In the United States, there are interest groups that form at the national and local levels. These interest groups act as the voice of the American public regarding public policy. There are three types of interest groups: public interest, economic interest and environmental interest. These interest groups aim to seek political information about beliefs, commerce, and ideals. Goals will vary from group to group. All groups use direct and indirect strategies to influence legislators. The American Culinary Federation represents a large number of culinary professionals in an interest group that represents its members at the local and national levels. An interest group is "a group of individuals organized to seek influence on public policy, usually but not exclusively by attempting to influence government." actors – masks enormous diversity among interests and interest groups” (Texas, 2011). Interest groups vary in size, age, resources, tactics, political orientations, ideological orientations, geographic orientation, and tactics. Groups may have a single public policy or issue. Some interest groups focus on government and ask public nongovernmental organizations to support the interest groups' goal. At the national level, interest groups represent units of local and state government that lobby to defend their interests. These groups play an official role in the U.S. federal system that divides authority between local, state, and national governments. “They present the views of their members in Congress and the administration and defend their positions in the media, while the National Governors Association and the National Conference of State Legislatures represent state representatives” (Hays, n.d. ). .... middle of paper ......g to fight against child hunger. I belong to the American Culinary Federation which, I have been certified as a Certified Executive Pastry Chef and I support the beliefs of the ACF! Works CitedACF. (2008). Who we are. Accessed March 13, 2011 from www.acfchefs.org: http://www.acfchefs.org/Content/NavigationMenu2/About/Overview/default.htmHays, A. (nd). Democracy. Retrieved March 13, 2011 from www.alt.org: http://www.ait.org.tw/infousa/zhtw/DOCS/Demopaper/dmpaper9.htmlSchmidt, S., Shelley II, MC and Bardes, BA (2011) . American Government and Politics Today. In S. Schmidt, MC Shelley II, and BA Bardes, American Government and Politics Today (pp. 145-158). Boston: Wadsworth Political Science, Texas, U. o. (March 13, 2011). Texas Politics. Retrieved March 13, 2011 from www.texaspolitics.laits.utexas.edu: http://texaspolitics.laits.utexas.edu/5_1_0.html