Unit 3: The Legislative Branch
Chapter 18 – Section 1 – Interest Group Organization
I. Defining Interest Groups
A. Support candidates who share their ______
1. Do not ______candidates
B. Usually concerned with only a few ______or specific ______
C. Organized on common ______, not ______location
II. The Purpose of Interest Groups
A. Bridge gap between ______and the ______
B. Communicates their “______” to elected officials
III. Political Power
A. Strength in ______
B. Stronger ______position
C. Stronger ______resources than single individual
IV. Leadership
A. ______members
B. Keeps members ______
C. Act as ______for the group
D. Plan group’s ______
E. Manage ______
V. Membership
A. Why do people join?
1. May promote individual’s ______self-interests
2. ______, ______, or attitudes
3. ______with like-minded people
VI. Business and Labor Groups
A. Business-Related Interest Groups
1. Among the oldest and largest in US
2. Represent ______issues for businesses
B. Labor-Related Interest Groups
1. Largest and most powerful ______
2. Represents ______
VII. Agricultural Groups
A. Represents agricultural concerns to the government
B. Three major interest groups represent almost 6 million American farmers
VIII. Other Interest Groups
A. Professional Associations
1. Represent specific professions
2. Primarily concerned with the ______of their profession
3. Influences policy based on issues important to the group
B. Environmental Interest Groups
1. Concerned about the ______and ______
C. Public-Interest Groups
1. Seeks policy goals they believe will benefit all Americans
2. Does not have a narrow focus
D. Interest Groups in Government
1. Made up of state and local government officials who seek a greater share of federal aid
Chapter 18 – Section 2 – Affecting Public Policy
I. Who Are Lobbyists?
A. Interest groups try to influence members of Congress by making direct ______
1. Lobbying: (define)
B. Must register with Congress
C. Must file reports with Congress
1. Disclose issues or legislation addressed
2. Who they have contacted
3. How much paid
D. Lobbyists include:
1. Former ______officials
2. Former ______and ______; must be out of office for a year
3. Lawyers
4. Public relations experts
II. Providing Useful Information
A. Most important method of persuasion
B. Provide information in the form of:
1.
2.
3.
C. House and Senate rules limit gifts by lobbyists
1. Cannot accept any gift of more than $50
a. Includes meals and entertainment
2. Limit of $100 from and single source
D. Lobbyist present biased information
1. Intentionally misrepresenting information can lose access to lawmakers
E. Testify before congressional ______s
III. Drafting Bills
A. May actually help write bills
B. Have research staffs to help members of Congress draft proposed laws
C. Some studies show they are involved in almost 50% of all legislation
IV. Interest Groups Seek Support
A. Media Campaigns
1. Use m______media to inform and create support
B. Letter Writing
1. Write to support for or against policies
2. Make officials aware of issues
C. Limitations
1. Different groups compete for power and influence
2. Larger the group, more broad interests
a. More difficult to adopt broad goals
3. Struggle financially
V. Political Action Committees
A. Organizations specifically designed to c______money and provide f______support for a political candidate
B. Evolved from campaign laws passed to limit individual and corporation political donations
VI. Laws Governing PACs
A. Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA)
1. Must register with the government ______months before an election
2. At least 50 contributors
3. Give to at least 5 candidates
4. Can only give $______directly to candidate
a. No limit if not working directly with candidate
VII. Other PAC Governing Factors
A. Federal Election Commission
1. Issues regulations and advisory opinions that control PAC activities
B. Supreme Court Decisions
1. Has ruled:
a. Different divisions of a corporation or different union locals can set up as many PACs as they want
b. national, state, and local committee spending was a form of free speech
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