Final answer:
Interest groups engage in electioneering and lobbying to influence the outcomes of elections. Electioneering includes campaigning on behalf of candidates who support the groups' policies, while lobbying involves strategic efforts to influence lawmakers and the public. These activities are part of a broader goal to impact public policy and are closely linked with political party success.
Step-by-step explanation:
The activities in which interest groups engage to try to influence the outcome of elections are known as electioneering. Electioneering involves campaigning for candidates who support the interest groups' policy positions through making phone calls, canvassing, creating advertisements, and making donations. Additionally, interest groups commonly employ the strategy of lobbying, which includes activities such as meeting with officials or government workers, providing policy information, writing letters, and conducting email or telephone campaigns to persuade public officials to support their specific group's interests. Other strategies include litigation, shaping public opinion through media, and sometimes direct involvement in ballot initiatives.
Lobbying efforts can be divided into two categories: inside lobbying, which involves directly contacting and attempting to influence lawmakers and other government officials, and outside lobbying, which focuses on mobilizing the public and generating broad-based support for the interest group's objectives. These strategies aim to influence public policy, which is often linked with political party success in elections. This interconnected relationship between interest groups, political parties, and elections highlights the dynamic nature of political influence.