ial resources and member support that provides them with volunteers and donations. Thus, their chances of creating and pursuing an effective political strategy are multiplied. In short, they possess the financial power to influence government policy (Mitchell & Munger, 1991, pp. 512-20; Gais & Walker, 1991, pp. 104-117).
For example, the National Rifle Association (NRA) or the Maryland State Rifle and Pistol Association, Inc. (MSRPA) at the state level constitute a powerful nationwide gun lobby that has been able to sway the positions of legislators and define government policy. Affiliated with the NRA, the MSRPA brings together gun-rights activists throughout the state and focus their efforts on advocating for the interests of the gun owning community by lobbying legislators and public interests, as well as publicizing their causes with the media. Certainly, their interaction with the media is important in putting pressure on the legislators in Congress. Furthermore, the MSRPA also has a Political Action Committee designated with the task of promoting state-level political candidates who are sympathetic to the causes of the gun-owning community ("Maryland State Rifle and Pistol Association, Inc.," p. 1). The vast resources of NRA is testified by their willingness to spend $10 million to ensure that the pro-gun George W. Bush beat Al Gore in the 2000 presidential election (Kettle, 2000, p. 1). Therefore, there is no question that special interest groups, especially powerful organizations such as the NRA and its statewide networks, have tremendous political clout.
Although they are not as powerful as the NRA and its statewide affiliates, many education lobby groups are also nationwide organizations with an extensive network of statewide activist affiliates. One of the most powerful education organizations is the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), which is supported by Democratic legislators. The AFT is supported by the contri...