Name: __________Sarah Martinez____________

Interest Groups and Political Action Committees

Directions: In order to help you learn about the controversies of interest groups and their
actions, go to the following links and answer questions so you can prepare for upcoming formal
assessments. For much of this activity, we will be utilizing the resources of
www.opensecrets.org.
I. Which Industry Supports Which Political Party
1. Based on the data in this chart, make a list of comparing the top industries that gave the
most to each of the following political parties in the !"#! election cycle. !ist the amount they
donated to that party. Your are encouraged to click on the different industries and read about
their background; check out the 2008 cycle to see the money totals.
Industries that "upported the
Democrats
Industries that "upported the
$epu%licans
1. !awyers# !aw firms
$. %etired
&. 'ealth (rofessionals
). "ecurity#Invest
. %eal *state
1. %etired
$. 'ealth (rofessionals
&. "ecurity#Invest
). %eal *state
. Insurance
$. %esearch the 'ealth "ervices#'+, -insurance. industry. %ead the background information
about the industry.
/. 0ho are the top four members of 1ongress that received contributions from this industry2
'atch, ,rrin 3 -%456.
Baucus, +a7 -84+6., +c1onnell
+itch -%49:., Boustany
1harles 0 ;r -%4!/..
B. 0ho are the top three contributors to federal candidates and parties -$<1$.2
Blue 1ross#Blue "hield, 5nitedhealth 3roup, and *7press "cripts
1. 0hat trends do you observe about this industry=s spending on lobbyists2
From =>? until =<> the spending increased and then plateaued until =1$ then dropped off in =1&.
II. &o%%yin'
&. 0hat trends do you observe in the number of lobbyists and the amount of money spent on
lobbying2
6here doesn=t really seem to be an association between the number of lobbyists and the
amount of money spent on lobbying. 6he number of lobbyists seemed to increase through the
years but the amount of money spent seemed to stay the same throughout the years.
). +ake a list of the top five interest group spenders in $<11@include the amount of money they
have spent on lobbying so far.
6op Interest 3roups
/mount of +oney "pent
-$<11.
1. 5" 1hamber of
1ommerce
ABB,&C<,<<<.<<
$. 3eneral *lectric A$B,&)<,<<<.<<
&. Dational /ssn of
%ealtors
A$$,&,)B&.<<
). Blue 1ross#Blue "hield A$$,1<,?<$.<<
. /merican +edical /ssn A$1,<<,<<<.<<
. 8escribe the function of the interest group that has spent the most money on lobbying in
$<11 -you will need to use outside resources.
6he group that had spent the most amount of money was the 1hamber of 1ommerce. 6he
1hamber of 1ommerce is an organization for public businesses, it is so towns and business
owners can advocate for the business community. /lthough it cannot directly make or pass laws
for the business community, it may act as a lobby to try to help laws pass that are beneficial to
businesses.
B. +ake a list of the top three lobbying firms thus far in $<11 -based on money received for their
services.. Include how much money they have received thus far.
6op & !obbying Firms
/mount of +oney %eceived
-$<11.
1. (atton Boggs !!( A)C,C1<,<<<
$. /kin, 3ump et al A&C,>B<,<<<
&. (odesta 3roup A$C,&?<,<<<
C. %ead this article that "/6I%IE*" the lobbying industry and the 5" government
/. "ummarize this article in three sentences or less.
6his article is saying that 0eldon is going to start making changes F,% the people of middle
class, to make sure they are being represented in 0ashington, and going to recognize what
they want to be changed. 6hese changes will#could include health care, affordable college
tuition, infrastructure Fobs, ect.
B. 0hat message is the author trying to convey2
6hat all the previous congressmen haven=t really taken the /merican people into consideration,
but 0eldon has stepped in and is trying to represent the /merican people and making a
statement that changes need to happen to help the middle4class. 'e=s listening to what the
people want and taking it to the national level to try to help them out.
III. (he $e)ol)in' Door:
?. *7plain the meaning of the phrase Grevolving doorH.
