale for the war in Iraq will generate further interest group involvement in 2004. In addition, the symbolic representation of various groups, both demographic as well as ideological, is significant for assessing the 2004 election. For example, the recent choice by the Bush campaign to forgo an address to the NAACP but to address the Urban League reveals the question of which group best represents the African American voice and can deliver the most votes in November. The overarching concern behind all of these questions remains whether financial contributions to campaigns constitute a reward or an inducement by interest groups. In general, political scientists have concluded that contributions are more of a reward than an inducement, especially given that the vast majority of PAC monies go to incumbents in both the House and the Senate. Susan Roberts is associate professor of political science at Davidson College. She can be reached at suroberts@davidson.edu and 704-892-2458.
Recent Publications on Interest Groups in Campaign 2004
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