Chapter 19 : Lesson 3

1. Chapter 19 : Lesson 3 Interest Groups and Their Roles

2. Essential Question What are interest groups and are they an effective way for Americans citizens to participate in the political process?

3. Influencing Government There are three major groups that influence our government. • Individuals • Media • Interest Groups

4. Vocabulary Interest Groups: a group of people who share common goals and organize to influence government and policy Interest groups are not a part of the government – they are made up of individual people!)

5. Growth of Interest Groups

6. How do Interest Groups Work? Interest groups reach out to the public for three purposes

7. How do Interest Groups Achieve their Goals?

8. Michael Jordan plays ball. Charles Manson kills people. I talk. My job requires a sort of…moral flexibility

9. Individuals influence the government by • Contributing to or working on campaigns • Running for political office • Voting in elections • Petitioning the government for change

10. Types of Interest Groups • Economic interest groups : try to influence government policies that affect their industry or profession. (Ex- American Farm Bureau Federation)

12. Types of Interest Groups • Issue-oriented interest groups: focus on a specific issue or cause (Ex-NAACP, NRA)

15. Types of Interest Groups Public-interest groups promote the interests of the general public (Ex – National Wildlife Federation)

17. How Interest Groups Influence Government Participate In Election Activities • Interest groups often supply workers/money to election campaigns. • Political Action Committees (PACs) are organizations set up by interest groups primarily to collect money to support favored candidates.

18. The Influence of Interest Groups • Bringing Cases to Court • Interest Groups influence public policy by bringing cases to court to test the constitutionality of laws.

19. What makes Interest Groups Powerful? • Money • PACs • Each corporation or group can set up a PAC that gives money to political candidates (up to $5,000) • Money goes overwhelmingly to incumbents • 527s • Groups that can raise unlimited amounts of money and use it for voter mobilization, issue advocacy, but NOT for candidate advocacy or to be given to candidates

21. AARP AFL-CIO Sierra Club Exxon Blue Cross/Blue Shield NAACP NOW Leadership PACs NBWA Right to Life ACLU NAR AMA NEA/AFT moveon.org NRA Powerful Interest Groups

22. $5K NRA hires lawyers, PR firms, advertising firms, organizes conventions & gun shows, etc. with due money from members NRA Political Victory Fund PAC Gave over $1 million in the 2004 election cycle Lobbyists Either employed by the NRA or hired on retainer Institutions of Government Q: What is the most common employment for a member of Congress who *gasp* loses their re-election bid? A: Become a lobbyist and make many times your government salary Congress President Bureaucracy Judiciary

23. What is the difference between Interest Groups and Political Parties?

24. What the pros and cons of Interest Groups?

26. Valuable Functions of Interest Groups • Interest groups raise awareness of public affairs, or issues that concern the people at large, seek to influence legislation Can you think of an interest group TODAY that address awreness?

28. 5 Ways Interest Groups different from Public Opinion 1. Interest groups are policy specialists 2. Focus on only a handful of key policies 3. More tightly organized 4. Financed through dues and contributions 5. Try to influence the outcome of elections, but do not compete for public office

29. Review Question: Chapter 19 : Lesson 3 Read pages 584-590 and answer Review Questions on page 590. Hand in Google Class Room.