More Than Money: Interest Group Action in Congressional Elections
While interest groups have long been at the center of the study of American politics, most explorations of their influence have tended to dwell on lobbying. When political scientists do look at groups' electoral activities, they tend to study contribution activity by political action committees. But a whole world of political activity has emerged that is not confined to PAC contributions. Activities such as issue advocacy, independent expenditures, and voter mobilization go well beyond the limits set by federal law. More Than Money is the first attempt to understand this world of interest group action in a theoretical fashion. It links data gathered through ten case studies to broader ideas about interest groups, political parties, and congressional elections. It examines what resources groups possess for political action, how they are linked to the incentives groups offer to members, and how groups can apply those resources effectively. It also looks at how groups adapt to changing political and legal contexts, and provides a better understanding of the relationship between interest groups and political parties. More Than Money does all this in a clear, accessible style and with numerous quotations from top players at interest groups such as NARAL and the NRA.
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More Than Money: Interest Group Action in Congressional Elections
While interest groups have long been at the center of the study of American politics, most explorations of their influence have tended to dwell on lobbying. When political scientists do look at groups' electoral activities, they tend to study contribution activity by political action committees. But a whole world of political activity has emerged that is not confined to PAC contributions. Activities such as issue advocacy, independent expenditures, and voter mobilization go well beyond the limits set by federal law. More Than Money is the first attempt to understand this world of interest group action in a theoretical fashion. It links data gathered through ten case studies to broader ideas about interest groups, political parties, and congressional elections. It examines what resources groups possess for political action, how they are linked to the incentives groups offer to members, and how groups can apply those resources effectively. It also looks at how groups adapt to changing political and legal contexts, and provides a better understanding of the relationship between interest groups and political parties. More Than Money does all this in a clear, accessible style and with numerous quotations from top players at interest groups such as NARAL and the NRA.
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More Than Money: Interest Group Action in Congressional Elections

More Than Money: Interest Group Action in Congressional Elections

by Richard M. Skinner
More Than Money: Interest Group Action in Congressional Elections

More Than Money: Interest Group Action in Congressional Elections

by Richard M. Skinner

Hardcover

$133.00 
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Overview

While interest groups have long been at the center of the study of American politics, most explorations of their influence have tended to dwell on lobbying. When political scientists do look at groups' electoral activities, they tend to study contribution activity by political action committees. But a whole world of political activity has emerged that is not confined to PAC contributions. Activities such as issue advocacy, independent expenditures, and voter mobilization go well beyond the limits set by federal law. More Than Money is the first attempt to understand this world of interest group action in a theoretical fashion. It links data gathered through ten case studies to broader ideas about interest groups, political parties, and congressional elections. It examines what resources groups possess for political action, how they are linked to the incentives groups offer to members, and how groups can apply those resources effectively. It also looks at how groups adapt to changing political and legal contexts, and provides a better understanding of the relationship between interest groups and political parties. More Than Money does all this in a clear, accessible style and with numerous quotations from top players at interest groups such as NARAL and the NRA.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780742547209
Publisher: Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date: 12/20/2006
Series: Campaigning American Style
Pages: 224
Product dimensions: 6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.62(d)

About the Author

Richard M. Skinner is visiting assistant professor of political science at Williams College. He previously served as a research analyst at the Campaign Finance Institute. He has also taught at Hamilton College, SUNY-Geneseo, the University of Virginia, and Bowdoin college. His work has been published in the Journal of Politics and the Forum.

Table of Contents

Part 1 Part I: The Perspective
Chapter 1 Groups and Parties in the Political World
Part 2 Part II: The Groups
Chapter 2 Studying Groups through Case Studies
Part 3 Material Giants: The AFL-CIO and AARP
Chapter 3 Purposive Power: The NRA, Sierra Club, EMILY's List, NARAL, and the National Right to Life Committee
Chapter 4 Part III: The Resources
Part 4 Professional Politics: The NFIB, ATLA, and AMA
Chapter 5 Money
Chapter 6 Membership
Chapter 7 Expertise
Chapter 8 Part IV: The Context
Chapter 9 Group's Relationships with Political Parties
Chapter 10 Changes in Context
Chapter 11 Theoretical Conclusion
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