Essay Undergraduate 865 words

Common Cause: Fighting Special Interests in U.S. Politics

~5 min read 6 sections Politics · American Politics

Abstract

This paper examines Common Cause, a nonpartisan nonprofit advocacy organization founded in 1970, as a case study in American interest group politics. The paper begins by surveying the broader reasons why interest groups proliferate in the United States — including social complexity, ideological shifts, and government expansion — drawing on the disturbance and entrepreneurial theories of David Truman and Robert Salisbury. It then traces the founding and evolution of Common Cause, arguing that disturbance theory best explains its formation and growth. The paper also addresses Common Cause's key policy achievements, such as the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002, and responds to criticism that the organization is ideologically liberal.

Key Takeaways

Introduction: The Rise of Interest Groups in America: Why interest groups proliferate in American democracy
Theories of Interest Group Formation: Truman and Salisbury on social complexity and group formation
The Origins and Mission of Common Cause: Founding of Common Cause and its core accountability mission
Disturbance Theory and Common Cause's Broad Coalition: How disturbance theory explains Common Cause's diverse membership
Campaign Finance Reform and Key Achievements: BCRA 2002 and Common Cause's landmark legislative wins
Criticism and Nonpartisan Defense: Rebutting claims of liberal bias with bipartisan evidence

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What makes this paper effective

It grounds a specific organizational case study in established political science theory, connecting Common Cause's history to Truman and Salisbury's disturbance and entrepreneurial theories before evaluating which better applies.
It acknowledges and directly responds to the main criticism of Common Cause — that it is a liberal organization — providing concrete evidence of bipartisan legislative impact.
The opening paradox (a "special" interest group fighting special interests) immediately frames the analytical tension the paper resolves, creating a focused and engaging argument.

Key academic technique demonstrated

The paper demonstrates theory application: it introduces two competing academic frameworks (entrepreneurial theory vs. disturbance theory), briefly defines each, and then uses evidence from Common Cause's actual history to adjudicate between them. This move — present theory, present evidence, evaluate fit — is a core analytical skill in political science writing.

Structure breakdown

The paper opens with a broad survey of why interest groups form in the United States, then narrows to Common Cause as a specific example. The middle sections apply competing theories to the organization's founding and evolution. The final section defends Common Cause's nonpartisan credentials by citing bipartisan legislation it helped pass. The argument flows from general context → theory → case study → counterargument → rebuttal.

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Essay 865 words

Introduction: The Rise of Interest Groups in America

An interest group is defined as any organization that seeks to influence public policy. Interest groups are rife within American politics because of the diversity of America, its democratic heritage, and the decline of a robust multiparty system. Interest groups do not arise spontaneously or automatically out of natural social processes. Rather, different social and political factors help explain the proliferation of interest groups during certain volatile periods of a nation's political life.

The Industrial Revolution and the abuses it spawned created the rise of organized labor in the West. In America specifically, government policy — such as the creation of farm subsidies during the New Deal — spawned farmers' lobbying groups. Ideological shifts within the American public created the "Religious Right" of the 1980s. The government's greater role in people's lives prompted consumer rights groups in the 1960s and 1970s to advocate for legislation protecting human health ("Interest Groups" 2007, The Social Studies Help Center).

5 Sections Hidden · 620 words

Theories of Interest Group Formation130 words

According to David Truman and Robert Salisbury, one theory of why interest groups have increased in number points to the greater complexity of American society. This complexity has created social disturbance or imbalance, compelling groups to…

The Origins and Mission of Common Cause150 words

The difficulty of making politicians ethical and responsive to issues rather than to dollars from other interest groups spawned the creation of Common Cause, a nonpartisan nonprofit advocacy organization founded in 1970. The 1960s and 1970s were a socially tumultuous era during which…

Disturbance Theory and Common Cause's Broad Coalition110 words

Instead, disturbance theory — the idea that interest groups give voice to people who feel they are voiceless — better applies to Common Cause. The initial members of the group were largely anti-Vietnam War activists,…

Campaign Finance Reform and Key Achievements120 words

Among Common Cause's first great successes was its support of a 1974 law "establishing public financing for presidential campaigns, setting limits on contributions to all federal candidates and requiring disclosure of campaign contributions and expenditures" — a bill that affected Republicans and Democrats alike ("About Us" 2007, Common Cause). The Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 represented a continuation of…

Criticism and Nonpartisan Defense110 words

Common Cause has been criticized as a liberal organization because it has fought against media consolidation, in favor of net neutrality, and in support of public broadcasting — public broadcasting being favored in part because it does not carry partisan or corporate advertising ("Media & Democracy" 2007, Common Cause). But Common Cause supports laws that all ordinary Americans can benefit…

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Works Cited

"About Us." (2007). Common Cause. Retrieved 30 Jul 2007 at

"Interest Groups." (2007). The Social Studies Help Center. Retrieved 30 Jul 2007 at

"Media & Democracy." (2007). Common Cause. Retrieved 30 Jul 2007 at

Key Concepts in This Paper

Common Cause Interest Groups Disturbance Theory Campaign Finance Lobbying Reform Soft Money Ban Nonpartisan Advocacy Government Accountability Bipartisan Reform Special Interests