Interest Group Assignment
Be familiar with the following interest groups. In other words know the types of issues
these groups are involved in, most are obvious. It is also vital to know what the group is
doing to influence the government and public opinion.
Interest Group Research Brief
Research your assigned interest group. The many of interest groups can be found at this
website: http://www.vancouver.wsu.edu/fac/kfountain/alpha.html or just Google the
interest group’s name.
Oral Presentation
You will present your findings concerning the selected interest group in a 2-3 minute presentation.
• Name of interest group
• Issue(s)/agenda advocated and who they support (political party/ideology)
• Lobbying technique(s)
o Campaign funding
 Financial support though contributions from PACs
o Grassroots mobilization
 Get-out-the-vote drives
 Organize members to act (letter writing/calling politicians, protest, etc.)
o Litigation (using the court system)
 Lawsuits or amicus curiae briefs
o Direct lobbying
 Draft bills
 Support/oppose legislation
 Testifying at congressional committee hearings
o Provide information
 To government officials that supports the interest group’s cause
 To the public about the cause (mail, TV, Internet)
 Using the media to promote agenda
• Overall impact of the group (give it an “effectiveness grade”- A, B, C…)
o Strengths/weaknesses
o How successful is the interest group? Provide examples of successes/failures.
o Recent news events
Grading:
•
Interest group brief & presentation = 25 points
Helpful websites:
• Google the interest group’s name + lobbying
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http://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/alphalist_indus.php
Open Secrets website: “Campaign contributions from this industry”
http://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/index.php
o Search database by- Issue/Specific issue
o Type in interest group name on second keyword box
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http://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/list.php
http://news.google.com
Examples of actions an interest group may take in attempt to influence government
policy and public opinion:
• Lobbying- supporting/opposing legislation
• Drafting bills
• Providing information to government officials pertaining to the interest group’s cause
• Financial support though contributions from PACs
• Get-out-the-vote drives
• Grassroots mobilization of members (letter writing/calling, protest, etc.)
• Providing information to the public about the cause (mail, TV, Internet)
• Testifying at congressional committee hearings
•
•
Using the media to promote agenda
Litigation- lawsuits or amicus curiae briefs