POLS 303: Politics of Organized Interests

Department of Political Science

Fall 2018
MWF 12:00-12:50 pm (Clark C 359)

Professor: Dr. Mitchell Sellers ([email protected])

Office: 326 Clark C Hall
Office Hours: Mondays/Wednesday 10:00-11:30 am (or by appointment)
Homepage: http://sites.temple.edu/msellers/

• To help me keep track of email messages, please include POLS 303 in the subject line of
any email message you send to me.

Course Description and Objectives

Perhaps the one political pastime extensively engaged in and thoroughly enjoyed by both
average citizens and elected officials is railing against the influence wielded by special interests
in American politics. Business interest groups and their political clout are overwhelmingly
looked upon with distaste, viewed as sneaky, corrupt, and ultimately dangerous to America’s
representative democracy.

However, public interest groups also received greater attention in recent years. Much like the
1960s, social justice groups are fighting for social change in the 2010s. The Culture War
includes: Black Lives Matter; the Christian Right; Environmentalists; the Feminist Movement
(#MeToo); the LGBTQ Movement – just to name a few. These groups are fighting amongst
themselves, along with against government and big business at times. This course examines the
role and influence of interest groups in American politics by teaching students how to become
effective interest group leaders.

The learning objectives are for students to:

• Recognize the importance of interest representation in a free society
• Explain the constitutional basis for the American interest group system
• Comprehend how interest groups are formed and maintained
• Increase their awareness of the tactics and methods used by interest groups to influence
politics and public policy
• Realize the crucial role played by interest groups and social justice movements, such as the
Feminist Movement and Black Lives Matter, in fostering social change
• Effectively participate in and take advantage of the American interest group universe

Required Text (copies are on reserve at Morgan Library)

Nownes, Anthony. (2013). Interest Groups in American Politics. 2nd Edition. Routledge. ISBN:
978-0415894265.

Required Software: Echo 360

We will use the program Echo 360 to take attendance, quizzes and foster discussion throughout
the semester. The program is free for students. It allows students to use their computers or
smart phones to answer questions and take attendance in class. Texting in answers is also
possible. For alternative ways of participating, such as on paper, please speak with Dr. Sellers.
There is no penalty if you do not have these electronics, but you will be asked to sit towards the
front of the class, so that you can quickly hand in your answers on paper.

Required Videos (copies are on reserve at Morgan Library)

* 100 years (2016) (1 hr. 15 min)
*** A Class Apart (2009) (1 hr. 29 min)
* AWAKE: A Dream from Standing Rock (2017) (1 hr. 28 min)
* The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution (2015) (1 hr. 29 min)
* Dirty Money (episode 3) (2018) (1 hr. 6 min)
God in America (episodes 5 and 6) Free here
* KKK: The Fight for White Supremacy (2015) (52 min)
*** How to Survive a Plague (1 hr. 49 min)
* Water & Power: A California Heist (2017) (1 hr. 27 min)

*Available streaming on Netflix

**Available streaming through Audible
*** Available on YouTube

Class Participation/Attendance
Students are expected to do the readings, attend class, and participate in class discussions. My
lectures will be organized around the topics and readings found in the schedule outlined below.
Lectures will include interactive discussion of the core themes of the readings. Students should
read the assigned literature before class in order to participate. If a class is canceled due to
extenuating circumstances, a video lecture may be posted to keep us on track. I will do my
best to not cancel any lectures. As with all the required assigned materials, students are
responsible for content covered in these makeup video lectures as well.

You are responsible for the content of all classes, including issues raised in the spontaneous class
discussions. Attendance may be checked at random throughout the semester. Also, note that class
participation accounts for 15% of your grade, so missing classes will negatively influence your
final grade. As a matter of mutual courtesy, please let the instructor know when you’re going to
be late, when you’re going to miss class, or if you need to leave early. Please try to do any of
these as little as possible. If you must miss a class, please request notes from your classmates
prior to contacting me (then you can come to my office for questions).

