ABSTRACT
The heterogeneous nature of American society has given rise to an impulse to form interest groups. This is encouraged by the constitutional protection of the rights to assemble and to petition government. Interest group activity is, however, highly controversial, owing mainly to the fact that the groups provide candidates for office with a large percentage of their campaign funds. There are five principal functions of interest groups: representation, citizen participation, public education, agenda building and programme monitoring. The modern presidential candidate is a political entrepreneur in a highly competitive environment. Candidates and political parties can only raise money from individuals or from specified categories of political committees. Political action committees are a form of interest group which exists for the sole purpose of raising and channelling campaign funds. The key to raising campaign funds became soliciting money from as many groups and individuals as possible. Campaigning in the US context is a big operation and demands heavy investment.
