Aim: How do interest groups influence U. S. government and politics? What is an interest group? Why do we have so many interest groups in the United States? What do you know about PACs? What is the difference between an institutional interest group and a membership interest group?

Aim: How do interest groups influence U. S. government and politics? What has contributed to the “ rise ” of interest groups in the United States? Broad economic developments Government policy helps Individuals More government involvement leads to the formation of more interest groups

Aim: How do interest groups influence U. S. government and politics? What incentives are there for joining an interest group? What is a public interest lobby? How do social movements give rise to interest groups? Are all environmental groups the same? What are some feminist groups? What ’ s their ideology?

Aim: How do interest groups influence U. S. government and politics? How do interest groups raise funds? Who gets more PAC money – incumbents or challengers? How large is the typical PAC contribution? Corporate PACs make up ____% of all PACs. Labor PACs give to which party? Corporate PACs give to which party? Who gets more PAC $ - Democrats or Republicans?

Aim: How do interest groups influence U.S. government and politics? INTEREST GROUPS AND BIAS??? Upper-class bias – why? Yeah, but cleavages exist within upper class – effect?

Aim: How do interest groups influence U.S. government and politics? What activities do interest groups engage in? Information Public Support Money and PACs Litigation (lawsuits) INSIDER VS. OUTSIDER APPROACH

Aim: How do interest groups influence U.S. government and politics? How are interest groups (lobbying) regulated? … problems? What is meant by the “ revolving door ” ? (see text) How do interest groups “ make trouble ” ? Why is this a “ win,win ” for interest groups? (And, a “ lose,lose ” for government officials?)

Aim: How do interest groups influence U.S. government and politics? What has happened to union membership since 1960s? Ideological PACs raise more, but spend less. Why?

Aim: How do interest groups influence U.S. government and politics? How are interest groups helpful to American politics? How are interest groups harmful to American politics? On balance … more helpful or harmful? Reforms?? Outlawing PACs? Public financing of campaigns?

SUMMARY Why are there so many interest groups in the U.S.? What are the two basic types of interest groups? What is the trend in regard to interest groups since the 1960s? How does it relate to the trend regarding the strength of political parties? What is a PAC?

SUMMARY How have social movements impacted the development of interest groups? What activities do interest groups use to affect public policy? What is the difference between an insider strategy and an outsider strategy? What is meant by the “ revolving door ” ? How are interest groups regulated?