Class Discussions
The course will have a series of discussions throughout the semester (9 discussion days with 4-5
students participating as leaders in each discussion). Rather than outright debating, each student
that serves as a discussion leader for the day will propose solutions or policy reforms to address
the problem for the discussion day (transparency, attack ads, political tactics etc.). You are to act
as the advocate of your solution for the day. This includes introducing your proposal at the start
of class and continuously promoting/encouraging discussion of why these reforms would help.
See instructions in Canvas for more details.
Discussion days are selected at the start of the semester. In addition to leading discussion,
students are expected to write a 400-600 word paper (due 2 days before the day of their
discussion), where they discuss the problems outlined by the assigned materials. The paper will
then provide a brief overview of 2-3 possible solutions to the problems discussed. Students are
expected to bring in evidence from current events, scholarly articles or reputable news
sources to support the arguments made in their paper and during the discussion.

Students are expected to attend all discussions. The paper is worth 5% of your final grade, your
performance in leading discussion is worth 5%, and your participation in other discussions is
worth 10%, for a total of 20% of your final grade. A more detailed explanation of what is
expected from discussion participants is provided on Canvas.

Essays
Students are expected to write two essays. These essays are intended to stimulate student
engagement with the content and to prepare students for upcoming exams. The paper should be
between 1,500-1,750 words (double-spaced, Times New Roman, 1 inch margins) and must
include a References page (not part of the word count) if outside sources are utilized.

Essays must be submitted on Canvas by 11:59 pm MST on the due date. Any assignments
submitted after midnight will be treated as late regardless of an excused attendance (submission
is online and can be done early). Grades and comments will be returned via Canvas in the grades
section. Each essay is worth 10% of your overall grade, which accounts for 20% of your final
grade.

A more detailed explanation of what is expected from these essays and how to write a good
paper is provided in the files section on Canvas. Note that Vericite evaluates all submissions for
plagiarism. Be sure to cite any and all sources that you draw from. Any plagiarism will be given
a 0 for the assignment, and will be submitted to the University for Disciplinary Review.

Midterm and Final Exam

There are two exams – a Midterm and Final (cumulative). Both exams will test your knowledge
of the material covered in the lectures and in the assigned readings/videos. The Midterm will
consist of 30 multiple choice questions and 10 matching questions (all questions are worth 2.5
points each). The Final will be 20 multiple choice questions and 10 matching questions (worth
60% of the final) with 2 essay responses (worth 40% of the final). The Midterm is worth 20% of
your final grade; the Final is worth 25% of your final grade.

Make-up Exams, Missed Classes and Late Papers

As a matter of mutual courtesy, please let Dr. Sellers know when you are going to be late, when
you are going to miss class, or if you need to leave early. Please try to do any of these as little as
possible. If you must miss a class, please request notes from your classmates prior to contacting
me. Students may then supplement their notes by coming to my office during office hours to
view slides or ask questions. However, this should be done sparingly, and be aware that I do not
give my powerpoint slides to students, except under extenuating circumstances.
It is expected that no students will miss any exams or classes. No make-up exams or
participation points will be possible unless due to university excused absences, which will
require documentation and must be brought to Dr. Sellers’ attention prior to the class that you
know that you will miss. An unexcused absence on an exam results in a grade of 0%. Essays not
turned in by their due date will incur a grade reduction of 10% every day after the deadline (and
will not be accepted if it is more than 2 days late). Since essays are submitted through Canvas,
this applies to all students (even those with excused absences).

Extra Credit
The class may receive up to two points of extra credit toward their overall final grade by
working as a team on a scavenger hunt. That means if your final grade is an 88, the extra credit
will bump your grade to a 90.

