Interest Groups

_______ is attention paid to something.

• Advocate

• Interest

• Bias

• Public opinion

__________ are group of people who work to influence government about specific issues.

• Political Action Committees

• Political Parties

• Interest groups

• Super Political Action Committees

______________ are organizations that help interest groups raise money for campaigns.

• Political parties

• Lobbying groups

• Single issue groups

• Political action committees

_______ represent interest groups and communicate directly with government officials.

• Political Action Committees

• Lobbyists

• Super Political Action Committees

• Political Parties

What are some ways that lobbyists try to influence elected officials?

• Have meetings

• Offer legal advice

• Help to draft new laws

• Take them out to dinner

Paid representatives of interest groups who make direct contact with senators and representatives

• Lobbyists
• Con artist
• Salesmen
• Shady characters

Why are people often critical of interest groups?

• They are ineffective at influencing the government.

• They want to amend the constitution.

• They raise very little money for candidates.

• They may have more influence over government than the American people.

How do interest groups promote democracy?

• They help officials get elected
• They help make the president aware of items that were not previously part of his or her agenda
• They help to communicate the views of industry to staunch the regulatory direction of congress
• They help to convey the policy views of individuals and groups to public officials

What distinguishes interest groups from political parties?

• Political parties need interest groups in order to further their policies, but interest groups don't need political parties
• Interest groups are limited to promoting specific policies relevant to their group; political parties must address all policies as they attempt to govern
• Interest groups are individual involvement; political parties are for elected officials' involvement

Probably the most important thing that interest groups do is

• gather information they can provide for elected officials.

• create political parties support groups

• pressure public opinion

• all of these