Executive Legislative Judicial Executive

TRADE ASSOCIATIONS

Trade associations are membership 

organizations that represent the interests 

of a particular industry or profession. 

They communicate the concerns of their 

members to policymakers both in the 

legislative and executive branches. Just 

as importantly, they report back to their 

members about new policies, rules, and 

proposals so that the members are edu-

cated about what is required of them.

LABOR UNIONS

While the primary purpose of labor 

unions is to represent their members in 

negotiations with employers, unions also 

play a signifi cant role in infl uencing public 

policy. In speaking for their members, 

their input is considered whenever trade, 

environmental, workplace safety, health-

care, and other key issues are debated.

H

OW THE

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How organizations attempt to 

influence public policy

V

arious organizations and institutions attempt to infl uence 

policy and public opinion in a variety of ways:

• Educating public offi cials and their staffs about the positive or 

negative effects of policy proposals;

• Conducting advertising campaigns and public relations initia-

tives supporting their views;

• Arranging for expert opinions and providing facts, data, and 

opinion polls to support their positions;

• Arranging for witnesses to testify before congressional 

committees;

• Encouraging their members to vote, communicate with their 

elected offi cials, and write letters to the media supporting their 

positions;

• Forming political action committees to contribute money to the 

campaigns of candidates who support their positions.

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Unions are considered infl uential 

because of their ability to mobilize their 

members to vote and speak out. Unlike 

business associations, which typically rep-

resent a relatively small number of compa-

nies, trade unions represent thousands or 

millions of workers, who are also voters.