Final answer:
Interest groups are organizations that engage in activities to influence political outcomes, including lobbying, educating the public, organizing events, and fundraising.
Step-by-step explanation:
Interest groups are organized groups of individuals or organizations that actively work to influence public policy and political outcomes. They engage in various activities like lobbying lawmakers, providing expert testimony to Congress, organizing membership drives, staging protests, fundraising, and educating the public on their cause. Lobbying is a critical aspect of their efforts, aiming to affect legislation and decision-making processes within the government. To gain support, these groups often utilize media and marketing techniques to rally their members and public opinion, spreading their message through TV, radio, and social media platforms. Moreover, interest groups could also engage in letter-writing campaigns, stage protests, and potentially support political campaigns financially through fundraisers and Political Action Committee (PAC) donations.