1. Warm up
(till 2:37)
What are interest groups?
What are lobbyists?

2. Word wall
Interest group- group of people who share common goals and organize to influence government.
Lobbyists- paid representatives of interest groups who try to LOBBY (influence) government officials.

4. Top 10 most powerful interest groups
Name
membership
$ spent on lobbying (2015)
1. National Rifle Association (NRA)
5 million
$3-4 million
2. US Chamber of Commerce
3 million
$85 million
3. American Medical Association
200,000
$22 million
4. AARP (American Association of Retired Persons
37 million
$8 million
5. Americans for Prosperity
n/a (501C organization)
$36 million (2012)
6. MoveOn.org
$22 million (2012)
7. American Israeli Public Affairs Committee
100,000
$3.3 million
8. AFL-CIO
12.5 million
$5 million
9. NARAL (National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League
500,000
$170,000
10. NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People)
$520,000

5. Interest groups vs. political parties
Nominate candidates and try to win office.
Broad-based ideology.
Must attract people of varied ideas to win elections.
Consider problems that affect all Americans.
Main Goal: Elect people to office
Support candidates who favor ideas.
Only concerned with few issues
Do not try to attract members with different points of view.
Fixed ideologies
Main Goal: Influence public policy!!
Influence government policies.
Form of representative government.

6. How do they help each other?
Interest groups help political parties-
Raise $$$$$$$$$
Organize/mobilize voters
Media campaigns
Endorsements
Political parties, in turn, give interest groups-
Access/influence to lawmakers
Legislation that helps cause

7. Interest group sector totals

8. Top Republican

9. Top democrat

10. Techniques used to reach goals
Litigation
Ex. NAACP for civil rights
Campaign contributions
NRA supports pro-gun candidates
Grassroots lobbying (requires less $$)/mass mobilization
MADD lobbying for drunk driving laws
ing/calling members about legislation (popular support lends strength to cause). (Grassroots lobbying video)

11. Iron Triangle

12. Crusader: Organizing to Influence (1st section only)
Discussion questions
Why did members of Congress come to the defense of United Defense?
What kinds of tactics did United Defense use to fend off efforts to kill the Crusader?
In the end, was United Defense successful?
What is the iron triangle?

13. Discussion questions cont…
Which groups opposed cutting the Crusader program? Why?
Why was it a good idea to hire General McCaffrey as a lobbyist for the Crusader project?
List some of the techniques used by Powell-Tate (the lobbying group) to convince legislature not to cancel the Crusader program?
Ultimately, how was public policy affected by the lobbying for the Crusader program?

14. How do interest groups impact government?
Assignment: Create your own interest group T-shirt assignment! You may create one from the reading or one covering a topic that interests you.

15. PACs vs. Super PACs
Colberts Super PAC - Americans for a better tomorrow, tomorrow.

16. PACs- Political Action Committees PACs Super PACs
Limited $ per candidate
($2,600 to each candidate per election)
CAN donate to candidate (up to $5000 per election).
Defined as any group that spends over $1000 to influence a federal election.
NOT run by candidate
Raise $ to support campaigns.
UNLIMITED $$$$!
CANNOT DIRECTLY donate to a candidate or party.

17. Exit ticket time!!!