Interest groups are primarily concerned with identifying a candidate who will act favorably toward a particular issue (e.g. the National Rifle Association would raise funds to support a candidate who will not favor strict gun control laws). Interest groups may donate money to candidates based on their political goals or communicate with voters regarding which candidate holds a platform that is more favorable to their interests. Lobbyists are often used by interest groups to communicate directly with lawmakers about public policy issues that are important to them, and they may also volunteer for nonprofit work.
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LOC Resource
LOC Title
Public Policy Topics Web Archive
LOC Short Description
A collection of web sites produced by interest groups, news organizations, and government agencies that provide different viewpoints on many U.S. public policy issues.
LOC Title
Selected Leaders of the National Woman's Party: Lobbyists
LOC Short Description
An essay in the collection “Women of Protest: Photographs from the Records of the National Woman’s Party” about women who were lobbyists for the National Woman’s Party, which pushed for voting rights for women.