1. Special Interest Groups Unit 2 http://www.ncsl.org/public/trust/ opinionpoll.htm http://www.ncsl.org/public/trust/ opinionpoll.htm

4. Interest Groups Private organization that tries to persuade public officials to respond to shared attitudes Private organization that tries to persuade public officials to respond to shared attitudes Try to influence public policy (laws) Try to influence public policy (laws) Lobbying Lobbying Try to influence legislators and lawsTry to influence legislators and laws Lobbyist- activist usually paid by an interest group to promote their positions to legislaturesLobbyist- activist usually paid by an interest group to promote their positions to legislatures Lobbyist can also work to change public opinion through advertising campaigns or by influencing 'opinion leaders’Lobbyist can also work to change public opinion through advertising campaigns or by influencing 'opinion leaders’

5. How are they different from Parties? 1. Don’t nominate candidate 2. Interested in controlling policies not offices 3. Concentrate on only a few issues and not accountable to the public

6. Good or Bad? Good Create an interest in public affairs Create an interest in public affairs Bring people together based on ideas Bring people together based on ideas Provide useful information to Gov’t Provide useful information to Gov’t Get people involved Get people involved Checks and Balances Checks and Balances Create competition Create competition

7. Good or Bad Bad Too much influence Too much influence Who is represented? Who is represented? Bribery and other corruption Bribery and other corruption

8. Types of Interest Groups Economic Interests 1. Business Groups 2. Labor Groups 3. Agricultural Groups 4. Professional Groups Others 1. Promote Causes 2. Promote Welfare 3. Religious http://www.csuchico.edu/~kfountain/alpha.html

9. http://www.opensecrets.org/lobbyist s/clientsum.asp?txtname=Philip+Mor ris&year=2002 http://www.opensecrets.org/lobbyist s/clientsum.asp?txtname=Philip+Mor ris&year=2002 http://www.opensecrets.org/lobbyist s/clientsum.asp?txtname=Philip+Mor ris&year=2002 http://www.opensecrets.org/lobbyist s/clientsum.asp?txtname=Philip+Mor ris&year=2002 http://www.opensecrets.org/lobbyist s/index.asp http://www.opensecrets.org/lobbyist s/index.asp http://www.opensecrets.org/lobbyist s/index.asp http://www.opensecrets.org/lobbyist s/index.asp

10. Public Interest Groups Goals is to benefit all or most people not just a specific group Goals is to benefit all or most people not just a specific group Focus on issues that all Americans share Focus on issues that all Americans share http://www.illinoispirg.org/ http://www.vote-smart.org/issue_group.php

11. Political Action Committees (PACs) Single Interest Groups Single Interest Groups Organization established by businesses, labor unions, and other interest groups Organization established by businesses, labor unions, and other interest groups Work to financially support political campaigns that support their cause Work to financially support political campaigns that support their cause Over 4,000 PACs registered today Over 4,000 PACs registered today In response to laws limiting union dues to support candidates In response to laws limiting union dues to support candidates Most PAC money goes to incumbents Most PAC money goes to incumbents

12. PACsYEAR # of PACs Contribution (in millions) (in millions)1972113$8.5 19761146$20.5 19802551$65.2 19844009$106.3 19884268$151.3 19924585$112 19964430$126.5 20004393$166.9 http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/index.asp

13. PACs Top 7 Contributors ‘99-’00 Emily’s List $12,288,422 Emily’s List $12,288,422 www.emilyslist.org NRA Political Victory Fund $10,786,466 NRA Political Victory Fund $10,786,466 www.nrapvf.org American Federation of State County & Municipal $6,465,424 American Federation of State County & Municipal $6,465,424Employees www.afscme.org Democrat Republican Independent Voter Education $5,501,792 Democrat Republican Independent Voter Education $5,501,792 (International Brotherhood of Teamsters) www.teamster.org

14. PACs Top 7 Contributors ‘99-’00 UAW –V-CAP (United Auto Workers) $4,531,700 UAW –V-CAP (United Auto Workers) $4,531,700 www.uaw.org International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Committee on Public Education International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Committee on Public Education$4,227,442 www.ibew.com American Medical Association Political Action Committee American Medical Association Political Action Committee$4,021,519 ampaconline.org/default.php

15. Personal Assets http://www.opensecrets.org/pfds/overview.asp?type=W&cy cle=2005&filter=S http://www.opensecrets.org/pfds/overview.asp?type=W&cy cle=2005&filter=S http://www.opensecrets.org/pfds/overview.asp?type=W&cy cle=2005&filter=S http://www.fec.gov/pages/brochures /contriblimits.shtml#fn4 http://www.fec.gov/pages/brochures /contriblimits.shtml#fn4 http://www.fec.gov/pages/brochures /contriblimits.shtml#fn4 http://www.fec.gov/pages/brochures /contriblimits.shtml#fn4 Contribution Limits