1. Warm Up
Look at the list of interest groups. Then look at the hypothetical list of bills that Congress might consider during a session. Match the group with the issue/purpose it would most likely wish to influence.

2. Tuesday, October 10, 2017
Objective: Students will be able to explain the ways interest groups lobby Congress.
Importance: Interest groups have a large influence over the shaping of legislation and the policies of government.

3. What are Interest Groups
Interest group: a collection of people who share certain views on public matters and work to influence what government does in some specific area of special interest to them
Interest groups are possible because of the right to petition the government
Interest groups operate at the state, local, and federal levels of government

4. Political parties and interest groups have more differences than similarities. Based on the information shown, why do you think interest groups are sometimes criticized?

5. These early interest group founders sought a wide range of goals: equality, labor, and economic reforms. What tactics might these leaders have used to accomplish their goals?

6. The involvement of interest groups in politics has pros and cons
The involvement of interest groups in politics has pros and cons. Why might tactics such as donating money to political campaigns be considered a drawback?

7. Members of the League of United Latin American Citizens march in support of immigration reform. LULAC focuses its efforts on education, civil rights, and employment for Hispanics.

8. Direct Lobbying
Lobbying: the process by which organized interests attempt to affect the decisions and actions of public officials
Most larger companies and labor unions have their own full-time lobbyists
Lobbyists make campaign contributions, provide information, write speeches, and even draft legislation
Lobbyists testify before congressional committees and regularly submit prepared statements that set out their organization’s views on proposed legislation

9. An electric company announces plans for a wind farm, and competing interests work to influence government policy on the plan. How might interest groups exert their influence?

10. Organizations track total contributions and top recipients of contributions to inform the public. What patterns do you see in the companies making the top contributions?

11. Grass-Roots Lobbying
Grass-roots lobbying: pressures on public officials from members of an interest group or the people at large
Many organized interests spend much of their time and energy on attempts to mold public opinion
Many groups use well-known personalities or trusted public figures to persuade people to support the group’s cause
Example: actor Charlton Heston, who was a president of the National Rifle Association

12. The Chamber of Commerce ranks members of Congress based on how often they supported top Chamber issues. What does this data show about party support for the Chamber?

13. Using a variety of persuasive techniques, propaganda seeks to create a desired belief. How do these techniques encourage the public to "join the crowd"?