More Than Money

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.

This book analyzes the different roles that interest groups play in congressional elections, with supporting material from interviews with Washington insiders.

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.