Why are US interest groups so significant?

Lobbying funds

The power of money in lobbying

·         In 2017-18, the finance/industry/real estate sector had the most money spent through lobbying, at $888,175,142

·         In 2017, $3.37bn was spent on lobbying across all sectors

·         In 2018, $9m was spent on lobbying for gun rights, $4m of this was from the NRA alone (40%)

Areas the GOP attracts more funding than the Dems

1.       Energy and natural resources (78% v. 22%)

This may be because energy companies will lobby GOP members of Congress to deny negative effects of energy production, and they will lobby them to be against regulating the energy industry. The reason why more money is focused at the GOP is because they are more likely to already have the views that energy companies want them to have, so they will be more susceptible to being shown research etc. that will sure up the energy industry’s beliefs.

2.       Agribusiness (70% v. 30%)

The GOP will attract more lobbying money from the agribusinesses sector because people concerned with agriculture are more likely to live in rural places and therefore are more likely to support the GOP and be represented by the GOP, so they lobby them more.

Areas the Dems attracts more funding than the GOP

1.       Labour (85% v. 15%)

This is because the Dems are more likely to support worker’s rights than the GOP, and workers unions are a large portion of the Democrat voter base. In 2016, 60% of worker’s union members said that Trump was an “unfavourable candidate”.

2.       Communications/electronics (70% v. 30%)

The Dems represent almost all of California, and the Silicone Valley, as well as cities, which are more likely to have research facilities in electronics. The Dems also have progressive policies in government spending in innovation and support with the younger and more educated voter demographic, all of which are more likely to work in electronics R&D.

Access points

Why does separation of powers create more access points?

As opposed to the UK, where to lobby the legislature or the executive, you have to go through Parliament due to fusion of powers, in the US, separation of powers mean that lobbyists have more access points to government. They have Congress and the White House, but they have to go to either or, they cannot go through one to get to the other.

The Revolving Door

The revolving door is the phenomenon of many Congresspeople, once they have retired, going to work for lobbying firms or their clients who they have formed professional relationships with while in office, where it is illegal to work for them. Ex-Congresspeople are often targeted for their ties within Congress and their already existing political clout and capital from their efforts in creating and passing legislation.

In the 1970, less than 5% of retired Congresspeople became lobbyists, now over ½ do

Examples of lobbying at:

·         individual members of…