Special Interest Groups Unit 2 opinionpoll.htm opinionpoll.htm

Interest Groups Private organization that tries to persuade public officials to respond to shared attitudes Private organization that tries to persuade public officials to respond to shared attitudes Try to influence public policy (laws) Try to influence public policy (laws) Lobbying Lobbying Try to influence legislators and lawsTry to influence legislators and laws Lobbyist- activist usually paid by an interest group to promote their positions to legislaturesLobbyist- activist usually paid by an interest group to promote their positions to legislatures Lobbyist can also work to change public opinion through advertising campaigns or by influencing 'opinion leaders’Lobbyist can also work to change public opinion through advertising campaigns or by influencing 'opinion leaders’

How are they different from Parties? 1. Don’t nominate candidate 2. Interested in controlling policies not offices 3. Concentrate on only a few issues and not accountable to the public

Good or Bad? Good Create an interest in public affairs Create an interest in public affairs Bring people together based on ideas Bring people together based on ideas Provide useful information to Gov’t Provide useful information to Gov’t Get people involved Get people involved Checks and Balances Checks and Balances Create competition Create competition

Good or Bad Bad Too much influence Too much influence Who is represented? Who is represented? Bribery and other corruption Bribery and other corruption

Types of Interest Groups Economic Interests 1. Business Groups 2. Labor Groups 3. Agricultural Groups 4. Professional Groups Others 1. Promote Causes 2. Promote Welfare 3. Religious

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Public Interest Groups Goals is to benefit all or most people not just a specific group Goals is to benefit all or most people not just a specific group Focus on issues that all Americans share Focus on issues that all Americans share

Political Action Committees (PACs) Single Interest Groups Single Interest Groups Organization established by businesses, labor unions, and other interest groups Organization established by businesses, labor unions, and other interest groups Work to financially support political campaigns that support their cause Work to financially support political campaigns that support their cause Over 4,000 PACs registered today Over 4,000 PACs registered today In response to laws limiting union dues to support candidates In response to laws limiting union dues to support candidates Most PAC money goes to incumbents Most PAC money goes to incumbents

PACsYEAR # of PACs Contribution (in millions) (in millions) $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $

PACs Top 7 Contributors ‘99-’00 Emily’s List $12,288,422 Emily’s List $12,288,422 NRA Political Victory Fund $10,786,466 NRA Political Victory Fund $10,786,466 American Federation of State County & Municipal $6,465,424 American Federation of State County & Municipal $6,465,424Employees Democrat Republican Independent Voter Education $5,501,792 Democrat Republican Independent Voter Education $5,501,792 (International Brotherhood of Teamsters)

PACs Top 7 Contributors ‘99-’00 UAW –V-CAP (United Auto Workers) $4,531,700 UAW –V-CAP (United Auto Workers) $4,531,700 International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Committee on Public Education International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Committee on Public Education$4,227,442 American Medical Association Political Action Committee American Medical Association Political Action Committee$4,021,519 ampaconline.org/default.php

Personal Assets cle=2005&filter=S cle=2005&filter=S cle=2005&filter=S /contriblimits.shtml#fn4 /contriblimits.shtml#fn4 /contriblimits.shtml#fn4 /contriblimits.shtml#fn4 Contribution Limits