Interest+Groups

AARP 1. American Association of Retired Persons 2. It is a membership group. 3.The goal of the group is to politically campaign for those who are retired. The group hopes to improve the quality of life of those who have retired 4. It uses material benefits to attract members such as discounts on travel and everyday savings. It also uses purposive benefits with boycotting, etc. to entice members to join and fight for their beliefs. 5. Recently, the AARP pressed Congress to protect Medicare and Social Security from budget cuts. In 1997, the AARP created a driver safety course targeted to older people. 6. The group joins and/or starts social movements (outsider strategies) to push for the causes they believe in. In addition, the AARP will take part in boycotts to produce the results they want.

AMA 1.American Medical Association 2.It is a professional group. 3. The interest group has the goal of transforming people's simple interest in medicine into actual action that will benefit doctors, patients, etc. They want to promote public health. 4. The AMA uses material benefits to attract members such as access to books and practice management resources. Also solidary benefits entice members to join including leadership and networking opportunites. 5.The interest group aided a coalition that was successful in defeating the health care bill proposed by Bill and Hilary Clinton. More recently in 2008, the AMA was successful in defeating cuts to Medicare. 6. The group uses grassroots lobbying such as starting campaign and rallies to increase public knowledge on medical subjects (outsider strategies).

NAACP 1.National Association for the Advancement of Colored People 2.It is a single issue group. 3.The goal of the group is to end discrimination of African Americans and other minorities. They want to make equality for those who have not experienced it in the US due to their color. 4.Purposive benefits are used to attract members. All members share the same goals including ending discrimination in the past or giving all minorities equality in court cases. 5.The NAACP won the right to have African American officers in World War I. In recent years, the group has started the ACT-SO program which awards African American students who display academic achievement. 6.The NAACP focuses on the courts and overturning legislation that discriminates minorities (such as the JIm Crow Laws). It does not really use grassroots lobbying.

NAM 1.National Association of Manufacturers 2.It is a professional group. 3.The goal of the group is to voice the concerns and interest of manufacturing in the United States.It wants to educate the public, administrators, and even politicians about manufacturing's role in innovation and progress. 4.NAM uses purposive benefits to attract members.The group wants to increase competitiveness in the market and extend foreign trade. 5.NAM helped create the Department of Congress in 1903. More recently in 1997, the group made the Center for Workforce Success and an awards program for good manufacturing workers. 6. The group uses grassroots lobbying. They focus on educating the public (outsider strategy) and even the government on issues facing the manufacturing market and future success of the economy.

Sierra Club 1. Sierra Club 2. Membership and single issue 3. To protect the environment and raise awareness for keeping the environment clean. 4. Members are given a vote on protecting the environment and can help influence the Club’s policies. They are also given a free subscription to the Club’s magazine as well as discounts on other items. 5. Promoting clean energy and working to fight climate change, stopping laws that threaten clean water and healthy communities, preserving natural habitats, organizing against dangerous coal plant experiments, fighting for comprehensive climate change legislation, stopping proposals that threaten environmentally sensitive areas, and much more. 6. The Sierra Club uses the power of their members, believing that more members will give them greater influence in politics.

NRA 1. National Rifle Association 2. Membership and Single Issue 3. The NRA’s goal is to support rifle use in the United States and stop laws against it. 4. Members have purposive benefits of being able to legally possess and use rifles as well as monetary benefits of discounts given to members. 5. The NRA has fought the National Firearms Act with its legislative affairs division and has been able to allow citizens to remain with the possession of rifles. 6. The NRA has an Institute for Legislative Action lobbying for them in the government and allowing the possession of rifles to continue to be legal.

NEA 1.National Education Association 2. Membership and Professional 3. The NRA’s goal is to support teachers and learning across the United States. 4. Members have purposive benefits of helping the education system and teachers, solidary benefits because teachers and schools would feel social pressure to join the group, and monetary benefits of grants and scholarships given to schools and students. 5. The NEA has fought to prevent drop out of students and give equal opportunities to all students. An achievement of the NEA would be No Child Left Behind and lessening the minority achievement gaps. 6. The NEA has a Legislative Action Center where they encourage citizens to state their opinions and take action.