E5

While interest groups and political parties each play a significant role in the United States political system, they differ in their fundamental goals.

(a) Identify the fundamental goal of interest groups in the political process.

(b) Identify the fundamental goal of major political parties in the political process.

(c) Describe two different ways in which interest groups support the fundamental goal of political parties in the political process. Give specific scenarios as examples.

(d) For one of the means of support you described in (c), explain two different ways in which that form of support helps interest groups to achieve their fundamental goal in the political process.

My response:

(a) The fundamental goal of interest groups is to influence public policy in favor of their causes.

(b) The fundamental goal of major political parties is to help elect people into office that have the same ideals as them.

(c) When interest groups want to get their ideas pushed into the government, they create media campaigns to show their support for certain candidates that agree with their causes. NOW could create ads about how great Presidential Candidate Joe Shmoe treats women. Also, interest groups raise money to give to candidates which can ultimately allow a candidate to win. NOW could raise money to give to Joe Shmoe's campaign so that he has some extra money that will help him win.

(d) Raising money to give to candidates helps interest groups if the candidate they are endorsing wins office. The person they helped get elected now has the ability to directly influence laws and policy that can help interest groups.