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Public Interest and Special Interest Groups
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In today's political landscape, special interest groups seem to have more say in the political process than individual voters. The Internet has become a powerful tool for revealing the activities of special interest groups and clarifying public interest issues. The non-partisan Web site FecInfo at www.tray.com/fecinfo/ provides information about money contributed to federal political campaigns. The Center for Responsive Politics at www.crp.org/ provides a lobbying database, information on individual donors to political parties and candidates, a separate database on special interests, information on campaign finance law and regulations, information on money in state politics, and analyses of the impact of money on elections. Project Vote Smart at www.vote-smart.org/ makes information on the voting records of over 13,000 political leaders from national and state governments easily available to the public. The Public Agenda Foundation's goals include educating politicians about the public's point of view on policy issues and educating citizens so that they can make more informed decisions. Visit www.publicagenda.org/ to learn more. The Cato Institute at www.cato.org/ promotes "public policy based on individual liberty, limited government, free markets, and peace." The League of Conservation Voters at www.lcv.org/ cuts across the political spectrum and aims "to elect a pro-environment majority to Congress." For a conservative view, visit the Media Research Center at www.mediaresearch.org/--its goal is to bring balance to political reporting by identifying sources of liberal bias.


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Additional Links

Public Interest Research Group   The U.S. Public Interest Research Group is a watchdog organization that focuses on the environment and consumer safeguards. At its Web site, you can find information about current campaigns, which focus on consumer issues (for example, rising bank fees and product hazards), environmental protection, and democracy and campaign finance reform; action alerts; and reports on various topics (hazardous toys, persistent toxic chemicals, global warming, arctic oil drilling, and ozone pollution).

The Mining Company: U.S. Politics   This Web site serves as a gateway index to just about every political issue of concern in the U.S. today. From abortion and banking, guns and health care, to women's issues and Y2K, you can find links to articles, information sources, and political action groups. Featured articles from January 1999 include "How to Contact Your Senator," "Approved Articles of Impeachment," and "Year End Overload." You can also find opportunities to participate in polls and chat boards at this site.


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