Chris & Alex

Range of Interests

Guns (NRA, Firearms and Liberty) Being retired (AARP) Farming/Agriculture (USAIN

International) Beer wholesaling (LAFAA) Teachers (American Federation of

Teachers) Pretty much everything has an

interest group

Vocabulary

Interest group - organized group of individuals sharing common objectives who actively influence politics

Indirect technique – using a third party, such as a public official, to convince a given government official to listen to you

Direct technique- approaching the government official directly, possibly with money or other incentives

More Vocabulary

PAC-A company representing a corporation, union, or special interest group

Lobbyist-a person who tries to influence legislation on behalf of a special interest

Public interest – best interests of the overall community

Activities

Most interest groups will do fundraisers

They also collect dues for membership

Some, such as the NRA, will have rallies and protests to make sure they keep their rights to whatever they represent

Effects on the Political Effects on the Political ProcessProcess

Interest groups will donate money Interest groups will donate money and other things (such as promises and other things (such as promises of votes) to political figures in order of votes) to political figures in order for the person to represent their for the person to represent their interestinterest

They will also tell their members They will also tell their members who to vote for which can, in some who to vote for which can, in some cases, change the result of the cases, change the result of the electionelection

Top 5 Interest Groups (2001)1.1. NRA (National Rifle Association) NRA (National Rifle Association) www.nra.org1.1. AARP (AARP (American Association of Retired American Association of Retired

PersonsPersons))2. www.aarp.org 3.3. National Federation of Independent Business National Federation of Independent Business

www.nfib.com 4.4. American-Israel Public Affairs Committee American-Israel Public Affairs Committee

www.aipac.org 5.5. Association of Trial Lawyers of AmericaAssociation of Trial Lawyers of America

www.theatla.com

(Political Action Committees)(Political Action Committees)

A company representing a corporation, A company representing a corporation, union, or special interest groupunion, or special interest group

They raise and give campaign They raise and give campaign donations on behalf of the corporations donations on behalf of the corporations or groups they representor groups they represent

They can greatly influence votes with They can greatly influence votes with large sum donations to major political large sum donations to major political figures figures

Amount of money contributed is limitedAmount of money contributed is limited

PACs

News Media News Media

AdvantagesAdvantages

Sharing and connecting of informationSharing and connecting of information

Shares government and organization events to Shares government and organization events to publicpublic

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DisadvantagesDisadvantages

Often biased opinions according to sourceOften biased opinions according to source

Content often overlookedContent often overlooked

Media Impact

The media provides, to the public an insight on the government and its activities.

With technology continuing to expand, the media has developed into a direct link between politics and its voters.

OverviewOverview Interest groups allow common people Interest groups allow common people

without a political background to voice without a political background to voice their opinion and spread beliefs. These their opinion and spread beliefs. These groups’ primary goal is to play an active groups’ primary goal is to play an active role in the American government . role in the American government .

PACs, or political action committees, are PACs, or political action committees, are organized to elect candidates and advance organized to elect candidates and advance the outcomes of an issue.the outcomes of an issue.

The new media is the link between the The new media is the link between the workings of politics and those who vote. It workings of politics and those who vote. It can be found as newspapers, television, can be found as newspapers, television, radio, and the internet as of these last radio, and the internet as of these last decades.decades.