Essay Prompt #10- Interest Groups

In today's political climate, interest groups play an important role in the governmental system. Interest groups are out to change laws by supporting political candidates, lobbying and more. Political parties are out to raise campaign funds, while pushing their policy agendas and achieving their political goals.


Interest groups support the goals of political parties through donations and media campaigns. With these tools, political party are able to run successful campaigns and the interest groups are able to endorse candidates who support their political agenda.


Through the support to the political parties, the interest groups are allowed more access to the legislation process that they supported. Also with more access, the interest groups have further influence on the legislation.

Essay #5 Prompt: Interest Group

Interest Groups have many methods of obtaining the funding they need to run their operations. Litigation is one of these methods, as it is the process of taking legal action. For example groups concerned with environmental issues may take legal action against corporations causing destruction to the environment. Another method used by interest groups are campaign contributions. These contributions help interest groups endorse candidates whose political agenda supports that of the interest group. Limits are set on how much money a known organization can contribute as opposed to an unknown contributor. Lastly another method used by interest groups is grassroots lobbying/ mass mobilization. Also known as indirect lobbying, this method allows an attempt to affect the public opinion on legislature. This is used by interest groups because it lets them impact the legislation process.

An example of an organization at work today, would be the NRA (National Rifle Association). The NRA has been operating since 1871and is a strong advocate of gun safety, proficiency and ownership. Of the methods listed the NRA frequently uses campaign contributions as a way to garner attention. By endorsing candidates who support the values of the NRA, the NRA gains more support in their cause. The NRA would choose this method over the others because it is simpler and while it more require more funding, it gains a more positive media spotlight then going through the court systems.

Essay #5 Outline: Interest Groups

ESSAY Prompt

Create your draft response for this essay.
Publish.

Essay 5
Different interest groups will choose different techniques to achieve their objectives based on their resources, characteristics, and goals.
a) describe each of the following techniques and explain why an interest group would choose each technique.
Litigation
Campaign contributions
Grassroots Lobbying / mass mobilization.

b) Select one of the following groups and identify the primary technique it uses from the list in part (a). Explain why the group you selected would employ that technique over the other two techniques.
American Medical Association
Sierra Club
NRA
NAACP

Essay Outline

Litigation- The process of taking legal action

Campaign Contributions- Money given to political campaigns to run for office. caps are set on how money a known organization can give versus an unknown organization.

Grassroots Lobbying/ Mass mobilization- Also known as indirect lobbying, is an attempt to affect the public opinion on legislature. With the intention of reaching the legislature and affecting the decision making process.

Part B Outline

NRA- The National Rifle Association is a nonprofit organization since 1871 and is an advocate of gun proficiency, ownership and safety.