Special Interest Group
Special interest groups (SIGs) are formed when a group of like-minded individuals come together with a certain interest at hand, typically of which is political. The main purpose of SIGs is to establish influence on policies, and the eventual fulfillment of their own interests. The common efforts that SIGs used to influence policy are through campaign contributions, raising awareness through campaigns, social movements, protests, direct and grassroots lobbying. Efforts maintained by interest groups not necessarily benefit themselves as an entity but they represent or cater to the needs of a segment in society, in essence, they are also the people.
The relationship between a SIG and an official or candidate can come about in many ways but the most prominent one is direct lobbying. The term 'lobbying' is commonly interpreted with a negative connotation; it is neutral when corruption is not assumed and when lobbying is not just seen as mere financial support. In many cases, lobbying supports the candidate by being advised on certain issues that are important. Monetary resources are obviously a huge influence, but they are not used freely or directly distributed to a single individual since that would be unlawful to do so, especially if the intent is to persuade an official to take a certain course of action. Nevertheless, it is almost guaranteed that if an official is in the favor of the SIG, they are more than likely to gain further support in the event of like say a re-election. This is also crucial for the candidate themselves, especially if an interest group who cater to a large segment of society who agrees with them.
At Vote Smart, since our data revolves around officials and candidates, we are continuously searching for facts that will suggest these relationships. These facts come in the form of ratings and endorsements by a SIG, it shows where the candidate stands, whether in support or opposition to the SIG (See ratings and endorsements).
