CHAPTER 8 : PARTIES, INTEREST GROUPS, AND PUBLIC POLICY Interest group Any organized group whose members share a common goal and try to promote their interests by influencing government policymaking and decision making. E.g.: National Rifle Association (NRA), World Wildlife Fund (WWF). CHAPTER 8 : PARTIES, INTEREST GROUPS, AND PUBLIC POLICY SECTION 2: POLITICAL PARTIES IN THE UNITED STATES P AGES DemocratsRepublicans Size of the National Government Support a strong federal government & look to it to solve problems. Support a weak national government & giving more power to the states to solve problems Taxes Favor tax cuts for the poor, while raising taxes for affluent Americans in order to support programs that they see as beneficial to society. Favor tax cuts to encourage economic growth & to allow people to keep what they earn. Regulation of Business Support government regulation of business as a way to protect consumers, workers, or the environment. Oppose what they see as excessive business regulation by the government. Social Issues Support abortion rights and gun control laws, while opposing school prayer. Favor prayer in public schools, while opposing abortion and gun control laws. Minimum Wage Favor regular increases in the minimum wage to support poor families. Tend to oppose minimum wage laws as unnecessary economic regulation. CHAPTER 8 : PARTIES, INTEREST GROUPS, AND PUBLIC POLICY SECTION 3: INTEREST GROUPS IN AMERICA P AGES CHAPTER 8 : PARTIES, INTEREST GROUPS, AND PUBLIC POLICY SECTION 4: MAKING PUBLIC POLICY P AGES
