Why have interest groups

Why have interest groups?Why have interest groups?

One person = One voteOne person = One vote Lots of people = Lots of Lots of people = Lots of

VotesVotes

Interest group- a group of Interest group- a group of people who share a common people who share a common point of viewpoint of view

What do interest groups do?What do interest groups do?

They work together to They work together to influence public influence public opinion (what other opinion (what other people think)people think)

They try to persuade They try to persuade others to think like others to think like themthem

Who makes up an interest group?Who makes up an interest group? Group of people who Group of people who

pull their resources to pull their resources to try to influence try to influence governmentgovernment TimeTime MoneyMoney SkillsSkills

Hire a person called a Hire a person called a LOBBYIST to go to LOBBYIST to go to D.C. and talk to D.C. and talk to Congress peopleCongress people

Job of an Interest Group Job of an Interest Group Form a Political Action Form a Political Action

Committees (PACs) to Committees (PACs) to collect money from collect money from members of their groups members of their groups to get people electedto get people elected

They go to court- suing on They go to court- suing on behalf of their membersbehalf of their members

They lobby- try to They lobby- try to influence lawmakers to influence lawmakers to support their beliefssupport their beliefs

Provide data and research Provide data and research to government officials to to government officials to support their causesupport their cause

National Organization of WomenNational Organization of Women Equal pay for women- Equal pay for women-

women earn 77 cents to a women earn 77 cents to a man’s dollarman’s dollar

Legislation for breast Legislation for breast cancercancer

Pro ChoicePro Choice Other women’s issuesOther women’s issues Title IX- equal Title IX- equal

opportunity in sports and opportunity in sports and in educationin education

The National The National Organization for Women Organization for Women (NOW) web site(NOW) web site

National Right to Life CommitteeNational Right to Life Committee

No abortionNo abortion No corporal No corporal

punishment or death punishment or death penaltypenalty

No No euthanasia-”pulling euthanasia-”pulling the plug” the plug”

National Association for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored PeopleAdvancement of Colored People

Equal rights for blacksEqual rights for blacks Eliminate racial Eliminate racial

profilingprofiling Burying of N wordBurying of N word Brown v. Board of Brown v. Board of

EducationEducation Jena 6Jena 6 http://www.naacp.orhttp://www.naacp.or

g/home/index.htmg/home/index.htm

American Civil Liberties American Civil Liberties UnionUnion Protection of a person’s rightsProtection of a person’s rights Freedom of speechFreedom of speech Texas v. JohnsonTexas v. Johnson Against racial profilingAgainst racial profiling American Civil Liberties Union American Civil Liberties Union

- Criminal Justice, Death - Criminal Justice, Death Penalty, Disability Rights, Penalty, Disability Rights, Drug Policy, Free Speech, Drug Policy, Free Speech, HIV/AIDS, Human Rights, HIV/AIDS, Human Rights, Immigrants' Rights, Lesbian & Immigrants' Rights, Lesbian & Gay Rights, National Security, Gay Rights, National Security, Police Practices, Prisoners' Police Practices, Prisoners' Rights, Privacy & Technology, Rights, Privacy & Technology, RaciRaci

National Rifle AssociationNational Rifle Association Believe in protecting a Believe in protecting a

person’s 2person’s 2ndnd amendment right to amendment right to own a weaponown a weapon

No waiting periods No waiting periods for handgunsfor handguns

Need weapons to Need weapons to protect a person from protect a person from the government the government

Green PeaceGreen Peace

Protection of the Protection of the environmentenvironment

No offshore drillingNo offshore drilling No Alaskan pipeline No Alaskan pipeline http://www.greenpehttp://www.greenpe

ace.org/usa/ace.org/usa/

Chamber of CommerceChamber of Commerce Growth of business Growth of business

and small businessesand small businesses Watch zoning of cityWatch zoning of city

Residential Residential CommercialCommercial

Look to decrease Look to decrease corporate income tax corporate income tax (tax on a company)(tax on a company)

National Educators National Educators AssociationAssociation Support of teachersSupport of teachers Provide insurance if Provide insurance if

suedsued Against No Child Left Against No Child Left

Behind and mandatory Behind and mandatory end of grade testing end of grade testing

Encourage professional Encourage professional development and development and further education of further education of teachersteachers

American Federation of American Federation of LaborLabor A labor unionA labor union Pro workerPro worker Raise minimum wageRaise minimum wage Limit immigration- Limit immigration-

compete with American compete with American workersworkers

Like tariffs- tax on Like tariffs- tax on imported goods because imported goods because people are more likely to people are more likely to buy Americanbuy American

http://www.aflcio.org/http://www.aflcio.org/