November 17, 2014
Objective: Students will identify the purpose of interest
groups in order to create their own interest group
through a collage.
Warm Up: Turn in your HW in the GREEN Bin
1. What is the main GOAL of a political party?
Homework:
- Finish Today’s Assignment
Comparing
Political
Parties & Interest
Groups
Political Parties
Purpose
Goal = win elections
to control govt.
Affect on
Government
attempt to control
government
How to
Become a
Member?
Choose a political
party when you register
to vote
Examples
Democrats,
Republicans, Green,
Political Interest
Groups
Political interest
Groups
What are Interest Groups?
* Definition: groups that influence
govt. to make decisions that help
its members
- Nickname = “Special Interest
Groups”
- Concerned with a few specific
issues
- Members must pay to belong
* Interest Group’s Goals:
(1) Convince the GOVT. to help
interest group’s members
(2) Educate public about issues
* Definition: actions that attempt to
influence govt. actions (what interest
groups do)
- Lobbyists = People who “lobby”
* Goal of Lobbying: Want govt. to
make policies pleasing to the wishes
of a specific interest group
* Lobbying Techniques:
(1) Email/letters/Phone calls: used
on policymakers & members
(2) Use Media—commercials, print
& internet ads: used on policymakers
& normal people
(3) Directly speak with a
policymaker
Lobbying
What does Lobbying Look
Like?
Scenario: What Would You Do?
The Maryland General Assembly recently passed a law
that says students will attend school all year with 3 short
vacations (2 weeks long) spread throughout the year.
How could you use the following lobbying strategies to
fight this new government policy?
(1) Who would you Email, Call, Write to?
(2) How would you use the Media?
(3) Who would you want to talk to in person?
Type of Interest
Goals
Group
Help Businesses &
1. Economic
Workers
2. Environmental Help Environment
3. Civil Rights
Example
US Chamber of Commerce,
AFL-CIO (a labor union)
Greenpeace
Help People who National Association
face discrimination for the Advancement
of Colored People
4. Public-Interest Help all Americans
American Civil
Liberties Union
Comparing
Political
Parties & Interest
Groups
Political Parties
Purpose
Goal = win elections
in order to control
government
Affect on
Government
attempt to control
government
How to
Become
member?
Examples
Choose a political
party when you
register to vote
Democrats,
Republicans, Socialist,
Green, Communist
Political Interest
Groups
Goal = PERSUADE the
govt. to pass laws to help
its members
attempt to convince the
government to make
helpful policies
pay to join
National Organization of
Women (NOW);
Greenpeace
Practice Multiple Choice Question
Which of these describes the main purpose of an interest
group?
A. to influence government officials regarding specific
issues
B. to form legislative committees that study public policy
C. to regulate the economy by setting federal lending rates
D. to select cases for hearing in appeals courts
Comparing
Political
Parties & Interest
Groups
Purpose
Affect on
Government
How to
Become
member?
Examples
Political Parties
Political Interest
Groups