Interest Groups

  Interest groups choose from a variety of tactics to achieve their goals.  Some of which are litigation, campaign contributions, and grassroots lobbying/mass mobilization. The number of interest groups in America has increased quickly within the last years; especially from 1959 to 2001 when the number of groups went up by 16,000.  Trade groups use to dominate, but now there are so many groups that most of them are similar in how big/popular they are. 
  Litigation is used when an interest group is unable to get a piece of legislation passed in Congress, and enter into a court.  Suits against federal agencies by the public scare interest groups, and they know that to avoid these, they have to give their all and even if that means going to court to try to pass a law, they will do it.  It has become such a regular thing they do that going to court is their main objective in order to avoid lawsuits from citizens. 
  Money can't buy happiness, but it can buy you a voice in the American political system.  Campaign contributions are vital to a groups success.  Whether knowingly or not, money will ensure success when trying to achieve a goal/going to court.  Millions of dollars are spent each year by interest groups, but only wealthy people are heard in the system because money gives them a voice. 
  Lobbying used to be the name of a person who waited in a lobby outside a building where Congress was meeting in hopes of talking to a member on their way out.  Nowadays they are political persuaders who represent political groups.  They are very important because they have lots of knowledge about politics, but are seen as ordinary people to some.  They are able to "sneak" around and gather information about everything, and can even from allies.
  For some groups such as the NAACP, litigation is in their best interest to achieve a goal.  Looking back to the victory with Brown vs. Board in 1954 desegregating schools, they have gone to Congress numerous times and have won.  Ratifying constitutional amendments, creating new laws, and arguing rights with Congress have made them successful in being able to have a voice in the political system.