1. Organizing and Interest Groups in the Electoral Process

2. Which is more effective in this scenario:
The state legislature has just passed a law changing the minimum age requirement to get a driver’s license in the state of South Dakota to the age of 21 years old.
Governor Noem is debating whether to sign the bill into law, but has first agreed to hear input from South Dakotans before making his decision.
Discuss the following with your partner:
Which is more effective in this scenario:
Working individually, or in groups?
Who can you get to join your cause?
Who might support this law? Why?
Who might oppose this law? Why?
What things can your group do to convince the Governor to agree with you?
Who does this decision affect?
In what ways does it affect them?
Do you support or oppose this law?
What can you personally do to convince Governor Noem to agree with you?

3. Interest Groups
Promote specific issues/interests to public and policymakers to support their agenda
Examples:
NRA: 2nd Amendment Rights
ACLU: Protection of Civil Liberties
National Organization for Marriage

4. Effectiveness Factors that determine effectiveness:
Size: National, State, Local
AFL-CIO v. Local Plumbers
Membership: Strength in numbers
How committed to the cause?
Organization: Leadership
Occupy Wall Street v. Tea Party
Money: Funding for staff and campaigns
Advertisements
Side Discussion:
What is an issue/cause you care deeply about?
How willing would you be to volunteer for that cause?
How willing would you be to donate money to that cause?

5. Tasks Lobbying: Meeting with policymakers to promote interests
Earmarks – specific amendments or funding of bills for special projects
Electioneering: Supporting candidates, working in elections (**Political Action Committee, or PAC)
Litigating: Taking issues to court
Ex: ACLU representing plaintiffs in civil liberties cases
Public Awareness: inform public about issues
Ex: Yulin Festival, NSA, Climate Change

6. Interest Groups in Elections (PACs)
Political Action Committees (PAC): the electioneering arm of interest groups
Interest groups survey candidates
Questionnaires, Interviews, Voting Record
Endorsement: Official public statement of support
Press Conference, to supporters
Encourages membership to support candidate
Voter Contact
Donations to campaign
Political Advertisements

7. Interest Groups in Elections (PACs)
The “issue” endorsement:
Promote an issue INSTEAD of a candidate OR
Attack a candidate who does not support interests
Paid for by NEXTGEN Climate Action Committee

8. Checkpoint
What kind of special interests do you think are represented in SD?
What must a candidate do to gain support from an interest group?
How do interest groups influence the outcomes of the SD Governor election?

9. Research Interest Groups
American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
Americans For Prosperity
AFL-CIO AARP Chamber of Commerce
Dakota Rural Action Farm Bureau
SD Citizens for Liberty
National Rifle Association (NRA)
NARAL
In your groups, choose an interest group to research.
Answer the following for your assigned group:
When were they founded, and by who?
What issue(s) are they involved in?
What is their position on this issue(s)?
What kind of people do you think this group appeals to?
How effective are they?
Remember the factors of an effective interest group