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Policy Guide:
Visiting a Special Interest Group or PAC Rationale Special interest groups exert a tremendous amount of influence over public policy and the policy making system. An interest group is defined as a voluntary membership organization organized to pursue a common interest (or interests) through political participation. Interest groups are formed with the intent of influencing governmental decisions (Ginsberg, Lowi and Weir, 2003). Many special interest groups have been identified in your textbook: American Association for Retired Persons (AARP), American Medical Association (AMA), the Sierra Club and Common Cause. Lobbying is an attempt by an individual or special interest group to influence the passage of legislation. The person who is doing the lobbying is called a lobbyist . In 1995, the Lobbying Disclosure Act required all organizations employing lobbyists to register with the U.S. Congress, to disclose whom they represent, whom they lobby, what they are lobbying for, and how much they are paid. As of 2003, more than 7,000 organizations were registered (Ginsberg, et al, 2003). A political action committee or a PAC is a committee set up by and representing a special interest group. PACs can raise and give financial support to parties or to particular candidates (Ginsberg, et al, 2003). PACs can contribute up to $5,000 to each candidate in each election. However, there is no limit on the amount a PAC can spend on issue advocacy on behalf of the candidate or party. As long as the PAC's advocacy efforts are not coordinated with a specific candidate's campaign, the group can spend as much money as it wishes; doing whatever it wants to do. For the 2000 national election, it was estimated that PACs spent over $570 million. Resources
Instructions
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