Interest Groups Chapter 9

Public Policy and Interest Groups Public policy – all of the goals that a government pursues in the many areas of human affairs in which it is involved Interest group – private organizations whose members share certain views and work to shape public policy

Lobbying Is usually defined as those activities by which group pressures are brought to bear on legislators and the legislative process.

Interest Groups at Work Propaganda – a technique of persuasion aimed at influencing individual or group behaviors

Grassroots The public rally support for an issue or a candidate Grassroots campaigns often include mass e-mails, phone calls, letters, or postcards to legislators

Types of Interest Groups Business groups – National Association of Manufacturers Labor groups – AFL-CIO Agricultural groups – National Farmers Union, American Farm Bureau Professional groups – American Bar Association, American Medical Association

Types of Interest Groups Promote causes – ACLU, Sierra Club Promote the welfare of certain groups – NAACP, AARP Religious organizations – National Council of Churches, American Jewish Congress Public-interest group – seeks to institute certain public policies of benefit to all or most people in this country