1. 4.4 Interest Groups Do Now: What are some ways in which you exert your power?

3. Interest Groups A group or an organization which tries to influence the government but does not hold official position in the government

4. Techniques Interest Group techniques are largely aimed at lobbying government bureaucracy, where most decisions are made. Congress (federal and state) bears the brunt of the lobbying.

5. Lobbying Video 1 Jack Abramoff: The Lobbyists Playbook 60 Minutes Video 2 What is Lobbying and Why is it Important? The American League of Lobbyists (Pro-Lobby)

6. Techniques Many interest groups also use mass media as an important, albeit less direct, way of affecting public policy These grass-roots campaigns get the average Joe to do the work.

7. Techniques Some interest groups are affiliated with Political Action Committees. These groups raise funds and support candidates with like interests.

8. Techniques When public and congressional lobbying don’t work, and PACs just aren’t making the difference, interest groups often turn to litigation

9. United States of ALEC By Bill Moyers

10. National Rifle Association (NRA) World’s pre-eminent gun rights organization Fights for hunting and self-protection rights Provides gun ownership education Congressional staffers consider it the “most influential lobbying group” (Fortune, 1999)

11. Techniques Lobbying congress in regards to the 2 nd amendment and gun laws using their own lobbying branch- NRA-ILA (Institute for Legislative Action) Huge mass media presence supporting all things arms (has the NRA done more constitutional education than our education system?)

12. Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Started by the mother of a drunk driving victim Early attempts at change proved that drunk driving was not even an issue that the public or govt was conscious of

13. Techniques Lobbying congress and other governmental bodies in regards to drunk driving legislation Education: mass media, schools, etc. Policy briefings with judges Victim’s Services: provides legal and emotional services to victims of drunk driving

14. National Potato Council Environment (looks good, don’t it?) Trade (keep us growers competitive) Health and Nutrition (public (mis)education) Farm Bill (reduce regulation, provide subsidies) Transportation (keeping costs and spoilage down) Research (GMO, Hybrids, Breeding) The National Potato Council is the advocate for the economic well-being of U.S. potato growers on federal legislative, regulatory, environmental, and trade issues.

15. Techniques Lobbying congress (especially the Committee on Agriculture) in regards to the farm bill Providing information to the public in order to sway public opinion Lobbying the FDA for approval of new varieties and possible GMO in the future

16. National Association for the Advancement of Colored People Goals Ensure political, education, social and economic equality Eliminate Racial Prejudice in the workplace Remove barriers of racial discrimination in politics Seek to enforce laws regarding racial discrimination Educate people about racial discrimination The mission of the NAACP is to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate race-based discrimination.

17. Techniques Increasing the African American vote Educating the public about discrimination Lobbying congress in regards to anti-discrimination legislation Using their “Urgent Action Alert System” the NAACP encourages Grass-Roots activism

18. 4.4 Assignment Use the worksheet to create your own interest group.