Key Terms on Interest Groups and Their Impact

Interest Group

a collection of people or organizations that tries to influence public policy

Pluralist Theory

belief that political power is distributed among a wide array of diverse and competing interest groups

Disturbance Theory

belief that interest groups form as a result of changes in the political system

Transactions Theory

belief that public policies are the result of narrowly defined exchanges or transactions among political actors

Progressive Movement

era of political and social action against corruption in the government and business

American Federation of Labor

brought skilled workers from several trades together into one stronger national organization for the first time in American history

Clayton Act

allowed unions to organize free from prosecution and guaranteed their members' right to strike

National Association of Manufacturers

founded to combat the growth of organized labor

Trade Association

a group that represents a specific industry

Public Interest Group

an organization that works for the best interests of the overall community rather than the narrower interests of one segment

Economic Interest Group

an organization created to promote the financial interests of members

PACs

officially registered fundraising organizations that represent interest groups in the political process

Lobbying

the activities of a group or organization that seeks to persuade political leaders to support the group's position

Free Rider

people who won't join an interest group because they will receive the benefits the group achieves regardless of their participation

Federal Regulation of Lobbying Act

required anyone hired to lobby any member of Congress to register and file quarterly financial reports

Lobbying Disclosure Act

created a strict definition of lobbyist and established strict reporting requirements on the activities of lobbyists

NRA

works to protect the 2nd Amendment by promoting gun and hunter safety initiatives

NAACP

works to ensure the political and educational equality of minority group citizens in the U.S. and to eliminate racial prejudice

NRLC

works to protect and defend the most fundamental right of humankind, the right to life of every innocent human being from abortion

ACLU

works to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties that the Constitution and laws of the United States guarantee everyone in America