To receive credit for the scavenger hunt: you must complete a series of tasks worth different
points. These tasks include: lobbying state legislators, governors and designing ballot initiatives.
Strategize with each other and work like an interest group to complete tasks (your interest is
getting an A). You get 1 bonus point bonus for earning 50 points, and 2 bonus points for earning
70 points. Dr. Sellers is always available to tell you the easiest/best way to complete tasks or
answer any questions you may have. The Straayer Center may be allowed to help you on some
tasks; however, remember that they are nonpartisan. You are not allowed to break any laws,
but you can use any/all resources at your disposal (including friends and family) to accomplish
your tasks. The tasks must be completed by the last day of class: Friday, December 5. Also,
pictures or it doesn’t count.

Summary of Grading
15% Class Participation/Attendance
5% Discussion Paper
5% Discussion Leader Day
10% General Participation in Discussions
20% Essays (2 worth 10% each)
20% Midterm Exam
25% Final Exam

Course Grades
Final grades will be assigned based on the scale below:
98% - 100% A+ 80% - 82.9% B-
93% - 97.9% A 77% - 79.9% C+
90% - 92.9% A- 70% - 76.9% C
87% - 89.9% B+ 60% - 69.9% D
83% - 86.9% B 59.9% or less F

Unless a computational error has been made, grades will not be changed after the end of the
semester. Only in the rarest of circumstances will I grant an Incomplete (‘I’).
Academic Dishonesty
Students are encouraged to discuss homework and reading outside of class, but I expect all
submitted work to be the product of individual effort. Written assignments will be checked for
plagiarism using Vericite, which is Colorado State University’s plagiarism detection software.
Be sure to cite all sources.

Plagiarism, failure to cite texts or ideas borrowed from other sources, copying written
assignments from other students, falsifying attendance records, and cheating during exams are all
acts of academic misconduct. All academic misconduct will result in a 0 for the assignment,
and may be submitted to the University for Disciplinary Review. This will drop your overall
grade significantly. Repeated academic misconduct will result in a failing grade for the
course.

Academic Freedom Policy

Freedom to teach and freedom to learn are inseparable facets of academic freedom. The
University has adopted a policy on Student and Faculty Academic Rights and Responsibilities,
which can be accessed through the following link: https://president.colostate.edu/memorandum-
of-understanding-on-academic-freedom/

Accommodations for Students with Disabilities

This course is open to all students who meet the academic requirements for participation. Any
student who has a need for accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact Dr.
Sellers privately to discuss the possibility of accommodations as soon as possible.

Colorado State University is committed to providing students with access to its facilities and the
technology and information they need to succeed in and out of the classroom, and that these
resources are accessible in accordance with applicable law. Students who need accommodations
for coursework should contact Dr. Sellers and the Student Disability Center online
(https://disabilitycenter.colostate.edu/), by phone (970-491-6385) or in person in TILT Building,
room 121 to coordinate reasonable accommodations.

Counseling and Student Health

Students may occasionally have personal issues that arise in the course of pursuing higher
education or that may interfere with their academic performance. If you or a friend find yourself
facing problems affecting your coursework, you are encouraged to talk with an instructor and to
seek confidential assistance at CSU Health Network Counseling Services: CSU Health &
Medical Center, 151 W. Lake St. Drop-in hours: Monday-Friday 9 am- 4 pm (970-491-7121) or
Mental Health Crisis Intervention: (970) 491-7111 (after hours emergencies ONLY) Visit their
website for more information: https://health.colostate.edu/mental-emotional-health/.

FREE Crisis intervention is always available 24/7 from:

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: (800) 273-TALK (8255).
Course Schedule
Section 1: Introduction to Interest Groups
Week 1: August 20-24
Aug 20 Intro to Course
Assigned: None

Aug 22 Effective Communication and Strategery

Assigned: Syllabus

Aug 24 Coordinating Response/Electioneering Strategy

Assigned: Mayer, Semiatin and Graf (2017) Campaign Press Coverage –
Changed Forever, Ch. 9, Campaigns on the Cutting Edge.
Francia, Joe and Wilcox (2017) Campaign Finance – New
Realities Beyond Citizens United, Ch. 10, Campaigns on
the Cutting Edge.

