interest groups, lobbies & campaign contributions

Question 1

interest groups

Answer 1

associations of individuals/organizations, usually formally organized on of one or more shared interests, attempt to influence public policy

Question 2

types of interest groups (3)

Answer 2

1. occupation-related (labor union)
2. public good-externality issues (peace groups, environmental groups, NRA)
3. religious, ethnic, geographic, national origin

Question 3

lobbies

Answer 3

groups or firms who act as representatives of interest groups to influence policy

Question 4

how can interest groups influence policy? (4)

Answer 4

1. providing candidates/politicians with information about the group’s common interests
2. delivering votes to a candidate for support of group’s interests
3. campaign contributions
4. trying to influence policy choices of elected officials (offering them resources like staffers or soft money)

Question 5

if average of interest groups’ preferred policies = median voter’s peak xM…?

Answer 5

campaign contributions will have no effect on policy outcomes

Question 6

incumbency status

Answer 6

• incumbents in US elections almost always win
• many incumbents are almost certain winners regardless of what they spend

Question 7

factors affecting money’s effect on votes (3)

Answer 7

1. closeness of the race
2. ideological composition of the electorate
3. composition of the expenditures

Question 8

strategic contributions

Answer 8

interest groups may well want to give to both parties as an “insurance”

Question 9

describe Wright (1990) study comparing importance of lobbying & campaign contributions

Answer 9

Representatives’ votes regarding two issues considered by the 99th Congress
1. who should pay for hazardous waste clean (ways & means committee)
2. how to make grain prices more competitive yet maintain income guarantees for individual farmers (agricultural committee)

Question 10

result of Wright (1990) study comparing importance of lobbying & campaign contributions (2)

Answer 10

1. campaign contributions do not seem to drive policy decisions
2. lobbying matters and biases policy

Question 11

Kam (2013) dataset on energy policies & lobbying activities targeting these policies by energy firms + trade associations

Answer 11

conclusion: lobbying matters but has small significance