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“An association, be it political, industrial, commercial or even literary or scientific, is an educated and powerful body of citizens which cannot be twisted to any man’s will or quietly trodden down, and by defending the private interests against the encroachments of power, it saves the common liberties.” (Alex de Tocqueville, 1835)

The U.S. citizens’ propensity to exercise their rights—via the First Amendment—to assemble peaceably and petition government particularly impressed de Toqueville on his tour of the new nation in 1835. Since that time, associations in the U.S. have proliferated beyond the old Frenchman’s wildest dreams. Over half (57%) of the U.S. population belongs to one or more of the nation’s 1.5 million or so voluntary associations.

Leo J. Shapiro & Associates, L.L.C. conducted a survey through email of the 22,000+ U.S. associations listed in the Encyclopedia of Associations. Of those, 1,317 associations responded with completed questionnaires. We are still in the process of analyzing the data but want to share some of the early results we have.

Almost all associations identified one or more of three missions or activities as being of the greatest importance to their members:

1. Working with government agencies on policy formation
2. Seeking to influence public opinion through the use of mass
   media and publicity
3. Working to achieve consensus among experts in their field of activity

Indicating an important distinction between different types of associations, expert consensus achievement was listed as an important mission or activity by all of the responding non-religious associations and none of the responding religious associations.

Of the 21 areas of public policy covered in the survey, education and health are the most highly-rated. In terms of the importance to their members, education received the highest ratings from the largest proportion of associations. By type, twice as many professional (20%) than business (11%) associations give education the highest rating. The percent of associations that give health the highest rating ranges from lows of 8% for business and 15% for religious association to highs of 22% for civil/political associations and 23% for professional associations. The table that follows shows how each of the 21 public policy areas covered in the survey is rated by different types of associations.

“The most natural right of man, after that of acting on its own, is that of combining his efforts with those of his fellows and acting together. Therefore, the right of association seems to me as inalienable as individual liberty.” (Alex de Tocqueville, 1835)

Things can really get cooking when associations associate with each other.

Some associations associate vertically, linking a national organization into nourishing and anchoring grass roots. Thus, the formidable Parent Teacher Association is comprised of some 26,000 local and unassuming PTAs.

Sometimes associations form horizontal associations with other associations. These corporations of associations can have tremendous clout and influence. Similarly, mission associations frequently associate with each other and provide links to each others websites and share lists—expect, notably, when they see each other as competition for funding.

It gets really interesting when associations with entirely different, albeit not contradictory, missions—such as the Humane Society of the United States and the Grocery Manufacturers Association—are present at a government hearing.

The Humane Society of the United States had a secret tape showing mistreatment of cattle prior to slaughter. Specifically, the Westland-Hallmark Meat Company was using forklifts, hoses, and electric prods to force “downer” cattle to slaughter. From the Humane Society’s perspective, the tape was damaging evidence of animal cruelty which they intended for strategic release.

But from a food safety perspective, the tape was evidence that downer cattle were being slaughtered for meat, which posed a measurable public health risk. After the video was released, 143 million pounds of beef were recalled.

The Department of Agriculture and a congressional committee attacked the Humane Society for holding the video for release. Robert F. Brackett—Vice President of the Grocery Manufacturers Association who was at the hearing—criticized both the Bush administration and Congress for failing to provide enough money to the FDA to protect the nation’s food supply.

The Humane Society defended its position and sued the government for introducing a loophole into government regulations which relaxed regulation on pre-slaughter inspections. After the lawsuit was filed, the USDA promised to step up efforts to see that animals are treated humanely, and the New York Times ran a photo of the Secretary of Agriculture shaking hands with the head of the Humane Society.

Social changes can channel through any of the three economic sectors: governmental, business, and the third sector, which is neither governmental nor business. Institutions governing the third sector are associations, the NGOs and non-profits.

With democracy, people can change the world by how they vote.

With free markets, people can change the world by how they spend money.

And with the guarantees of freedom of association implicit in the First Amendment, people can also change the world through the associations they form.

It might be that the freedom of association is the most necessary factor for regulating first and second sector actors, such as the USDA and the Westland-Hallmark Meat Company.

“Not only is freedom of association key to individual liberty, freedom of association is key to getting anything done in a democracy.” (Alex de Tocqueville, 1835)

To be kept informed about further findings from ongoing research on this topic, contact 8SAGES.com.

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