butions of approximately "one million teachers, school support staff, higher education faculty and staff, health care professionals, along with state and municipal employees" (AFT-CIO, 2001, p. 1). It also has a legislative action center that focuses on advocating the issues of its members to the Congress (AFT-CIO, 2001, p. 1). Similarly, the Council of Chief State School Officers is also a nationwide organization with state associations. Its Office of Federal-State Relations has the specific task of guiding states in their interaction with the U.S. Congress and government agencies on education issues. Apart from providing testimony to Congressional committees, it also forms coalitions with other national education organizations at all levels to lobby Congress on education issues (Council of Chief State School Officers, p. 1).
In addition, special interest groups also have tremendous experience with lobbying Congress. They understand the intricacies of the political process and know how and when to execute specific political strategies to utilize the
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