In utilizing outside lobbying, interest organizations contribute to the attention of widely supported policy views, and in doing so, increase the pressure on policymakers.

Direct strategies include lobbying techniques, rating government officials, building alliances, and offering campaign assistance. Indirect strategies include generating public pressure, using constituents as lobbyists, and public protest demonstrations.

Interest groups and lobbying are inevitable and essential components of democratic politics. Lobbying strategies include both “insider” tactics—cultivating relationships with existing government officials—and “outsider” tactics—grassroots lobbying and demonstrations designed to pressure officials.

Because the information provided through inside lobbying is generally less condensed and more technical (Austen-Smith, 1993), insider tactics tend to be better able to influence the decision making process (Grant, 1999; Mahoney, 2008).

Why do insider strategies work better for some groups and outsider strategies work better for others? Groups seeking to employ inside strategies tend to focus on lobbying, behind-the-scenes efforts, and quietly influencing bill language and amendments. Why would a group choose a legal strategy?

The insider investment strategy is an investment strategy that follows the buying and selling decisions of insiders. The primary insiders have information advantage and the proven theory is that they as a group over time will do better than the average investor on the Stock Exchange.

For example, ‘outsider’ strategies have included alternative events such as the Women’s International War Crimes Tribunal on Japan’s Military Sexual Slavery, convened by NGOs throughout Asia when the government of Japan refused to hold official hearings.

What is a political cue? Why are they so important? A signal telling a legislator what values are at stake in a vote, and how that issue fits into his or her own political party agenda.

They engage in “insider strategies,” including gaining access to decision makers and using the courts, but they also engage in “outsider” strategies, wherein they go public and use electoral tactics to indirectly influence decision makers.

Groups use varied methods to try to achieve their aims including lobbying, media campaigns, publicity stunts, polls, research, and policy briefings. Some groups are supported by powerful business or political interests and exert considerable influence on the political process, others have few such resources.

Interest groups try to influence Congress by reaching targeted members of Congress, often indirectly through other political actors. The most important service that many professional lobbyists provide to interest groups is direct access to the leadership of Congress and other government officials.

What are two of the main things that interest groups do to interact with the government? a. They try to shape policies, which they can do by mobilizing voters or by putting direct pressure on elected officials.

• stimulate awareness and interest in public affairs by developing and publicizing policy positions and by opposing those they see as threats.
• represent their members on the basis of shared attitudes rather than on the basis of geography.
• provide information to government.
• encourage political participation.