2. Essential Question How do public interest groups impact the legislative process?

3. Public Interest Groups

4. Interest Group Group of people who share common goals and organize to influence government

5. Defining Interest Groups Support candidates but do not nominate them Concerned with a few specific issues Based on common values not geographic regions

6. AARP

7. Sierra Club

8. Farm Bureau

9. National Association of Manufacturers

10. AFL-CIO (labor union)

11. Work of Lobbyists Interest groups influence government policy by direct contact with lawmakers

12. Lobbyists Employed or retained by a client or company

13. Lobbyists Must register with Congress Must report activities and areas of interest

14. Time, 1986 “Tempted by the staggering fees that lobbyists can command, lawmakers and their aides are quitting in droves to cash in on their connections. For many, public service has become a mere internship for a lucrative career as a hired gun for special interests.”

15. Job of a Lobbyist Meet personally with members of Congress Provide information on the position of their interest group

16. Job of a Lobbyist May also testify at a congressional hearing Present facts to congressional committees

17. Example of Lobbying The House Committee on the Judiciary is considering a bill to regulate the sale of firearms Who will be impacted by this decision?

19. Political Action Committee (PAC) Designed to collect money and provide financial support for a political candidate

20. PACs Must raise money from at least 50 contributors Give to at least 5 candidates May give $5000 to each

21. PACs Complications Problem? Government has not limited how much a PAC can spend on a candidate’s campaign as long as the PAC does not work directly with the candidate

22. Federal Election Commission Issues regulations about PAC activities Corporations can use their own money to finance PACs

23. Public Opinion Ideas and attitudes a number of people hold about government and political issues