In 1999 Fortune magazine identified the 25 most powerful interest groups in Washington, D.C. Here is the list along with links to their websites:
AFL-CIO (American Federation
of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organization) [ranked #5]
American Association of Retired
Persons (AARP) [ranked #1]
American Bankers Association
[ranked #11]
American Farm Bureau Federation
[ranked #21]
American Federation of State,
County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) [ranked #22]
American Israel Public Affairs
Committee [ranked #4]
American Medical Association
[ranked #13]
Association of Trial Lawyers
of America [ranked #6]
Chamber of Commerce
[ranked #7]
Credit Union National Association
[ranked #18]
Health Insurance Association
of America [ranked #25]
International Brotherhood
of Teamsters [ranked #23]
Motion Picture Association of
America [ranked #17]
National Association of Broadcasters
[ranked #20]
National Association of Home
Builders [ranked #16]
National Association of Manufacturers
[ranked #14]
National Association of Realtors
[ranked #15]
National Beer Wholesalers Association
[ranked #19]
National Education Association
(NEA) [ranked #9]
National Governor's Association
[ranked #12]
National Federation of
Independent Business [ranked #3]
National Restaurant Association
[ranked #10]
National Right to Life Committee
[ranked #9]
National Rifle Association (NRA)
[ranked #2]
United Auto Workers (UAW)
[ranked #24]
Here are some other important interest groups:
American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
Americans for Democratic Action
National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League (NARAL)
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)
National Organization for Women (NOW)
National Resources Defense Council
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA)
And here are some rather "interesting" interests:
Canine Companions for Independence
National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance
And if you are still feeling like you want to explore more interest groups, check out the Internet Public Library's "Political Advocacy Groups". If you want to get absolutely lost for days, then actually go to the Internet Public Library main page, it is like the world's biggest library.