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Date__________
Mr. Mitchell
Types of Interest Groups
(Chapter 9, Section 2)
I.
II.
An American Tradition:
A. “A Nation of Joiners”
B. Thousands of different groups, large and small.
Groups Based on Economic Interests:
A. Business Groups:
1.
U.S. Brewers Association (oldest organized interest group).
2. National Association of Manufacturers (14,000 firms).
3. Chamber of Commerce (2,800 local chapters).
4. Trade Associations:
a. Trucking, Railroads, etc.
b. Common goal of business interests.
c. Often disagree on issues, though.
B. Labor Groups:
1.
Less than 12% of Americans belong to a union.
2. AFL-CIO:
a. 52 separate unions.
b. 8 million members.
3. National Fraternal Order of Police.
4. Labor Unions also oppose each other sometimes.
C. Agricultural Groups:
1.
Farmers now represent just 2% of the national population.
2. Still, major influence on public policy.
3. National Grange (1867): social and political organization.
4. Farm Bureau: supports federal programs to promote agriculture
(subsidies).
5. Again, sometimes work against each other.
D. Professional Groups:
1.
Most not as large, well-organized, or well-financed as business, labor, and
farm groups.
2. Exceptions:
a. American Medical Association: 250,000 members.
b. American Bar Association: 400,000 members.
c. NEA: 2.8 million teachers.
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Period______
III.
IV.
Date__________
Mr. Mitchell
Other Interest Groups:
A. Groups That Promote Causes:
1.
American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).
2. National Wildlife Federation.
B. Organizations That Promote Welfare of Certain Groups:
1.
American Legion.
2. NAACP.
C. Religious Organizations:
1.
National Council of Churches.
2. National Catholic Welfare Council.
Public-Interest Groups:
A. Seeks to institute certain public policies of benefit to all/most people in the
country, regardless of their membership to the group.
B. Focus on the roles that all Americans share (consumers, breathers of air, etc.).
C. Ex: Common Cause, Nader’s Public Citizen, Inc.