6he revolving door refers to when people from the public sector, such as congressmen or
senators, transition into private sectors, such as businesses and industries 4 and vice verse.
>. !ook at the employment history of 6rent !ott, why do you think he was hired to become a
lobbyist2
'e has a lot of e7perience as a legislator. 'e was involved with state senate for 1B years, then
became a 5" senate where he stayed for almost $< years. 6his allowed him to really
understand how the entire legislative process works and allows him to make a name for himself
and to get to know other legislators on a personal basis.
1<. !ook at the employment history of 6om 8aschle. 'ow does he fit the profile of someone who
has been utilized in the Irevolving door=2
6om 8aschle has been utilized in the revolving door both ways. First, he was a 5" "enator from
1>>B until he was defeated in $<<), then he unofficially became a lobbyist for two companies,
the 1enter of /merican (rogress and /lston J Bird. ,bama asked him to become secretary of
health and human services, which would have marked his return to government service.
'owever, he withdrew when he was found out not to have payed A1&<,<<< in ta7es.
11. 0hat are the pros J cons of the Grevolving doorH2 -5se your brainpower to analyze this
controversial issueK.
P$*S o+ $e)ol)in'
Door
C*NS o+ $e)ol)in'
Door
ItLs good to have
people from the
private sector working
for our government
because they have a
lot of e7perience in
private business.
If businesses try and
get legislators for their
businesses it takes
away from the public
and legislators will
only focus on how
much money the
businesses will pay
them when they need
to be focusing on what
the public needs.
I,. Political Action Committees -PACs.:
1$. Briefly e7plain the function of (/1s2
(/1s are used to raise money to help advocate for a candidate or to bring them down. 6here
are different amounts of money raised for different types of candidates -local, state, national,
etc.. 6he money raised for (/1s can be donated from any one person but each (/1 can only
attain A,<<<. 'owever, on "uper (/1s there is no limit as to how much money can be spent
but they cannot make any contributions for a candidate or party. 6hese (/1s can however be
used as a type of propaganda to advocate for a particular candidate or to try and bring another
candidate down.
1&. +ake a list of the top five (/1" in $<<? @include the amount of money the (/1 spent.
6op (/1"
/mount of +oney
"pent -$<<?.
1.Dational /ssn of
%ealtors
A),<&B,)<<.<<
$.Itnl Brotherhood of
*lectrical 0orkers
A&,&>C,<.<<
&./6J6 Inc
A&,1&,$<<
)./merican Bankers
/ssn
A$,>B,$B.<<
. Dational Beer
0holesalers /ssn
A$,?>C,<<<.<<
1). 0hat are !eadership (/1"2
!eadership (/1s are basically Fust an e7tra pot of money that candidates save up for purposes
for themselves or to donate to other members within their parties. By donating to members of
their party it could help them get more votes for a higher political position and gain clout among
their co4workers. ,r some may Fust use the money as a nice way to spend dinner at a fancy
restaurant with their family, or to even hire family members as additional staff to their party.
6here arenLt really restrictions on how the !eadership (/1s can be spent probably because it is
the candidates themselves raising the money for their own campaign.
1. +ake a list of the top five !eadership (/1" in $<1< @include the amount of money the (/1
spent.
6op !eadership (/1" J
6heir /ffiliate -politician.
!ist the (olitician=s !eadership (osition -if
applicable@need to use outside research.
/mount of +oney
"pent -$<1<.
1.*very %epublican is 1rucial
(/1
*ric 1antor -%4Ma. A1,C&),1)B.<<
$.Freedom (roFect ;ohn /. Boehner -%4 ,hio. A1,&1&,B$.<<
&.
/meri(/1N 6he Fund for a
3reater /merica
"teny '. 'oyer -84+d. A1,$C),<<<
).
"enate 1onservatives Fund ;ames 0. 8e+int -%4"1. A1,$)C,$>$
.
B%I83* (/1 ;ames *. 1lyburn -84"1. A1,1B>,<<