The Role of Special
Interest Groups
How They Affect Opinions
What is an Interest Group?

A group of people who share a point of view
about an issue and unite to promote their
beliefs



National Rifle Association (NRA): promotes 2nd
amendment right of individuals to bear arms/own
guns; against gun control laws
National Educators Association (NEA): promotes
public education/ teacher support
Ideal: One Person = One Vote, Lots of People
= Lots of Votes
Types of Interest Groups

Economic Interest Groups: deal with money
issues



Chamber of Commerce: organization of small
businesses; protect business owners
Labor Unions: organize employees for fair wages and
safe work environment
Professional Groups: based on specialized fields


America Medical Association (AMA)
National Educators Association (NEA)
Types of Interest Groups Cont’d

Non-Economic Interest Groups- issues do not deal
directly with money

Single Issue Interest Groups: only have one goal in mind



National Rifle Association (NRA): protect 2nd amendment right
to own a gun
Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD): lowering BAC for
people who use alcohol and drive, and administering strict
penalties for those who drink and drive
Ideological Interest Groups- usually a belief in
equality or in religious beliefs


National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
(NAACP) : ensure all people are treated equally, regardless of
skin color
National Organization of Women (NOW) : issues of equality for
women
How Special Interest Groups
Influence the Public

The goal of special interest groups is to influence
public opinion




To gain members
To convince public of the importance of their cause
To get candidates elected who share the same beliefs as they do
(Political Actiion Committees)
Techniques Used





Direct mail (junk mail)
Advertisements
Protests
Public events
Propaganda: certain ideas that may involve misleading
messages designed to manipulate people
What Do Interest Groups Do?





Interest groups pool their resources (time, money, and
skills) to increase their chances of influencing
government
Form Political Action Committees (PACs) to
collect money from members of their groups to get
people elected that support their views
They go to court, suing on behalf of their cause
They lobby: try to influence lawmakers by giving
members of relevant standing committees research
that supports their beliefs
Provide data and research to government officials to
support their cause
Lobbyists

People who work for special interest groups
and try to influence legislation that benefits the
ideas/beliefs of the group are called lobbyists


A lobbyist for the NRA would propose a law for
expanded ability to purchase a hand gun, or would
influence legislators to pass a law that they support
A lobbyist for the NRA would influence legislators to
vote against a law that restricts the rights of individuals
to bear arms
How Lobbyists Influence Legislation

Lobbyists meet with legislators and make deals
for support for or against proposed bills

A lobbyists will meet with legislators and give them
their side of the issue to try to persuade the legislator to
side with their special interest group on the issue
Propaganda Techniques

Bandwagon: everyone is doing it, so should you



Name-Calling: an attempt to turn people against the
opponent or an idea by using an unpleasant label or
description for the person or idea



Appeals to people’s desire to be part of the “winning team”
Ex. “Polls show our candidate is pulling ahead, and we expect to
win by a landslide”
Negative campaining
Ex. “ Candidate A is a dangerous extremist”
Endorsement: using a famous person as a supporter

Ex. “Michael Jordan says, “ I am voting for Candidate B and so
should you.”
Propaganda Techniques Cont’d

Stacked Cards: presents only one side of an issue


Glittering Generality: a statement that sounds good
but is essentially meaningless


Ex. “Candidate A has the best record on the environment”
Ex. “Candidate A is the one to bring us peace and prosperity
Just Plain Folks: use of photographs of candidates to
make people think of that the candidate is just like
the, with the same desires and concerns

Ex. “My parents were ordinary, hardworking people, and they
taught me those very same values.”
Propaganda Techniques Cont’d

Transfer/Symbols: using a patriotic symbol to
associate with the candidate

Ex. The candidate wearing blue and red standing in front of an
American flag.
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assignment…
SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS
AROUND THE USA (SIGs)
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