Final answer:
Political interest groups primarily aim to influence public policy and legislative decision-making, and to shape budgetary allocations according to their interests. They also educate the public, support candidates, and engage in other political activities to further their objectives.
Step-by-step explanation:
The two general objectives that political interest groups pursue are:
- Influencing decision-makers and public policies. Interest groups like National Right to Life and NARAL Pro-Choice America lobby to shape laws in ways that reflect their respective stances on abortion. Environmental groups such as the Sierra Club advocate for legislation to protect natural resources, while some industry groups may seek to reduce regulations they find burdensome.
- Shaping budgetary allocations. Groups like the farm lobby, for example, engage with Congress to secure farm subsidies. Similarly, other interest groups may push for increased or decreased funding for specific programs depending on their objectives, directly impacting the budgetary process.
In addition to these objectives, interest groups also engage in broader activities such as educating the public, organizing campaigns, and influencing elections to align policy and political realities with their goals, which could include supporting sympathetic candidates through PACs and super PACs.