1. Interest Groups
UNIT 3: POLITICAL PARTIES AND
INTEREST GROUPS
Interest Groups
• A group that holds a particular interest
and appeals to the government for
legislation beneficial to their interest.
• These groups also try to influence public
opinion to achieve their goals as well.
– Goals/interests of interest groups are often
based in a social issue that needs
legislation to be resolved.
Interest Groups
• Chances are there’s an interest group
for you, no matter what your opinion is.
– Major issues today: world trade, the
environment, immigration, taxes, equal
rights, gun control, education, etc.
– There are multiple interest groups that
exist for each of these issues and more, as
well as for the many opinions about them.
Lobbying
• So what do interest groups do?
– They appeal to the government for
beneficial legislation.
– This is called lobbying.
• This is how interests groups try to influence
the government.
Lobbying
• Lobbyist: an individual who lobbies.
• But wait, why are they called
lobbyists?
Lobbying
• The Paradox of Lobbying
– Lobbying is essentially protesting for what you
think should be done.
– This becomes a problem when an interest
group appears to be serving its own interests
rather than appearing to benefit the people
and making sure minority opinions are heard.
– Regardless, interest groups and lobbying are
seen as an example of corruption.
Lobbying & Law-making
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Introduction of Bill
Committee Action
Floor Action
Conference Action
Sent to President.
Lobbying
• Introduction of Bill
– Idea: Ideas for bills can come from interest groups.
Interest groups have the ability to influence the
creation of a bill through changing public opinion to
create political pressure on Congress.
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Committee Action
Floor Action
Conference Action
Sent to President.
Lobbying
• Introduction of Bill
• Committee Action
– Interest groups can influence committees in a
number of ways. This is where lobbying comes in.
Interest groups or lobbyists might try to influence a
committee’s opinion in effort to help a bill move
forward, or prevent it from moving forward.
• Floor Action
• Conference Action
• Sent to President.
Lobbying
• Introduction of Bill
• Committee Action
• Floor Action
– Interest groups and lobbyists can also try to influence
the vote. They can attempt to reach out to individual
representatives and senators to persuade or even bribe
them to vote in the group’s favor. Their influence on
public opinion and other politicians can also impact a
vote.
• Conference Action
• Sent to President.
Lobbying
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Introduction of Bill
Committee Action
Floor Action
Conference Action
– Lobbyists can try to influences compromises or even
bargain for themselves. Congressional representatives
can try to bargain for the benefit of their state or their
own interest. “Pork” is a type of political favor (money
or action) written into a bill that is given in return for a
certain vote.
• Sent to President.
Lobbying
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Introduction of Bill
Committee Action
Floor Action
Conference Action
Sent to President.
– By influencing public opinion and/or creating
political pressure, lobbyists can also influence
the action the president takes regarding a bill.