Choices and Changes: Interest Groups in the Electoral Process

"Choices and Changes" is the most comprehensive examination to date of the impact of interest groups on recent American electoral politics. Richly informed, theoretically and empirically, it is the first book to explain the emergence of aggressive interest group electioneering tactics in the mid-1990sOCoincluding OC soft moneyOCO contributions, issue ads, and OC 527sOCO (IRS-classified political organizations). Michael Franz argues that changing political and legal contexts have clearly influenced the behavior of interest groups. To support his argument, he tracks in detail the evolution of campaign finance laws since the 1970s, examines all soft money contributionsOConearly $1 billion in totalOCoto parties by interest groups from 1991-2002, and analyzes political action committee (PAC) contributions to candidates and parties from 1983-2002. He also draws on his own interviews with campaign finance leaders. Based on this rigorous data analysis and a formidable knowledge of its subject, "Choices and Changes" substantially advances our understanding of the significance of interest groups in U.S. politics. "