Understanding Interest Groups: Key Terms and Concepts

Types of Interest Groups

Economic Interest Groups

Represent businesses, labor unions, and professional associations.

Environmental Interest Groups

Advocate for environmental protection (e.g., Sierra Club, National Wildlife Federation).

Ideological Interest Groups

Promote specific political ideologies or beliefs.

Public Interest Groups

Work for the common good and broader societal benefits.

One-Issue Interest Groups

Focus on a single, specific policy issue.

Interest Group Activities

Lobbying

Directly interacting with policymakers to influence legislation.

Grassroots Lobbying

Mobilizing the public to contact policymakers and express their views.

Electioneering

Supporting candidates and political parties through endorsements and campaign contributions.

Litigation

Filing lawsuits to challenge or defend policies in court.

Key Terms

527 Organization

A tax-exempt political group that can raise unlimited funds.

Amicus Curiae Brief

A legal document filed by a "friend of the court" to provide additional information or perspective.

Boycott

A form of protest involving the refusal to purchase or use certain products or services.

Bundling

Combining campaign contributions from multiple individuals to increase influence.

Campaign Assistance

Providing support to political campaigns through volunteering, fundraising, or other means.

Climate Control

Using public relations to shape public opinion and influence policy debates.

Collective Action

How groups form and overcome challenges to achieve common goals.

Direct Techniques

Interest group activities that involve direct interaction with policymakers.

Earmark

A provision in a law that directs funds to a specific project or recipient.

Faction

A term used by the Founding Fathers to refer to political parties or groups.

Foreign Governments

Governments of other countries that may lobby the U.S. government on trade and other issues.

Free Rider

An individual who benefits from a group's efforts without contributing to it.

Incentive

Something of value that motivates individuals to join or support a group.

Independent Expenditures

Spending by individuals or groups that is not coordinated with a candidate's campaign.

Indirect Techniques

Interest group strategies that use third parties or public pressure to influence policymakers.

Interest Group

A collection of people who share a common interest and work together to influence public policy.

Issue Advocacy

Unlimited and undisclosed spending by individuals or groups to promote or oppose a policy issue.

Issue Network

Relationships among interest groups, congressional committees, and government agencies involved in a specific policy area.

Latent Interests

Public policy interests that are not yet recognized or organized.

Leadership PAC

A PAC formed by an elected official to raise funds and support other candidates.

Lobbyist

A person who is employed by an interest group to influence policymakers.

Material Incentives

Benefits that have monetary value, such as discounts or gifts.

Nongovernmental Organization (NGO)

A nonprofit group that operates independently of government.

Pluralism

A theory of government that emphasizes the role of multiple competing groups in shaping policy.

Political Action Committee (PAC)

The political arm of an interest group that raises and spends money to influence elections.

Public Choice

A field of economics that studies how collective decisions are made.

Public Interest Lobby

A political organization that advocates for policies that benefit the general public.

Purposive Incentive

A benefit that comes from supporting a cause or principle.

Quid Pro Quo

Something given with the expectation of receiving something in return.

Ratings

Evaluations of legislators' voting records by interest groups.

"Shotgun Approach"

A tactic used by interest groups to mobilize large numbers of people to contact policymakers.

Social Movement

A widely shared demand for change in some aspect of society.

Soft Money

Unlimited funds that political parties could previously raise for party-building purposes.

Solidary Incentive

Social rewards, such as a sense of belonging or camaraderie, that come from joining a group.