American Government - Interest Groups

Front 1

What are the Three Basic Characteristics?

Back 1

1. It must be organized with a structure, leadership and rules.

2.Members of an interest group are people who share common ideas and form together.

3. An interest Group seeks to influence public policy by affecting the action of government.

Front 2

Reason for joining an Interest Group:

Back 2

1. Social Contacts
2. Economics
3. Moral Causes

Front 3

Judging a Groups Effectiveness (Eight Things)

Back 3

1.Size – Size of membership
2.Geographic Distribution – 3.Membership throughout the nation.
4.Cohesion – Membership sticks together rather than developing pockets.
5.Intensity – Are the members willing to put out the time and effort?
6.Organization – Highly skilled and experienced leaders will be more influenced.
7. Money – Variety uses: Salaries, offices, and supplies
8. Prestige – The more prestige, the more group membership has more gain to public officials.

Front 4

Why Interest Groups are Critized

Back 4

1. Small interest groups give false impressions.
2. Sometimes public policy fails to get passed because of interest groups.
3. Sometimes employ ‘Unethical Tactics’ to accomplish their goal.

Front 5

Effects of an Interest Group

Back 5

Sometimes they can represent a public opinion.
Useful information can be provided to the decision-makers.

Front 6

What are the three man Categories of Interest Groups?

Back 6

1. Economic Interest Groups
2. Single Issue Interest Groups
3. Social Action Groups

Front 7

Attempt to influence the government's economic policies concerning how the government spends its money and who it collects taxes from.

Back 7

Economic Interest Groups

Front 8

These groups focus their attention on only one issue.

Back 8

Single Issue Groups

Front 9

Efforts to influence legislation or other government decisions through personal persuasions.

Back 9

Lobbying

Front 10

When was the Federal Regulation of Lobbying Act passed?

Back 10

1946

Front 11

A Good Lobbyist Should:

Back 11

1. Be familiar with legislative process
2. Know important people.
3. Former member of Congress
4. Having worked in the executive branch of government.

Front 12

Under the Federal Regulation of Lobbying Act, what must a Lobbist do?

Back 12

1. Lobbyist must be registered with Senate and the House. Foreign must also register with the ustice Department.
2. Must swear, under oath, their name, address, employer and salary.
3. Must submit quarterly reports on their income and expenditures.

Front 13

What can happen if a Lobbyist dosn't follow the Federal Regulation?

Back 13

Lobbyists who fail to comply with this act can receive a 5 year prison term or up to $10,000 fine.

Front 14

Interest groups use a strategy called ‘Electioneering’ which is defined as ‘the attempt to elect political friends and defeat political enemies.’

Back 14

Influencing Election

Front 15

What are four ways Interest groups get to know a candidates history?

Back 15

1. Voting record of any office held.
2. Public speeches and statements
3. Questioners
4. Party Affiliations

Front 16

Collect and spend funds for political purposes. In 1974 there were 600 PAC’s and by 1990 they had risen to 4,000.

Back 16

Political Action Committees

Front 17

Propaganda techniques are used:

Back 17

1. Poltically
2. Socially
3. In Advertising

Front 18

National Farmers Union and National Grange focus on...

Back 18

Small independent farms.

Front 19

The American Farm Burea Federation concerns itself with...

Back 19

Large corporate farmers.

Front 20

Craft Union is for...

Back 20

Skilled workers

Front 21

Industrial Unions are for...

Back 21

Craftsmen and unskilled laborers.

Front 22

What must lobbyists swear under oath?

Back 22

1. Name
2. Address
3. Employer
4. Salary

Front 23

What are the seven techniques of propaganda?

Back 23

1. Transfer
2. Bandwagon
3. Glittering Generalities
4. Card Stacking
5. Name Calling
6. Plain Folk
7. Testimonials