1. Ch. 11 (interest groups)

2. What ARE INTEREST GROUPS, PAC’S, & LOBBYISTS?
Organization of people that share a common interest or goal & tries to influence public policy
PACs
Organization created by a business, labor union, trade association, or ideological group that recruits members who donate $ for political campaigns to try and get that PACs ideologically-aligned political party candidates elected
Lobbyists
People who try to influence legislation on behalf of an interest group
There are lobbyist groups for different businesses, unions, & other groups
They have increased dramatically over the last 30 years and so has their ability to influence legislation (public policy)

3. What is the difference between an Institutional interest GROUP & a membership interest group?
Individuals/organizations representing other organizations (GM, National Independent Retail Jewelers, National Association of Counties, American Council on Education, PG & E, GE, FedEx, American Medical Association, American Public Transit Association)
Tend to be interested in ‘bread-n-butter’ issues of importance to their clients
Membership interest group
Organization of people who join a politically active group trying to influence public policy (Sierra Club – environment; NRA – 2nd Amendment; NAACP – civil rights for minorities)
These groups are interested in advancing a political agenda that supports their public policy platform
Solidary & Material incentive to join

4. INTEREST GROUPS & social movements?
Environmental Movement
Started as early as the 1890s (Sierra Club), continuing into the 1930s (Wilderness Society & National Wildlife Federation), & reestablishing itself in the 1960s/70s (Environmental Defense Fund & Environmental Action)
Spawned a government watchdog agency (EPA)
Feminist Movement
Several feminist movements (1830s, 1890s, 1920s, 1960s)
League of Women Voters (1920) – Equal Rights Amendment
NOW – National Organization for Women (abortion, equal pay)
Union Movement
Late 1800s (Industrial Revolution) & early 1930s (Great Depression)
Fought for higher wages, shorter days, & safer work environments
Today, they comprise both private & public sector jobs

5. Regulating INTEREST GROUPS
Over the years, interest groups have pushed the boundaries of what is acceptable behavior from a political organization (tactics & fundraising)
Interest group activity is a form of political speech (1st Amendment) & can’t be abolished or curtailed
There have been attempts to regulate it however…
1946 Federal Regulation of Lobbying Act
attempted to force interest groups to register with Congress & report their financial records (ineffective - no enforcement agency to monitor it)
1995 Lobbying Disclosre Act
Definition of a lobbyist…(p. 291; 1st column)
Lobbyists were required to report what 3 things...(p. 291; 2nd column)
2007 Lobbying Reforms
No gifts or reimbursement for travel costs