How do they affect the legislative process?


Group of people seeking to influence the
goals of government affecting every aspect
of life.
Sometimes called ‘special interest groups’,
‘leagues’, ‘unions’, ‘advocacy groups’, etc.






Stimulate interest and make people aware
Represent the members of their group wherever
they live
Provide useful, specified, and detailed
information to the government about issues
Ways for people to participate in politics
Add another level of checks and balances
making sure government officials perform as
they should
Competition between them limits how far they
will go to advance their own agenda




Some interest groups have more influence
than their size or importance warrants.
It is hard to tell how many or who a group
actually represents.
Many do not represent the views of all the
people for whom they claim to speak.
Occasionally, groups use tactics that are
inappropriate such as bribes, threats, etc.




Person who works for the issues that benefit
the interest group who hired them and
against those issues that may harm them
Are about 20,000 or more Congressional
lobbyists
They know the legislative procedures well,
and many are former Congressmen.
They have a large network of contacts that
help out with information





See that media items favorable to their cause
reach important Congressmen
Testify before legislative committees
Use grass-roots (average voters) pressure to
influence legislation – ex. emails, letters,
phone calls, etc.
Keep track of how Congressmen vote on
issues important to their interest group
Draft legislation, write speeches, etc.


Federal Regulations of Lobbying Act of 1946
– required lobbyists to register with the clerk
of the House and the secretary of the Senate
Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 – register
and provide description of your activities;
submit semi-annual reports of their lobbying
activities