Lobbying in Coalitions

1
Lobbying in Coalitions

• Session 30

Lobbying the Court Political Disadvantage Theory
2
Coalitions, continued

• Free riding when different considerations are at
  issue
• Free riding versus cheap riding
• Legislative goals versus professional benefits
• Example religious persecution, religious
  freedom, and chewing gum

3
Coalitions, continued

• What are the incentives?
• What are the imperatives?
• A large number of policymakers
• A large number of interest organizations paradox
  more organizations means each organization
  individually is less powerful

4
Coalitions, continued

• Shaping the agenda from within
• Example the Committee for Education Funding
• Coalition strategies
• are effective
• Information as a
• selective benefit

5
Coalition Structure Asymmetrical

• Core Members founders
• Willing to expend high level of resources to
  promote overall legislative victory
• Players specialists
• Join coalition for tactical reasons these groups
  are interested in shaping specific provisions of
  the legislation. They are also willing to spend
  high levels of resources to achieve their
  specific policy goals
• Peripheral Groups tag alongs
• Have non-policy incentives such as information
  and maintenance benefits they are not willing to
  expend significant resources for coalition
  victory the coalition participation can be an
  end in itself

6
Interest Organizations and the Courts

• A question of venue
• The Theory Political Disadvantage Theory Some
  groups depend on the judicial process to pursue
  their policy interests because they are
  temporarily or permanently disadvantaged in their
  access to other resources such as votes, social
  standing, or money.

venue
7

• Revising the theory
• Political Resources in Litigation
• Explaining Interest Group Litigation

8

• Conclusion
• Political Disadvantage Theory is not confirmed
  when interest group behavior is observed directly