The Role of Special Interest Groups How They Affect Opinions

What is an Interest Group? A group of people who share a point of view about an issue and unite to promote their beliefs A group of people who share a point of view about an issue and unite to promote their beliefs National Rifle Association (NRA): promotes 2 nd amendment right of individuals to bear arms/own guns; against gun control laws National Rifle Association (NRA): promotes 2 nd amendment right of individuals to bear arms/own guns; against gun control laws National Educators Association (NEA): promotes public education/ teacher support National Educators Association (NEA): promotes public education/ teacher support Ideal: One Person = One Vote, Lots of People = Lots of Votes Ideal: One Person = One Vote, Lots of People = Lots of Votes

Types of Interest Groups Economic Interest Groups: deal with money issues Economic Interest Groups: deal with money issues Chamber of Commerce: organization of small businesses; protect business owners Chamber of Commerce: organization of small businesses; protect business owners Labor Unions: organize employees for fair wages and safe work environment Labor Unions: organize employees for fair wages and safe work environment Professional Groups: based on specialized fields Professional Groups: based on specialized fields America Medical Association (AMA) America Medical Association (AMA) National Educators Association (NEA) National Educators Association (NEA)

Types of Interest Groups Cont’d Non-Economic Interest Groups- issues do not deal directly with money Non-Economic Interest Groups- issues do not deal directly with money Single Issue Interest Groups: only have one goal in mind Single Issue Interest Groups: only have one goal in mind National Rifle Association (NRA): protect 2 nd amendment right to own a gun National Rifle Association (NRA): protect 2 nd amendment right to own a gun Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD): lowering BAC for people who use alcohol and drive, and administering strict penalties for those who drink and drive Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD): lowering BAC for people who use alcohol and drive, and administering strict penalties for those who drink and drive Ideological Interest Groups- usually a belief in equality or in religious beliefs Ideological Interest Groups- usually a belief in equality or in religious beliefs National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) : ensure all people are treated equally, regardless of skin color National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) : ensure all people are treated equally, regardless of skin color National Organization of Women (NOW) : issues of equality for women National Organization of Women (NOW) : issues of equality for women

How Special Interest Groups Influence the Public The goal of special interest groups is to influence public opinion The goal of special interest groups is to influence public opinion To gain members To gain members To convince public of the importance of their cause To convince public of the importance of their cause To get candidates elected who share the same beliefs as they do (Political Actiion Committees) To get candidates elected who share the same beliefs as they do (Political Actiion Committees) Techniques Used Techniques Used Direct mail (junk mail) Direct mail (junk mail) Advertisements Advertisements Protests Protests Public events Public events Propaganda: certain ideas that may involve misleading messages designed to manipulate people Propaganda: certain ideas that may involve misleading messages designed to manipulate people

What Do Interest Groups Do? Interest groups pool their resources (time, money, and skills) to increase their chances of influencing government Interest groups pool their resources (time, money, and skills) to increase their chances of influencing government Form Political Action Committees (PACs) to collect money from members of their groups to get people elected that support their views Form Political Action Committees (PACs) to collect money from members of their groups to get people elected that support their views They go to court, suing on behalf of their cause They go to court, suing on behalf of their cause They lobby: try to influence lawmakers by giving members of relevant standing committees research that supports their beliefs They lobby: try to influence lawmakers by giving members of relevant standing committees research that supports their beliefs Provide data and research to government officials to support their cause Provide data and research to government officials to support their cause

Lobbyists People who work for special interest groups and try to influence legislation that benefits the ideas/beliefs of the group are called lobbyists People who work for special interest groups and try to influence legislation that benefits the ideas/beliefs of the group are called lobbyists A lobbyist for the NRA would propose a law for expanded ability to purchase a hand gun, or would influence legislators to pass a law that they support A lobbyist for the NRA would propose a law for expanded ability to purchase a hand gun, or would influence legislators to pass a law that they support A lobbyist for the NRA would influence legislators to vote against a law that restricts the rights of individuals to bear arms A lobbyist for the NRA would influence legislators to vote against a law that restricts the rights of individuals to bear arms

How Lobbyists Influence Legislation Lobbyists meet with legislators and make deals for support for or against proposed bills Lobbyists meet with legislators and make deals for support for or against proposed bills A lobbyists will meet with legislators and give them their side of the issue to try to persuade the legislator to side with their special interest group on the issue A lobbyists will meet with legislators and give them their side of the issue to try to persuade the legislator to side with their special interest group on the issue

Propaganda Techniques Bandwagon: everyone is doing it, so should you Bandwagon: everyone is doing it, so should you Appeals to people’s desire to be part of the “winning team” Appeals to people’s desire to be part of the “winning team” Ex. “Polls show our candidate is pulling ahead, and we expect to win by a landslide” Ex. “Polls show our candidate is pulling ahead, and we expect to win by a landslide” Name-Calling: an attempt to turn people against the opponent or an idea by using an unpleasant label or description for the person or idea Name-Calling: an attempt to turn people against the opponent or an idea by using an unpleasant label or description for the person or idea Negative campaining Negative campaining Ex. “ Candidate A is a dangerous extremist” Ex. “ Candidate A is a dangerous extremist” Endorsement: using a famous person as a supporter Endorsement: using a famous person as a supporter Ex. “Michael Jordan says, “ I am voting for Candidate B and so should you.” Ex. “Michael Jordan says, “ I am voting for Candidate B and so should you.”

Propaganda Techniques Cont’d Stacked Cards: presents only one side of an issue Stacked Cards: presents only one side of an issue Ex. “Candidate A has the best record on the environment” Ex. “Candidate A has the best record on the environment” Glittering Generality: a statement that sounds good but is essentially meaningless Glittering Generality: a statement that sounds good but is essentially meaningless Ex. “Candidate A is the one to bring us peace and prosperity Ex. “Candidate A is the one to bring us peace and prosperity Just Plain Folks: use of photographs of candidates to make people think of that the candidate is just like the, with the same desires and concerns Just Plain Folks: use of photographs of candidates to make people think of that the candidate is just like the, with the same desires and concerns Ex. “My parents were ordinary, hardworking people, and they taught me those very same values.” Ex. “My parents were ordinary, hardworking people, and they taught me those very same values.”

Propaganda Techniques Cont’d Transfer/Symbols: using a patriotic symbol to associate with the candidate Transfer/Symbols: using a patriotic symbol to associate with the candidate Ex. The candidate wearing blue and red standing in front of an American flag. Ex. The candidate wearing blue and red standing in front of an American flag. GO TO NEXT SLIDE 

Go to the following webpage to complete your wrap-up assignment… SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS AROUND THE USA (SIGs) CLICK HERE