Interest group strategies 359law.^37 Interest groups can bring these actions via lawyers on their staff, a hired law
firm, or lawyers who will work for no fees. Interest groups can also become involved in
an existing case by filing amicus curiae (“friend of the court”) briefs, documents that
offer judges the group’s rationale for how the case should be decided. The drawback
of litigation is that it is costly and time-consuming—cases can take years to work
through the federal court system. At a minimum, groups that use the litigation strategy
generally combine it with direct lobbying or other strategies.Working Together To increase their chances for success, interest groups can work
together in their lobbying efforts, formulating a common strategy and future plans.
In general, these coalitions of groups are short-term efforts focused on achieving a
specific outcome, like supporting or opposing the confirmation of judicial and cabinet
nominees.^38 The fight against direct student loans, for example, involved corporations
such as Citibank and Sallie Mae, along with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Support for
change came from the Student Aid Alliance, a group composed of colleges, think tanks,
and associations of law schools and other professional schools. This group had formed in
1999 to lobby for increases in student aid, then stayed together to lobby on other issues.
Why do groups work together? The most obvious reason lies in the power of large
numbers: legislators are more likely to respond, or at least provide access, when many
groups with large or diverse memberships are all asking for the same thing.^39
The problem with working together is that groups may agree on general goals but
disagree on specifics, thereby requiring negotiation. If differences cannot be bridged,
groups may undertake separate and possibly conflicting lobbying efforts or decide against
lobbying entirely. For example, although there are many groups pressing for climate change
legislation, they have not developed a unified lobbying effort. The problem? The groups
disagree on which policies should be implemented, who should pay for them, and whether
the government should aid companies that would be forced to purchase new antipollution
equipment. In the absence of agreement, working alone seems a better strategy.^40Outside Strategies
Outside strategies involve things that groups do across the country rather than in
Washington. Again, these activities can be orchestrated by the group or be organized
by a firm hired by the group.Grassroots Lobbying Directly involving interest group members in lobbying
efforts is called grassroots lobbying. Members may send letters, make telephone
calls, participate in a protest, or express their demands in other ways. Many groupsgrassroots lobbying
A lobbying strategy that relies on
participation by group members,
such as a protest or a letter-writing
campaign.The American Civil Liberties Union
is an interest group that often uses
litigation strategies in its efforts to
change government policy. Here,
members of the ACLU chapter in
Washington State announce their filing
of an abortion rights lawsuit against
several local hospitals.Full_11_APT_64431_ch10_340-373.indd 359 16/11/18 10:26 AM