. How does the First Amendment play a role in monitoring and influencing the government?

Interest groups use their First Amendment rights to peaceable assembly, free speech, and petition to monitor and influence the government. Interest groups are groups that form because of a common goal. They attempt to influence people by working together for their goal. Political Action Committees, which are often connected to interest groups, can raise money and contribute to the campaigns of candidates that they support. Interest groups can work with members of Congress or with other elected legislators to get laws passed. This is usually referred to as lobbying. An interest group can also educate its members on issues it wants the group members to support. For example, interest groups ask their members to vote and give money to candidates that the interest group supports.