Organized Interest Groups

I.    Overview of Interest Groups

    A.    James Madison on Factions

    B.    Constitutional Guarantee

   C.    Ubiquitous Presence in America

    D.    Traditional Activities

        1.    Lobbying

        2.    Pressure Application

        3.    "Schmoozing"

        4.    Testifying

        5.    Providing Information

        6.    Drafting Legislation

    E.    Electioneering

        1.    Working within a Party

        2.    Supporting Candidates Directly

        3.    Campaigning Directly

        4.    Seeking to Gain Desired Policies

II.    Types of Groups

    A.    Economic

        1.     Trade Associations

        2.    Professional Groups

        3.    Labor Unions

        4.    Corporations

        5.    Farm Unions (American Farm Bureau)

    B.    Non-Economic

        1.    Ideological

        2.    Public Interest

            a.     Environment

            b.     Consumer

        3.    Religious

        4.    Social

        5.    Scientific

        6.    Cultural

        7.    Gender

        8.    Racial    

    C.    Multi-Purpose v. Singular Purpose

    D.    Political Action Committees  (Varities)

        1.    CORPORATE (BANKERS)

        2.    INDEPENDENT (EMILY'S LIST)

        3.    TRADE/HEALTH (AFSCME)

        4.    LABOR (TEAMSTERS)

        5.    PROFESSIONAL (TRIAL LAWYERS)

        6.    OTHERS (LEADERSHIP PAC'S) (IDEOLOGICAL, SINGLE ISSUE PAC'S)

    E.  527 ORGANIZATIONS - MAJOR ORGANIZATION CONTRIBUTORS- MAJOR INDIVIDUAL CONTRIBUTORS)

    F.   501(3) ORGANIZATIONS -- THE NEW PLAYER ON THE BLOCK

III.    Influencing Members

    A.    Goals

        1.    GOTV

        2.    Generate Money

        3.    Urge Communications with Government

    B.    Devices Used

        1.    Group Ratings

        2.    Direct Mail Solcitation

        3.    Cable TV - Slot Audiences

        4.    Internet

            a.     Web Pages

            b.     E-Mails

            c.    bloggers/weblogs (Weblogs are personal websites consisting of a series of date-related postings -

                        example #1; example #2)   

Key Web Sites

Pacronyms

The 527 Page

Yahoo PAC Page