CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Interest Groups

Explore

The Second Amendment

The National Rifle Association supports gun rights for citizens, and the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence supports gun control.

Corporate umbrella organizations

These corporate interest groups represent business generally and on a large scale: the U.S. Chamber of Commerce promotes business interests in the United States and internationally, the National Association of Manufacturers promotes policies that will make manufacturers more competitive in the United States, and the Business Roundtable is made up of a consortium of business leaders promoting American business interests.

Unions

The largest union in the country is the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organization, usually referred to as the AFL-CIO. Other unions include transit employees in the Brotherhood of Teamsters, automotive workers in the United Auto Workers (UAW), and the growing SEIU, the Service Employees International Union, which ranges from janitors to nurses. The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees—or AFSCME—is another large union but is made up of state and local government employees. Federal government workers also have a union, the American Federation of Government Employees, or AFGE.

Environmental groups

Some of the key environmental groups are the Sierra Club, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), and Greenpeace, among many others.

Animal rights

The Humane Society is the world's largest animal protection organization, with other mainstream organizations such as People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) also sponsoring animal rescue campaigns and boycotts of products and industries that are harmful to animals.

Reproductive rights and right-to-life organizations

Abortion stands as one of the most controversial and intractable issues in American politics today. Interest groups represent both sides of the debate. Pro-choice groups such as NARAL Pro-Choice and Planned Parenthood oppose such groups as Operation Rescue West and National Right to Life.

Women's rights and women's role in society

The National Organization for Women (NOW) has promoted rights and equality for American women for years, in both society and the workplace. In opposition to NOW have been groups such as the Eagle Forum and Concerned Women for America. Some liberal groups such as EMILY's List and the National Women's Political Caucus work to get liberal women elected to office, and conservative groups have responded with groups such as Women in the Senate and the House (WISH), which recruits conservative female candidates.

KEEPING THE REPUBLIC

As pluralist theory tells us, democracy is enhanced when citizen’s interests are represented through group membership.

• Become a card-carrying member. You can make a difference on an issue you care about while enjoying the selective incentives provided by interest groups. Contributions of as little as $10 can get you newsletters, e-mail updates, and information about the bills your interest group is lobbying for or against and where your representative(s) stand on them.
• Get on the list. When you indicate your interest on one or more issues, like-minded groups will seek you out. Be wary of the positions taken on your favorite issues by the groups that solicit you.
• Act! Lobby your city council member or county commissioner on a local issue of interest. Send a letter to your congressperson. Participate in an organized rally or protest. Get involved in school government and lobby the administration or state legislature for policy changes you favor. Political leaders notice organized group action.
• Put the Web to work. Use the Internet to investigate groups whose work interests or concerns you. Join a flash campaign or sign a cyberpetition on an issue you care about.