Week 2: August 27-31

Aug 27 Introduction to Interest Groups
Assigned: Nownes: Ch. 1
America’s Lobbying System is Broken (Huffington Post)

Aug 29 Introduction to Interest Groups

Assigned: Walker (1983) “The Origins and Maintenance of Interest Groups
in America.” American Political Science Review. 77(2):
390-406.

Aug 31 Collective Action Problems

Assigned: Salisbury (1969) “An Exchange Theory of Interest Groups.”
Midwest Journal of Political Science. 13(1): 1-32.

Week 3: September 3-7

Sept 3 NO CLASS: Labor Day
Assigned: None

Sept 5 Introduction to Pluralism

Assigned: Nownes: Ch. 3

Sept 7 Critiques of Pluralism

Assigned: Federalist No. 10 (Federalist Papers)
Truman (1971) “Group Politics and Representative Democracy,”
Governmental Process: Political Interests and Public
Opinion

Week 4: September 10-14

Sept 10 History of Interest Groups
Assigned: Nownes: Ch. 2
Sept 12 History of Interest Groups
Assigned: How Corporate Lobbyists Conquered American Democracy
(Atlantic)
Interest Groups, By Any Other Name (New York Times)

Sept 14 Discussion 1: The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution

Assigned: Video

Section 2: A Look at Interest Groups

Week 5: September 17-21
Sept 17 Avoiding Capture: Interest Groups and Political Parties
Assigned: Nownes: Ch. 7

Sept 19 Avoiding Capture: Interest Groups and Political Parties

Assigned: Frymer (1999) “Competitive Parties and the “Invisibility” of
Captured Groups,” Uneasy Alliances: Race and Party
Competition in America.

Sept 21 Avoiding Capture: Interest Groups and Political Parties

Assigned: Sexual Harassment at Work in the Era of #MeToo (Pew Research)

Week 6: September 24-28

Sept 24 Big Business and Iron Triangles
Assigned: Schattschneider (1960) “The Scope and Bias of the Pressure
System,” The Semisovereign People: A Realist’s View of
Democracy in America
Watch: Corporate Taxes (Last Week Tonight) (16 min)

Sept 26 Big Business and Iron Triangles

Assigned: Gais, Peterson and Walker (1984) Interest Groups, Iron Triangles
and Representative Institutions in American National
Government. British ournal of Political Science. 14(2):
161-185.
When Poverty is Profitable (Atlantic)

Sept 28 Discussion 2: Water & Power: A California Heist

Assigned: Video

**************************** Essay 1 Due in Canvas ******************************

Week 7: October 1-5

Oct 1 Maintenance/Internal Politics
Assigned: Sabatier and McLaughlin (1990) Belief Congruence between
Interest-group Leaders and Members: An Empirical
Analysis of Three Theories and a Suggested Synthesis.
Journal of Politics 52(3): 914-935.
Oct 3 Identity Politics
Assigned: What are Identity Politics? (3 min)
Are Identity Politics Dangerous (Economist) (3 min)
Bernstein (2005) Identity Politics. Annual Review of Sociology. 31:
47-74. (Canvas)

Oct 5 Assessing Representation: When to know you are “captured”

Assigned: Yackee and Yackee (2006) A Bias Towards Business? Assessing
Interest Group Influence on the US Bureaucracy. Journal of
Politics. 68(1): 128-139. (Canvas)
Watch: Equifax (Last Week Tonight) (15 min)

Week 8: October 8-12

Oct 8 Discussion 3: AWAKE: A Dream from Standing Rock
Assigned: Everything

Oct 10 Midterm Exam

Oct 12 No Class
Assigned: None

Section 3: Think Like a Leader

Week 9: October 15-19
Oct 15 Policymaking: Knowing your options
Assigned: Burstein (2003) The Impact of Public Opinion on Public Policy: A
Review and an Agenda. Political Research Quarterly,
56(1): pp. 29-40. (Canvas)
Listen: Crack 101: Episode 2

Oct 17 Policymaking: Short v Long-term Plans

Assigned: The Logic of Bad Policies (US Newsweek)

