10. Interest Groups: Organizing for Influence

TAD 262 WTP 277	Types of Groups
TAD 264 WTP 279	Business
	Chamber of Commerce The American Network of Chambers of Commerce and Industry is available here. Listings for each state are provided.
	National Electrical Manufacturers Association The NEMA provides links to other standard bodies and its Diagnostic Imaging and Therapy Systems Divisions.
	Amway With sections focusing on the people, products, and progress of Amway, users can access a vast range of information on this corporation.
TAD 264 WTP 279	Labor
	AFL-CIO Press releases, issue statements, and a boycott list are a few of the items you will find on the homepage of the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrialized Organization.
	Teamsters Fighting for Good Jobs and a Better Future is the motto of the Teamsters Union. Action Alerts, Policy Statements and Actions, and news about the Union is available.
	Sheet Metal Workers International Association This organization's site focuses on workplace rights, safety and political developments and facts about the association.
TAD 265 WTP 280	Agricultural
	American Farm Bureau Federation Links to news and views on farming and rural life. Users can access information more specific to their state as well.
	Mulch-based Agriculture Group Seminars, databases, and research initiatives are just a few of the things you will find here on the homepage of the mulch-based agriculture group.
TAD 266 WTP 282	Professional
	The American Medical Association Advocacy and communications, catalogs, membership, and news are included on this official AMA site.
	The Association of American University Presses Information on cooperative programs, educational meetings, and policy information is available here at the AAUP site.
	The American Bar Association The ABA provides a store where ABA related merchandise is sold, a section on what s new, information on ABA entities and more.
TAD 266 WTP 282	Citizens Groups
TAD 269 WTP 284	Public Interest
	Public Citizen This government watchdog group provides information on their global trade watch, congress watch, a critical mass energy project and other issues that affect the public.
	Citizens Against Government Waste You can call 1-800-BE ANGRY to contact this government watchdog group. Their site offers a research center, humor, membership information and more.
TAD 270 WTP 285	Single Issue
	The Federation for American Immigration Reform This group advocates radically reducing the number of immigrants entering our country. They provide information on immigration and resources for facts on immigration.
	Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting This media watchdog group advocates correcting any bias and imbalance in the media. Their page offers links to more information on specific cases of media bias, articles on the media, and many other resources.
TAD 270 WTP 286	Ideological
	The American Conservative Union This group lobbys Congress to support conservative legislation. Internship opportunities, press releases, conservative ratings of Congress members and more is available here.
TAD 268	Attracting Members
	Radio and Television News Directors Foundation This site shows an example of the use of an electronic application process in order to join this organization.
	The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society TMM provides an extensive membership application via e-mail at this site.
TAD 270 WTP 286	Government Groups
	National League of Cities The NLC homepage contains options to view current public policy, information on local, state and federal government, and a section on the 1996 elections.
	National Conference of State Legislatures Recent key issues involving states, and other information sources for state legislators are available here.
	International Association of Chiefs of Police This page contains general information on the IACP organization with links to its private sector liason committee.
TAD 272 WTP 287	Inside Lobbying
	Samples of reports issued by groups to influence policymakers
	Heritage Foundation This conservative think-tank provides hundreds of documents on-line. For example, here you will find a report on affirmative action from August 1995 that gives three detailed options for reforming affirmative action.
	Radcliffe Public Policy Institute This liberal think-tank offers solutions for a variety of public policy problems.
TAD 279	Iron Triangle Sample
	American Legion Interest Group The world s largest veterans organization provides information on the current conflict in Bosnia, Gulf War health issues, coverage of legislation, and other issues of concerns to veterans.
	Department of Veterans Affairs Federal Agency This executive branch office offers information on veterans benefits, facilities, programs, medical information, and links to other veterans groups.
	Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs Congressional Committee This committee homepage explains its jurisdiction and provides links to the homepages of all the twelve members.
	Sample of issue network
	The American Nuclear Society Interest Group This group focuses on the advancement of science and technology related to nuclear issues. They provide information on membership, national meetings, standards, etc.
	Energy and Environmental Research Center Think tank Researching power systems, energy policy and other energy and environmental issues, this organization provides information on the organization s philosophy and its ongoing projects.
TAD 280 WTP 295	Outside Lobbying
TAD 281 WTP 296	Grassroots lobbying
	Colorado Hemp Initiative Project This site gives you the ability to send e-mail about the legalization of hemp, via the site, to government officials and media, including talk shows, radio, magazines, and newspapers.
TAD 281-282 WTP 275	MADD Mothers Against Drunk Driving offers statistics on drunk driving, goals of the organization, progress and accomplishments, history of MADD and suggestions for individuals to help.
TAD 282 WTP 298-300	PACs
	EMILY's list Early Money Is Like Yeast is a PAC for pro-choice Democrat women. The site discusses candidates EMILY is interested in donating to, applications for membership, and news.
	GING-PAC Government is not God is a PAC that supports religious freedom and opposes discrimination against believers. Articles on constitutional right to prayer, links to text of current legislation, and links to other pro-family resources on the internet are available here.
	Campaign finance reform
	Center for a New Democracy Facts on state campaign finance reform are offered by this organization in nine different articles.
	Project Vote Smart Over twenty five articles, covering all aspects and options concerning campaign finance reform, are available here.
	Federal Election Committee Lists of PACs, lists of contributors to Dole, Clinton and Perot, and other candidate for federal office are available here.
TAD 288 WTP 303	Economic Bias
	A comparison between a large, well-financed group and a small, less well-off group
	Steel Manufacturers Association North America s largest steel trade group offers information on tax policy, radioactive scrap, infrastructure, recent testimony to Congress and much more.
	The Welfare Rights Home Page The only working option on this page is legislative updates, but sections on commentary, myths and realities on welfare, and FAQs about corporate welfare are posted.