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Understanding Interest Groups and PACs: Their Impact on Politics

Interest groups and Political Action Committees (PACs) play critical roles in shaping political landscapes. They support candidates who align with their interests through financial contributions, commercials, and advertisements. These organizations lobby government officials to influence policy decisions and educate their members on relevant issues. While they enhance political participation and increase campaign funding, they also raise concerns about the diminishing voice of individuals in the political process. Understanding both the positive and negative aspects of these entities is vital to grasping their significance in American democracy.

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Understanding Interest Groups and PACs: Their Impact on Politics

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  1. Interest Groups and PACs

  2. Interest Groups • Support candidates who favor their ideas with money, commercials, advertisements • Ex: Obabma says he likes kittens than the Kitten Lovers group would pay for a commercial of Obama hugging kittens • Try to influence government officials to support certain policies • Bribes ,deals, shaaaadyyyyy ;) • Are only concerned with a few specific issues or problems • Help bridge the gap between citizens and the government

  3. Interest Groups • Leaders • Leaders are called lobbyists • Keep members informed of group activities in order to unify • Act as speakers in DC and work to improve image • Members: • Promote individual self-interest • Promotes individual beliefs and values • Social functions – gather with people of similar beliefs

  4. Interest Groups • Many different types: • Business (NAM) and Labor (AFL-CIO) Groups: want policies that will strengthen economy (taxes, unemployment, inflation, housing) • Agricultural (NFU): represents American farmers • Professional (AMA or ABA) – focus on supporting those in their profession • Environmental, Public Interest, and many more • MADD • PETA

  5. Political Action Committee (PAC) • Organization established by businesses, labor unions, and other interest groups in the U.S. to gather financial contributions to political campaigns • Why create a PAC? • can legally donate more as a group than as an individual!! • Over 4000 registered PACs

  6. Roles of PACs • Positive: • Increase political involvement of corporations and citizens • Increase campaign funds of candidates • Helps groups get heard • Negative: • Limits the voice of the individual • Places too much importance in money

  7. Compare and Contrast Political Parties Both Interest Groups 3-5 examples 3-5 examples 3-5 examples

  8. Answers: • Political Parties (Differences) • Nominate candidates • Two major political parties & minor parties • Support many different ideas • Broad-based views • Interest Groups (Differences) • Support candidates • 1,000 of interest groups • Support one idea • Narrow-based views

  9. Similarities Helps candidates get elected Donate money to campaigns Gets people involved in the political process

  10. Create Your Own Interest Group Create a pamphlet to share information about your interest group. • Pick a topic that is important to you! • Create a name for your group • Write a mission statement that tells me what your group stands for and what it’s goals are. • Give 3 facts that explain why your topic is an issue that needs to be addressed. • Give 2-3 ways that the government can address or fix your issue. • Include 2-3 pictures that show what your group represents • BE CREATIVE!!!!!

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