Unit 4: Interest Groups LG: I will explain the role of interest groups & social movements in American politics.

I. A Nation of Interests Interest groups focus on specific issues Successful w/ Congress in narrow issues Link the citizens w/ political process Social movements focus on overall shift in a cause or group

II. Types of Interest Groups Economic Corporations & Small business Trade Professional Associations Labor Usually favor democrats Unions

5.2 FIGURE 5.1: Union membership in the United States compared to other countries How might aspects of American culture and ideology help explain the relatively low unionization of the American workforce? Do you know why rates of unionization are even lower in Germany and France?

5.2 FIGURE 5.2: Labor force and union membership, 1930-2011 How can you explain the steady upward growth of the labor force without a comparable growth in the unionized labor force?

Ideological & Single-Issue Usually unwilling to compromise NRA Abortion AARP-most influential

Public Interest Claim to represent public interest a. Social movements- 1960’s Public interest research groups (PIRGS) a. Ralph Nadar- consumer protection

Foreign Policy Israel-Arab relations Nongovernmental organizations Amnesty International

Public Sector Interests Groups Gov’t groups National Education Association (NEA)

III. Techniques Publicity/Media Internet/e-mail Mass mailings Litigation Protest Contributing to campaigns Lobbying members of Congress