Why did only 50.7% of Americans vote?
Declining Turnout in Presidential Elections, 1836-1996
81 84 82 80
70
60
5057 60
51
64 61 6256 55 54 54
5056
50
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
Lack of Mobilization 1876-1896, turnout in presidential
elections averaged 80%Now, 50.7% despite unprecedented
GOTV Decreasing party mobilization Fewer competitive races for Congress elections are less important
Systematic Explanations Too many elections! 521,000 elected
offices hassle to vote in US
Registration No compulsory voting elections are held on Tuesdays
Voter Registration Voting is a 2 step process; increases “costs” in
time and information Only 71% of citizens are registered to vote Consequence-- skewed electorate; better
educated, higher income, fewer minorities Solutions-
Same day registration Motor voter law
Who do non registered voters prefer? 43% Gore, 28% Bush
Costs v. Benefits of Voting Costs
Registration Hassles Information
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Solutions
1. Easier registration
2. E vote, mail in ballots
3. Group mobilization
4. Fewer elections
Benefits Psychic Policy
Solutions
1. Minority voters
2. Conservatives in 98’
3. Reduce cynicism about politics
4. Vote matters
Should we be concerned that only 50.7% of Americans voted?
low turnout NOT a problem reflects contentment George Will “As more people are
nagged to the polls, the caliber of the electorate declines.
no difference between voters and non-voters preferences
Low Turnout IS a problemVoting pool is unrepresentative of nation
HMO bill of rights vs uninsuredStates with higher voter turnout have
large and more comprehensive welfare
MosleyAmerica’s Youth: New Forms of
Political Engagement ? Are youth politically apathetic? If they don’t vote, what do they do instead?
Why? Evidence? Plausibility? Who votes? Cost-benefit analysis
Government is too beholden to special interests and does not listen to people like me.
True or false?
Home Schooling Story Although most citizens don’t participate
actively in politics, many are associated with groups that are
mobilizing inactive citizens is an effective strategy of political influence
IG have adopted state of the art technologies to replace traditional strategies of lobbying and electing sympathetic candidates
elected officials are highly responsive to organized and aroused interests.
Definition of Interest Groupan organized body of individuals who
share some goals and who try to influence public policy Parties largely try to determine who
occupies positions in government interest groups primarily try to affect
the decisions that others make
Evolution of IGTocqueville “Americans are forever
forming associations”Four Waves of IG Formation
broad based or peak organizations NAM, AMA
Narrow economic groups, American Soybean Association
public non profit groups US police Canine association
Ideological Groups NOW
Normative ?s about IG Is this growth of interest groups a good
thing? What is the appropriate role of interest
groups in a democracy? Madison
Causes of Factions Are Sown Into the Nature of Man
Remedy is Worse Than the Disease
PluralismPolitics is a struggle between groupsFor every interest, there is a groupPolicy reflects the balance of power
between groups in societyReflects the intensity of preferences as
well as the direction No permanent losers
Critiques of Pluralism "The heavenly chorus of the interest
group process sings with an upper-class accent."
Collective Action problemOvercoming the free rider problem
Solidarity benefits Material benefits Purposive benefits
Goals of Interest Groups Improve Probability that Their Interests
Will Be Treated Favorably Influence Policy-Making Process
Inside GameFocus is on Governing Officials
Lobbying Litigation Electoral Politics Political Action Committees (PAC’s)
BRIBERY IS NOT WIDESPREAD!!!
PACs– Good or BadPACs political action committeesSolicit $$ from members of groupFormal way for interest groups to get
involved in politicsDo PACs exercise a corrupting
influence on election and policy making process
"The Outside Game" Focus is on shaping public opinion
Indirect influence Publicity and Mass Appeal Mass Mailing Organize the District
Why Groups Use Different Tactics group characteristics
Exxon vs. Greenpeacesituational characteristics
Outs vs. the InsConvergence between outside and
inside strategies MICROSOFT, The Empire Strikes Back
Interest Group Influence empirical component
how powerful are they?normative component
how powerful should they be?
Iron Triangles Alliance of common interest between an
interest group, a congressional committee, and a bureaucratic agency
Department of Defense/Pentagon- House and Senate Armed Services Committee—and Defense Contractors
interest groups play the dominant role Outsiders are shut out Lowi’s interest group liberalism
Issue Networks larger and looser connection of interest
groups, committees, and agencies in a particular policy area
Case of Tobacco PolicyMore open and less stable than old
trianglesMore closely resembles that of pluralist
doctrine
Hyperpluralism Too many interest groups= Gridlock
3,400 lobbyists in 1975; 9,000 in 1990 608 PACs in 1975; 4,000+ in 1990
Example of health care reformdemosclerosis
Influence of IG is conditional most influential
on low profile issues In blocking actions; hard to originate When unopposed by other groups If they have plentiful resources