Answers (B) and (D) are types of economic interest groups and are incorrect.

Access the General Motors home page.

Access the AFL-CIO home page.

Access the Chemical Manufacturers Association home page.

Access the National Rifle Association home page.

Acccess the Teamsters home page.

Economic interest groups include businesses (A), trade associations (C), professional associations, farmers organizations, and unions (B and E). The NRA is an interest group committed to Second Amendment freedoms and are not concerned about the economic interests of their members.

Answer (D) environmental group is a type of public interest group and is incorrect.

While most people think of interest group lobbying as a congressional concern, it is important to realize that groups lobby all parts of our government. In fact, given our system of government and how policy is made, groups have multiple access points to try to influence the development of policy.

For information on lobbying see the Center for Responsive Policy . They specifically have a Lobbying database that allows you to see what interest groups are lobbying who.

All of these are resources that groups have, but information is key. Members of Congress often rely on the technical and political information that interest groups can provide concerning policies, ideas, and alternatives. Keep in mind that the type of information provided by the interest group is likely to be presented in such a way as to make that group (and its members) better off.

Grass roots lobbying efforts is using the membership to conduct some of the lobbying activities. It is often used to show policy makers the number of people in support (or opposition) to a particular policy. Advances in technology have made this type of lobbying much easier.

There are all sorts of companies that have been set up as grass roots specialists. You can access Grass Roots Advocates to see an example.

The bureaucracy is responsible for implementing the laws that Congress passes. Implementation leaves some discretion to the bureaucracy. Interest groups know this and try to get the most favorable policy.

Also called a "friend of the court" brief.

You can see some amicus briefs as it relates to physician-assisted suicide by accessing the Project on Death in America Amicus Briefs .

Free riders are potential group members that decide not to join a group (and thus withhold dues and other resources) but are still able to get the benefits that the group fights for. It is a particular problem for public interest groups since they often fight for public or collective goods that can not be designated only to members of the organization (e.g., clean air). Public interest groups may try to offer other "selective" benefits to encourage people to join.

This is a collective benefit and can not be withheld from nonmembers.

When an organization loses in Congress (or doesn't achieve all it wants), it moves to the bureaucracy, and then to the courts.

Contrary to popular belief, there is no conclusive research that suggests that money buys votes and therefore answer (A) is incorrect. Research has shown, though, that it does buy access to policymakers.