Unit 3: Part VI – Interest Groups
1. What are interest groups? __________________________________________________________________
2. Why do people join interest groups?
__________________________________________________________________
3. What protects the right of people to form interest groups?
__________________________________________________________________
4. Types of Interest Groups:
PRIVATE INTEREST GROUPS __________________________________________________________________

Economic Interest Groups: ____________________________________________________________
i. U.S. Chamber of Commerce _____________________________ ________________________
ii. AFL-CIO _____________________________________________ _________________________
iii. AMA ________________________________________________ ________________________

Special Interest Groups: ________________________________________________________________
i. NAACP ______________________________________________ _________________________
ii. NOW _________________________________________________________________________
iii. AARP ___________________ ______________________________________________________
iv. NRA __________________________________________________________________________
PUBLIC INTEREST GROUPS _____________________________________________________________________

League of Women’s Voters ______________________________________________________________

MADD ______________________________________________________________________________
5. In what ways do interest groups try and influence the government?

By forming PAC’s ____________________________________________

Going to court _______________________________________________

By hiring lobbyists ____________________________________________________________________
6. What protects the rights of interest groups to try and influence government decisions?
_________________________________________________________
Interest Group Web Quest
Click on the link for the AARP.
1. Under “Benefits”( on the left hand menu bar) what kinds of benefits does the AARP provide for its members?
List 3 types of benefits they provide.
2. Click on “Politics & Society” and select “Advocacy”. Currently, how is the AARP trying to influence the
government?
3. Click on “Volunteer” at the top. How does the AARP encourage people to volunteer?
Click on the link for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
1. Click on the “About Us” tab at the top right. What rights are the ACLU fighting to protect?
2. What groups who have traditionally had their rights denied does the ACLU fight for?
3. Click on “Key Issues” tab at the top. Describe two of the key issues that the ACLU is currently focusing on.
Click on the link for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)
1. Click on the “About Us” tab at the top. What are 4 of the NAACP’s stated objectives?
2. Click on the “Advocacy & Issues” tab at the top. Use the links listed, describe 2 issues that the NAACP is
currently supporting.
Click on the link for the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW)
1. Click on the “About Us” tab at the top right. Why was the VFW founded?
2. What purpose does the VFW serve to it’s members?
3. Click on the “Assistance” tab, then click on “Troop Support”. What purpose does Unmet Needs serve? Click on
“Read More” to get more detail.
4. What is the goal of Operation Uplink? Click on “Read More” to get more detail.