INTEREST GROUPSRyan D. Williamson

9 April 2015

Agenda• Attendance• Interest Groups in Georgia• Review material from Tuesday• Course Evaluations• Reading for next week

Questions?

Objective

• Describe the role lobbyists play in Georgia politics.

Lobbying in Georgia

• Georgia has about 1400 lobbyists representing more than 3000 interests.

• The major groups include those representing doctors, lawyers, public education, the environment, business, and various other professionals.

• Ideological groups such as the ACLU and Christian Coalition are also well established in the state.

• Labor unions are generally powerful groups but are practically non-existent in Georgia given the right-to-work status.

Lobbyists in Georgia

• Almost all lobbyists fit into one of four categories1. A full time lobbyists who is employed by a company

• AT&T for example

2. A contract lobbyists who works for multiple clients• Georgia Link for example

3. Those representing non-profit organizations• Bill & Melinda Gates foundation for example

4. Those representing state agencies• The Board of Regents for example

Role of Lobbyists in Georgia

• Much like in the US Congress, interest groups serve as vital outlets of information for members of the Georgia General Assembly.

• They also serve as reliable sources of campaign contributions for members seeking reelection.

Questions?

Suppose that a congressional committee is considering new laws regulating mattress manufacturing. During this debate, the mattress manufacturer Sealy Inc. sends representatives to talk with policy makers about the needs and wishes of mattress producers. Generally speaking, this kind of activity is called what?

A. Litigating

B. Lobbying

C. Petitioning

D. Soliciting

In interest group politics, an entrepreneur is what?

A. An individual who attempts to influence policy makers by speaking to them directly.

B. An individual who seeks to mobilize constituents and others outside the policy-making community to contact or pressure policy makers.

C. A leading group participant who is so committed to the group’s goals or so skilled in the pursuit of that goal that he or she does not need selective incentives.

D. A potential participant in a group for whom the cost of participating is very low or the benefits of participating are very high.

Suppose that an environmental organization offers an exclusive T-shirt to people who join the groups and pay the first year’s dues. What is the most likely reason a strategic organization would do this?

A. Offering a selective incentive like this can help them overcome a free-rider problem.

B. The T-shirt is a distraction from the organization’s main purpose, so doing this does not make any sense.

C. They can raise awareness about environmentally friendly cotton by using it to make the shirts.

D. They can simply include the price of the T-shirt in the dues.

Suppose that one interest group has a goal of advancing women’s rights by working to convince Congress and state legislatures to adopt and Equal Rights Amendment to the Constitution. Another women’s advocacy groups tries to advance women’s rights by submitting amicus curiae briefs to the USSC on major cases related to discrimination against women. In this context, what collective dilemma are these two groups facing?

A. A collective-action problem

B. A coordination problem

C. A principal-agent problem

D. A prisoner’s dilemma

In New York, a group called Cease PCB Dredging has tried to raise public awareness of the environmental problems posed by dredging the Hudson River. They hope this added awareness will put pressure on policy makers to stop this activity. Cease PCB Dredging is engaging in what activity?

A. Direct lobbying

B. Indirect lobbying

C. Inside lobbying

D. Outside lobbying

Answer Key

1. B

2. C

3. A

4. B

5. D

Questions?

Remaining Schedule

April 14: Kollman ch. 9, Quiz 4

April 16: No class

April 21: Kollman ch. 13

April 23: B&G ch. 13, Quiz 5, review

May 5: Final Exam