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Explore the role of interest groups in influencing policies, representing shared attitudes, and enhancing political participation. Learn about the functions, criticisms, and types of interest groups in the American political landscape.
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The Humane Society works to reduce suffering and improve the lives of all animals by advocating for better laws; investigating animal cruelty; conducting campaigns to reform industries; providing animal rescue and emergency response; and caring for animals through our emergency shelters.
The mission of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) is to stop drunk driving, support the victims of this violent crime, and prevent underage drinking.
The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) is the leading manufacturing association, representing manufacturers in every industrial sector and in all 50 states. Our mission is to be the voice of all manufacturing in the U.S. and inform policymakers about manufacturing’s vital role in the U.S. economy.
The Christian Coalition of America works to represent the pro-family agenda and support policies that will strengthen and preserve, rather than threaten, our families and our values.
The Screen Actors Guild (SAG) represents actors who work in film and television programs, commercials, video games, Internet, and all new media formats. The Guild exists to enhance actors’ working conditions, pay, and benefits and to be a powerful, unified voice on behalf of artists’ rights.
A. What Is an Interest Group? 1. An interest group is a private organization that tries to persuade public officials to respond to the shared attitudes of its members.
A. What Is an Interest Group? 2. American society is pluralistic, consisting of many different interest groups that compete for and share in political power.
A. What Is an Interest Group? 3. Political Parties and Interest Groups a. Parties, unlike interest groups, nominate candidates for office.
A. What Is an Interest Group? 3. Political Parties and Interest Groups b. While parties are chiefly concerned with winning elections, interest groups are chiefly concerned with influencing policy.
A. What Is an Interest Group? 3. Political Parties and Interest Groups c. While parties must concern themselves with the full range of policy issues, interest groups attempt to influence only those policies that directly affect their members.
1. Functions a. Interest groups help to stimulate interest in public affairs
1. Functions b. Interest groups represent groups of people who share attitudes, not geography
1. Functions c. Interest groups provide useful, detailed information to government officials.
1. Functions d. Interest groups are vehicles for effective political participation.
1. Functions e. Interest groups are an important element in the system of checks and balances, keeping an eye on one another and on the activities of public officials
2. Criticisms a. Some interest groups have influence far out of proportion to their size or importance.
2. Criticisms b. It is difficult to tell just how many people an interest group truly represents and many do not represent the views of the people for whom they claim to speak.
2. Criticisms c. Some of the tactics used by some interest groups, if widely adopted, would threaten the integrity of the American political system.
A. An American Tradition 1. Today there are thousands and thousands of interest groups in the United States.
A. An American Tradition 2. The largest numbers are those founded on economic interests.
A. An American Tradition 3. Citizens often belong to more than one interest group and even to groups that take conflicting stands on issues.
B. Groups Based on Economic Interests 1. Business Groups - Hundreds of business and trade groups cooperate and compete to influence policy.
B. Groups Based on Economic Interests 2. Labor Groups - Labor unions exercise considerable power in government, but sometimes disagree on policy matters.
B. Groups Based on Economic Interests 3. Agricultural Groups - Farm groups work to protect the dwindling number of American farmers.
B. Groups Based on Economic Interests 4. Professional Groups - Such groups as the AMA (doctors), the ABA (lawyers), and the NEA (teachers) promote the interests of the professions they represent.
What is filled every morning and emptied every night, except once a year when it is filled at night and emptied in the morning?
What is filled every morning and emptied every night, except once a year when it is filled at night and emptied in the morning? A stocking.
What is it that you can take away the whole and still have some left?
What is it that you can take away the whole and still have some left? The word "wholesome."
What is neither inside a house nor outside a house, but no house would be complete without it?
What is neither inside a house nor outside a house, but no house would be complete without it? A window.
What is pronounced like one letter, written with three letters, and belongs to all animals?
What is pronounced like one letter, written with three letters, and belongs to all animals? Eye.
What is the beginning of eternity, the end of time and space; the beginning of every end, and the end of every race?
What is the beginning of eternity, the end of time and space; the beginning of every end, and the end of every race? The letter E.
C. The Maze of Other Groups 1. Groups that Promote Causes - Interest groups work to promote an endless variety of causes, from civil liberties to temperance.
C. The Maze of Other Groups 2. Organizations that Promote the Welfare of Certain Groups - Many groups work to promote the interest of groups, such as older Americans, veterans, or African Americans.
C. The Maze of Other Groups 3. Religious Organizations - Various religious groups work to influence government policy.
C. The Maze of Other Groups 4. Public-Interest Groups - Public-interest groups, such as the League of Women Voters and Common Cause, seek to promote policies that will benefit the American people as a whole rather than the interest of a special group.
