Choices and Changes : Interest Groups in the Electoral Process

by Franz, Michael M.

• ISBN13: 9781592136742
• ISBN10: 1592136745
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2008-03-28
• Publisher: Temple Univ Pr

Summary

Choices and Changesis the most comprehensive examination to date of the impact of interest groups on recent American electoral politics. Richly informed, theoretically and empirically, it is the first book to explain the emergence of aggressive interest-group electioneering tactics in the mid-1990s-including "soft money" contributions, issue ads, and "527s" (IRS-classified political organizations).Michael Franz argues that changing political and legal contexts have clearly influenced the behaviour of interest groups. To support his argument, he tracks in detail the evolution of campaign finance laws since the 1970s, examines all soft money contributions-nearly $1 billion in total-to parties by interest groups from 1991 to 2002, and analyzes political action committee (PAC) contributions to candidates and parties from 1983 to 2002. He also draws on his own interviews with campaign finance leaders.Based on this rigorous data analysis and a formidable knowledge of its subject,Choices and Changessubstantially advances our understanding of the significance of interest groups in U.S. politics.

Author Biography

Michael M. Franz is Assistant Professor of Government and Legal Studies at Bowdoin College

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	p. ix
The Puzzle of Interest Group Electioneering	p. 1
Election Law and Electoral Politics Between FECA and BCRA	p. 15
A Theory of Emergent and Changing Interest Group Tactics	p. 51
Putting PACs in (Political) Context(s)	p. 75
Understanding Soft Money	p. 95
Following 527s and Watching Issue Advocacy	p. 118
Tracking the Regulatory Context	p. 145
Conclusion	p. 172
PAC Ideology Measure	p. 189
Notes	p. 193
Bibliography	p. 207
Index	p. 217
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