INTEREST GROUPS

What Are Interest Groups? An interest group is an organization of like- minded people who influence government.

Interests and American Society American Society Divided into Interests American Bar Association: Professional Group American Petroleum Institute: Business Interest Groups National Cotton Council: Agricultural Group United Auto Workers: Labor Interest Group National Rifle Association: Single Issue Group

Power of Interest Groups A. In democracy, all people should be represented by interest groups B. Interest groups should be equal in power- drawing on differing resources Six resources of interest group power: 1. Leaders – prominent leader to organize and mobilize members. 2. Money – money is a fungible commodity: build organize, advertise, hire lobbyists. 3. Number of Members – The larger the number, the greater the political impact. Free-rider problem.

Power of Interest Groups 4. Geographic Placement – the greater the geographic spread, the more members of Congress can be pressured. 5. Cohesion – group works together to achieve goals. 6. Social Status – social status of group affects ability to influence politicians and judges.

What Do Interest Groups Do? Lobby: process of influencing government. Who are lobbyists? Lobby three branches of government on behalf of members. Organize and mobilize members to influence government: grassroots lobbying Organize members to contribute to political action committees.

Political Action Committees United Auto Workers Committee on Political Education Political Action Committee Presidential Candidate’s Campaign Interest Group Gives $ to Political Action Committee PAC Gives $ to Political Candidate

Rise of Political Action Committees –1974 Federal Election Campaign Act Allowed for PACs –Over 5,000 PACs today COPE: Committee on Political Education of AFL- CIO American Bankers Association –Bank Pac Beer Distributers – Six PAC Political Action Committees

Who gets most of the PAC campaign money?

The End