Which group is more powerful, AARP or MADD?

Types of Interest Groups Business Groups – Chamber of Commerce, National Restaurant Association Labor Groups – AFL-CIO, United Auto Workers Agricultural Groups – The Farm Bureau, The Grange Professional Groups – American Medical Association, American Bar Association, National Education Association

Types Con’t Cause Groups – American Civil Liberities Union, Sierra Club People Groups – Grey Panthers, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People Religious Groups – Christian Coalition, Anti- Defamation League Public Interest Groups – Commons Cause, Public Citizen

Which group can run the most effective media campaign? MADDPETA

Lobbying – a definition The process by which interest groups attempt to assert their influence on the policy-making process.

Who gets lobbied? Congress/legislative bodies - **most common** Executive Branch Courts The American People – convince us, and we will convince them.

What does lobbying look like? Lobbying the government Value of Lobbyists Problems –AbramoffAbramoff Lobbying the people ACLU Anti Smoking Part IIAnti SmokingPart II PETA Bible Education

Criticism of Interest Groups Interest Groups have been criticized for –ignoring the wider interest of society –producing confusion and deadlock in Congress –generating so much emotion that they make reasoned discussion difficult –having too much influence

Positives Interest Groups: promote interest in public affairs provide useful information serve as watchdogs represent the interest of citizens

What Makes an Interest Group Successful? In general three factors tend to lead to interest group success: 1.Leaders – Having a prominent leader aids in the reputation of the group and enhances a group’s ability to attain its goals. 2.Patrons and Funding – Funding is critical. Without money, it is difficult to get your message out. 3.Members – A group must have members to be successful. Organizing members allows for strength in numbers and pooling of financial support.