This 1952 black and white, 16mm film by Encyclopedia Britannica films explains the organization, operation, and purposes of political pressure groups — today we call these groups “special interest groups”, “lobbyists” or “political action committees”. It explores the functions of such groups in a democracy, and the need for the constant scrutiny of their motives. The film dramatizes the role of a pressure group in securing passage of a slum clearance bill in a state legislature. It was produced by John T. Bobbitt in collaboration with Charles E. Merriam. It is currently held in the Central Washington State College audio visual library, and was originally published by Encyclopedia Britannica Films. Official description: Explains organization, operation, and purposes of pressure groups, functions of such groups in a democracy, and need for constant scrutiny of their motives.
The film opens with a depiction of people engaged in democratic discussions (0:40). It then moves on to a senator entering his apartment, accompanied by an aide and a new aide named Joe Tuma (1:01). The senator proceeds to explain the concept of pressure groups (1:25-3:57), while letters from influential organizations such as the United States Chamber of Commerce, the American Public Health Association, The American Legion, the Congress of Industrial Organizations, the American Dental Association, and the American Farm Bureau are shown (2:50-3:17). An American Legion flag is also briefly displayed (3:35).
Next, the film shifts its focus to the sentencing of a young boy to one year at a state reform school (4:43), followed by a scene featuring the judge having dinner with his wife (5:54). The court case is utilized to illustrate the formation and accomplishments of pressure groups (6:44). A plaque bearing the names “Federation of Labor; Chamber of Commerce; State Headquarters; Association For Community Welfare Voters; League Property Owners Association” is showcased (7:42). The narrator explains that it is at these State Headquarters where paid representatives of pressure groups closely monitor the government’s actions (7:45). The Illinois state capitol building is shown (8:44), while the narrator elucidates the strategy employed by pressure groups (10:15).
A state senator named Jenkins is introduced (11:57), and a scene portrays a man selling newspapers outside a Sealtest Ice Cream building (13:01). The film proceeds to illustrate the formation of a counter-pressure group (14:27), highlighting the personal influence wielded by those who resort to non-democratic means in order to achieve their objectives. The film captures the leaders of the counter-pressure group engaged in conversation with Senator George (15:46). The senators are then shown debating the Slum Cleanup Bill (18:18), before transitioning back to the original senator who had been explaining the functioning of pressure groups (18:28). The narrator concludes by summarizing the activities of pressure groups (20:38), and the film concludes (21:37).
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