Happy “Interest Groups & Kahoot” Wednesday

1. Happy “Interest Groups & Kahoot” Wednesday • WE HAVE 1 MORE DAY OF SCHOOL • Hint – Make sure you have all of your notes from this week, tomorrow

2. Wednesday Agenda • Bell Ringer – No video – We are playing Kahoot . For today’s google doc entry you will need to record the place you finish in and your score. • Guided Notes • Another Round of Kahoot – Top 3 will get a cold treat • Commercial and Billboard Completion • LET'S GET IT!!!!

3. Interest Groups & Lobbying Political Parties

4. Interest Groups • One way to strengthen your voice (in politics) is to join with others who agree with you on an issue • When you join together with others, you all pool your resources and increase your influence • Interest groups can be a powerful force to bring about change • Interest group: a group of people who share a point of view and unit to promote that viewpoint

5. Business & Labor Groups • Some interest groups are based on shared economic goals • Examples: • US Chamber of Commerce: promotes the interest of businesses • National Automobile Dealers Association: works on behalf of companies that sell cars and trucks • These groups try to sway government decisions on issues that affect their industries • Some interest groups are formed by workers • THE AFL-CIO is the largest such group and is formed by many labor unions • Unions try to improve wages, working conditions, and benefits for their members

6. Other Interest Groups • People also join together to work for the rights of people who share similar characteristics • Examples: • NAACP: tries to improve the lives of African Americans • AARP: stands up for the interests of older Americans • Other interest groups focus on particular issues • Sierra Club: wants to protect nature • NRA: looks after the interest of people who own guns

7. Interest Groups at Work • Interest groups play an important role in our country • Their main goal is to influence the decisions that leaders make • They influence the government in 4 ways: • Being active in elections: support candidates who are sympathetic to their cause • Working through the courts: help bring cases to court • Directly influencing officials: lobbyists (people who represent interest groups) contact government officials directly and supply them with information that helps their causes • Shaping public opinion: send information to people about their cause

8. Regulating Interest Groups • The 1st amendment guarantees Americans the right to take part in interest groups • Both state and federal governments have laws about what these groups can do • Some laws limit how much money PACs may contribute to candidates • Others require lobbyists to register with officials who have authority to oversee them • Lobbyists must also state who hired them, how much they are paid, and how they spend money related tot heir work • These laws are aimed at preventing lobbyists from gaining unfair influence • Laws also require former government officials to wait for a period of time before they can become lobbyists in hopes of preventing these officials from using friendships and inside knowledge to help special interest groups

9. Lobbyist a person who takes part in an organized attempt to influence legislators.