Changes

== What is an Interest Group? ==

== What is an Interest Group? ==

The [[term[[ “[[interest group]]” is [[define]]d in your [[glossary]], p. 309.  It is an [[organization]] of [[people]] who agree on an [[issue]], and try to [[influence]] [[government policy]] on that [[issue]].  [[Example]]s are [[pro-life]] groups, [[pro-environment]] groups, pro-[[gun rights]] groups, pro-[[gun control]] groups, and so on.  How many can you name?

The [[term]] “[[interest group]]” is [[define]]d in your [[glossary]], p. 309.  It is an [[organization]] of [[people]] who agree on an [[issue]], and try to [[influence]] [[government policy]] on that [[issue]].  [[Example]]s are [[pro-life]] groups, [[pro-environment]] groups, pro-[[gun rights]] groups, pro-[[gun control]] groups, and so on.  How many can you name?

Interest groups are very different from political parties.  Members of interest groups usually come from [[multiple]] parties and [[independent]]s.  Interest groups cut across party lines.  Both [[Democrat]]s and [[Republican]]s belong to [[pro-life]] groups, for example.  The same is true for virtually every other [[interest group]].

Interest groups are very different from political parties.  Members of interest groups usually come from [[multiple]] parties and [[independent]]s.  Interest groups cut across party lines.  Both [[Democrat]]s and [[Republican]]s belong to [[pro-life]] groups, for example.  The same is true for virtually every other [[interest group]].

The [[Sierra Group]] is a famous [[pro-environment]] [[interest group]].  There are also [[pro-abortion]] [[interest group]]s and other [[interest group]]s for just about any [[issue]] imaginable.

The [[Sierra Group]] is a famous [[pro-environment]] [[interest group]].  There are also [[pro-abortion]] [[interest group]]s and other [[interest group]]s for just about any [[issue]] imaginable.

About a [[hundred]] [[year]]s ago, there was an [[interest group[[ that grew so powerful that its single issue was inserted into the [[Constitution]] by [[amendment]].  Can you name that issue?  ([[Prohibition]] – abolishing all [[alcohol]].  It was passed as the [[18th Amendment]], and later repealed during the [[Great Depression|Depression]] as the [[21st Amendment]].)

About a [[hundred]] [[year]]s ago, there was an [[interest group]] that grew so powerful that its single issue was inserted into the [[Constitution]] by [[amendment]].  Can you name that issue?  ([[Prohibition]] – abolishing all [[alcohol]].  It was passed as the [[18th Amendment]], and later repealed during the [[Great Depression|Depression]] as the [[21st Amendment]].)

== Comparing Interest Groups to Political Parties ==

== Comparing Interest Groups to Political Parties ==