Oct 19 Discussion 4: A Class Apart

Assigned: Video

Week 10: October 22-26

Oct 22 Outsider Strategies: Shaping Public Opinion
Assigned: Nownes: Ch. 4
Lobbying for the Faithful (Pew Research) (pages 1-5)

Oct 24 Outsider Strategies: Shaping Public Opinion

Assigned: #MeToo Has Changed Our Culture. Now It’s Changing Our Laws.
(Pew Research)
Yanovitzky (2002) Effects of News Coverage on Policy Attention
and Actions: A Closer Look into the Media-Policy
Connection. Communication Research. 29(4): 422-451.
Oct 26 Discussion 5: God in America: Episode 5 and Episode 6 (Click Here)
Assigned: Video

Week 11: October 29-November 2

Oct 29 Outsider Strategies: Mobilizing Support
Assigned: Nownes: Ch. 7

Oct 31 Outsider Strategies: Mobilizing Support

Assigned: Nownes: Ch. 9

Nov 2 Discussion 6: 100 Years and KKK: The Fight for White Supremacy
Assigned: Both Videos

Week 12: November 5-9

Nov 5 Outsider Strategies: Electioneering and Ballot Initiatives
Assigned: Nownes: Ch. 6
Interest Groups Report Major Political Contributions (Washington
Post)

Nov 7 Outsider Strategies: Electioneering and Ballot Initiatives

Assigned: Astroturfing (Last Week Tonight) (17 min)
Colorado Ballot Initiative Issues to Watch in 2018
Public Policy Institute of California. How Interest Groups Use the
Initiative Process in California. Research Brief. (Canvas)

Nov 9 Discussion 7: Incorruptible

Assigned: Video

Week 13: November 12-16

Nov 12 Insider Strategies
Assigned: Nownes: Ch. 5
Lobbying Battle begins over GOP Tax Bill (Washington Post)
The Solution to Lobbying is more Lobbying (Washington Post)

Nov 14 Insider Strategies

Assigned: Stoutenborough, Haider-Markel and Allen (2006) Reassessing the
Impact of Supreme Court Decisions on Public Opinion:
Gay Civil Rights Cases. Political Research Quarterly,
59(3): pp. 419-433. (Canvas)
Watch: Economic Development (Last Week Tonight) (15 min)

Nov 16 Discussion 8: Dirty Money: Episode 3

Assigned: Video

Week 14: November 19-23

*************************** NO CLASS: Fall Break ***************************
Week 15: November 26-30
Nov 26 Coordinating Efforts
Assigned: McClain and Stewart (2010) Coalition or Competition Patterns of
Interminority Group Relations,” Chapter 5, Can We All Get
Along? (Canvas)

Nov 28 Negotiations
Assigned: Fisher and Ury (1981) “Yes, But…” Chapter 3, Getting to Yes:
Negotiating Agreement without Giving In. (Canvas)

Nov 30 Leadership Strategies/Styles

Assigned: 15 Ways to Identify Bad Leaders
Eagly and Johannessen-Schmidt (2001) The Leadership Styles of
Women and Men. Journal of Social Issues. 57(4): 781-797.
(Canvas)
**************************** Essay 2 Due in Canvas ******************************

Week 16: December 3-7

Dec 3 Discussion Day 9: How to Survive a Plague
Assigned: Video

Dec 5 The Revolving Door and Course Wrap Up

Assigned: Nownes: Ch. 10
Shadow Lobbyists and the Revolving Door

Dec 7 Review Session

Assigned: Everything since Midterm

************* Final Exam is Wednesday, December 12 from 7:30-9:30 am *************

Important Dates:
Sept 28 Essay 1 Due 11:59 pm
Oct 10 Midterm Exam (In-Class)
Nov 30 Essay 2 Due 11:59 pm
Dec 12 Final Exam from 7:30-9:30 am (In-Class)

End Course Withdrawals ("W") Period, Repeat/Delete Deadline Monday, Oct 15, 2018
Last day of classes Friday, Dec 7, 2018