1. 3-7: Lobbying and Political Action Committees

2. Big Idea: Competing Policy-Making Interests
Enduring Understanding:
Interest groups provide opportunities for participation and influence how people relate to government and policymakers.
Learning Objectives:
Explain the benefits and potential problems of interest- group influence on elections and policymaking.
Explain how various political actors influence public policy outcomes.

3. Goals of Interest Groups
Gain access to policymakers
Influence policy
Support sympathetic policymakers

4. Strategies Lobbying Overview
Process of attempting to influence policymakers
Encourage lawmakers to support the goals of an interest group

5. Strategies Lobbying Legislative Branch Executive Branch
Testifying before committees
Providing data
Executive Branch
White House aides
Access to regulatory agencies
Judicial Branch
Amicus curiae briefs
Judicial nominations
Approximately 30,000 lobbyists work in Washington, D.C. and spend over $2 billion each year lobbying Congress. Lobbyists often meet informally with Congressional aides and bring influential constituents to Washington to discuss important policy matters with their representatives.

6. Strategies Contributing Money 527 Organizations PACs Super PACs
Formed to raise money to support political campaigns
Limited to $5,000
Support incumbents—role of committees
Super PACs
Citizens United v. FEC (2010)
“Money is speech”
“Independent-expenditure only” committees

8. Strategies Public Opinion Campaigns PR and advertisements
Bring issues to attention
Promote image as good citizens
Use of grassroots protests