Interest Groups, PACs and Lobbyists

Joining or supporting a political party is not the only way to influence the political process in America. Over the past decades people have increasingly taken a more direct route – through interest groups. Interest groups are organizations which seek to influence government policy about one specific issue or a related set of issues.

Read more in Access to English: Social Studies, pp. 209-211. Then do the tasks in the textbook and on this website.

Boy inspecting an Assault rifle during The National Rifle Association's Annual Meeting and Exhibits, 2013. The NRA has long been a powerful interest group in the USA. (NTB scanpix) Boy inspecting an Assault rifle during The National Rifle Association's Annual Meeting and Exhibits, 2013. The NRA has long been a powerful interest group in the USA. (NTB scanpix)