Interest Groups GOPO

Interest Group

An organization of people with shared policy goals entering the policy process at several points to try to achieve those goals. They pursue their goals in many arenas.

Pluralism

A theory of government emphasizing that many groups competing for its own preferred policies counterbalance one another in politics.

Elitism

A theory of government and politics contending that an upper class elite will hold most of the power, and will run the government.

Hyperpluralism

A theory of government and politics contending that groups are too strong - government spends too much time and money trying to please them all, and gets nothing done.

Iron Triangles

Subgovernments are composed of interest group leaders, the government agency, and the members of congressional committees.

Collective Good

Something of value that cannot be withheld from a potential group member.

Free-Rider Program

For a group, the problem of people not joining because they can benefit from the group's activities without joining.

Selective Benefits

Goods that a group can restrict to those who actually join.

Single-Issue Groups

Groups that have a narrow interest, tend to dislike compromise, and often draw membership from people new to politics.

Lobbying

A communication by someone other than a citizen acting on his or her own behalf, directed to a governmental decision maker with the hope of influencing his or her decisions.

Electioneering

Direct group involvement in the electoral process.

Political Action Committees (PACs)

Political funding vehicles. An interest group can create a PAC and register it with the Federal Election Commission, which will monitor the PAC's expenditures.

Union Shop

A provision found in some collective bargaining agreements requiring all employees of a business to join the union within a short period, and to remain members as a condition of employment.

Right-To-Work Laws

A state law forbidding requirements that workers must join a union to hold their jobs.

Public Interest Lobbies

Organizations that seek a collective good - the achievement of which will not selectively benefit the members of the organization.

Factions

groups of individuals within a larger political entity who share a common interest or goal that is distinct from other groups

Amicus Curiae

legal documents/briefs filed in court cases by non-parties (friends of the court), often organizations or individuals, who have a strong interest in the case's outcome.

Class Action Lawsuits

lawsuits in which a small number of people sue on behalf of all people in similar circumstances.

Litigation

the process of resolving disputes through the formal legal system, typically involving the filing of a lawsuit and the presentation of evidence and arguments before a court.

Grassroots Organizing

method of mobilizing individuals at the local level to participate in political activism and influence change from the ground up