Linking Citizens to Government Interest Group Politics at Common Cause

Lawrence Rothenberg examines some of the most elusive aspects of interest group operations through an in-depth study of one of the largest interest groups in Washington, Common Cause. In developing what might be called a membership theory, he asks such questions as: why do members join a group? Who stays and who leaves and why? What is the nature of the relationships among the activists, the group leaders and the rank-and-file members? How do these relationships shape the lobbying policies of the group? How is the lobbying impact of a group related to the nature of its membership? In addition, Rothenberg analyses the impact the lobbying efforts of Common Cause have had through case studies of the Congressional vote on the MX missile system and of the agenda setting behind the campaign finance reform bill.

List of figures; List of tables; Preface; 1. Organized groups and the political system; 2. A unified framework for understanding citizens' decision making: a theory of experimental search; 3. Who contributes?; 4. Why do citizens join groups?; 5. The internal politics of organizations I: learning and retention; 6. The internal politics of organizations II: activism; 7. The internal politics of organizations III: leadership; 8. Does group activity make a difference: the case of the MX missile; 9. Does group activity make a difference? The politics of campaign finance; 10. Conclusions: citizens' preferences, internal politics, and public policy; Notes; References; Index.

Lawrence Rothenberg examines some of the most elusive aspects of interest group operations through an in-depth study of one of the largest interest groups in Washington, Common Cause.