Chapter 7 Interest Groups and Political Parties
Chapter 7 Interest Groups and Political Parties
Defining Interest Groups and Political parties What is an Interest Group? an organized group of individuals who share common goals or objectives who attempt to influence policymakers in all three branches of government, and at all levels What is a political party? a group of activists who organize to win elections, to operate the government and to determine public policy
Defining Interest Groups and Political Parties What is an Interest Group? • an organized group of individuals • who share common goals or objectives • who attempt to influence policymakers in all three branches of government, and at all levels What is a political party? • a group of activists who organize to win elections, to operate the government and to determine public policy
Types of Interest Groups Economic Interest Groups -groups formed to promote economic interests Business Interest Groups- business and trade organizations that attempt to influence government policy to their benefit Agricultural Interest Groups- advocate for farm interests enjoy disproportionate influence Labor Interest Groups- groups that represent the working class Interests Public Employee Unions -interest groups that represent employees of governments, including the American Federation of State County, and Municipal Employees(AFSCME)and teachers Interest Groups of Professionals-interest groups that advocate for professional associations, like the American Bar Association and the American medical association
Types of Interest Groups Economic Interest Groups – groups formed to promote economic interests • Business Interest Groups – business and trade organizations that attempt to influence government policy to their benefit • Agricultural Interest Groups- advocate for farm interests • enjoy disproportionate influence • Labor Interest Groups – groups that represent the working class interests • Public Employee Unions – interest groups that represent employees of governments, including the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) and teachers • Interest Groups of Professionals – interest groups that advocate for professional associations, like the American Bar Association and the American Medical Association
Types of Interest Groups(cont o Environmental Interests-groups that advocate for pro-environmental policies, including the Sierra Club, the National Audubon Society and the Nature Conservancy Public Interest Groups-groups that advocate the interests of the collective. overall community o Single Interest Groups -narrowly focused interest groups ● Foreign Governments
Types of Interest Groups (cont.) • Environmental Interests – groups that advocate for pro-environmental policies, including the Sierra Club, the National Audubon Society and the Nature Conservancy • Public Interest Groups – groups that advocate the interests of the collective, overall community • Single Interest Groups – narrowly focused interest groups • Foreign Governments
Interest Group Strategies Direct Techniques Lobbying-meeting officials and attempting to convince of your position on an issue Lobbying also entails Ratings scoring legislators based on their votes in congress, then making interested constituents aware of those scores Campaign Assistance- providing workers for political campaigns
Interest Group Strategies • Direct Techniques – Lobbying - meeting officials and attempting to convince of your position on an issue; Lobbying also entails – Ratings – scoring legislators based on their votes in congress, then making interested constituents aware of those scores – Campaign Assistance – providing workers for political campaigns