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Popular Participation: Exercise 2 - Types and activities of interest groups
Instructions:
Read the passage and click on the correct answer. If wrong, try
again. Scroll down if you do not see the Answer box. Click
here to review the key terms for this exercise.
The main method interest groups use
to try to influence public policy is direct lobbying. When people
lobby, they try to convince legislators (lawmakers), their staff,
or anyone with influence to vote for or against a particular bill.
Lobbyists spend much of their time speaking to members of congressional
committees who deal with issues that are important to the interest
group. In the process of trying to persuade those who make policy,
lobbyists also provide government officials with valuable information
about a specific topic.
Grassroots lobbying is an indirect
method of lobbying, which is often used by ideological groups to pressure
policymakers to vote in favor of their organization's goals. Grassroots
lobbying consists of group members or the public sending letters,
emails and making calls to representatives and senators. For example,
an ideological group called Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) was
extremely successful in influencing governmental officials to introduce
stricter laws against drunk driving through grassroots lobbying methods.
Lawsuits are another indirect method lobbyists use
to influence policy. Even though direct lobbying is not permitted
in courts, lobbyists can influence policy through lawsuits. For example,
the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)
was successful in ending segregation (separate facilities for Whites
and Blacks) through a lawsuit.
Instructions:
Read the passage and click on the correct answer. If wrong, try
again. Scroll down if you do not see the Answer box. 
