1. Making Connections
On the half sheet of paper, work with your group to create an explanation of how the following terms are related:
Political parties
Candidates
Public policy
Party platform
You can create a diagram, write out your explanation or whatever makes the most sense to your group.

2. Interest Groups
Chapter 9 (pgs )

3. What are interest groups?
Definition:
Groups of citizens who share similar ideas about a specific area of public policy.
The citizens combine as an interest group to influence public policy so it fits their ideas.

4. What do interest groups do?
GOAL:
Try to influence public policy (laws made by government)
They don’t run candidates for political offices
They are seen as “experts” on a key topic

5. Video: What are interest groups?

6. What is public policy?

7. Types of Interest Groups
Two main categories:
Institutional Interests- represent organizations
Large corporations and public interests
Membership Interests- Americans join and pay dues
Social, business, professional, charitable and religious

8. Types of Interest Groups
Type of Group
What Group Does
Examples of Groups
Business Groups
Promote and protect the interests of businesses
Labor Groups
Groups of workers who share the same type of job or work in same industry
Agriculture Groups
Groups of farmers who influence government’s agriculture policies
Professional Groups
Groups professionals in occupations that require extensive and specialized training
Promote Causes
Groups dedicated to one specific topic
Promote Welfare of Certain Groups
Groups that promote the interests of a small group of society
Religious Groups
Promotes interests of people sharing certain religious beliefs

9. Types of Interest Groups
Type of Group
What Group Does
Examples of Groups
Business Groups
Promote and protect the interests of businesses
National Association of Manufacturers (NAM)
Labor Groups
Groups of workers who share the same type of job or work in same industry
United Auto Workers Association
Agriculture Groups
Groups of farmers who influence government’s agriculture policies
Farm Bureau,
National Farmers Union
Professional Groups
Groups professionals in occupations that require extensive and specialized training
American Medical Assoc., American Bar Assoc., National Education Assoc.
Promote Causes
Groups dedicated to one specific topic
National Wildlife Federation, American Civil Liberties Union
Promote Welfare of Certain Groups
Groups that promote the interests of a small group of society
American Assoc. of Retired Persons (AARP), Veterans of Foreign Wars
Religious Groups
Promotes interests of people sharing a certain religious belief
National Catholic Welfare Council, American Jewish Congress

10. How do interest groups influence policy?
Lobbying
- Shares information with public and ask them to contact their Congressional representatives
- Meet directly with Congressional representatives
- Works well when the issues effects a large number of people (war veterans)
Protest
- Organize protest movements and rallys
- Civil Rights, Healthcare, Gay Marriage, Abortion, War
Litigation
- Take the issue to the courts
- Help finance cases to the Supreme Court (NAACP and Brown v. Board)
- ACLU, NRA, NOW
Political Campaigns
- Support and fund political campaigns and candidates who share political views with interest group
- $$$

11. Where do interest groups get POWER?
1st Amendment!!
Free speech
Free press
Protest
Petition
Religion

12. Political Cartoon
What does this political cartoon communi-cate about interest groups?

13. Political Cartoon
Political candidates need the $$$ from interest groups to fund their campaigns
$$ is the key to success and survival of interest groups

14. Contributions to Interest Groups

15. Interest Groups v. Political Parties
Interest groups are increasing in power while…political parties are decreasing in power.
BOTH interest groups and political parties connect citizens to the political process.
Use pages to complete the chart comparing and contrasting interest groups and political parties.