American Democracy Now, 2nd Edition (Harrison)

Chapter 7: Interest Groups

Chapter Summary

This chapter on interest groups describes how groups outside government attempt to persuade elected officials to adopt particular policies. Students will develop an understanding of the roles interest groups assume in public policy, through consideration of the following:

• The value of interest groups as tools of citizen participation
• How interest groups solicit members, and why
• The keys to interest group success
• The various types of interest groups
• Interest group strategies
• The intersection of interest groups, politics, and money; and the increasing influence of political action committees