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Interest Groups
Voluntary associations of people who come together with the goal of getting the policies that they favor enacted
Social movements
Diffuse groups that educate the public and put pressure on policymakers in an effort to bring about societal change
Theory of participatory democracy
The belief that citizens impact policymaking through their involvement in civil society
Civil society
Groups outside of the government that advocate for policy
Pluralist theory
A theory that political power is distributed among many competing groups, which means that no single group can grow too powerful
Elitist theory
A theory that the wealthy elite class has a disproportionate amount of economic and political power
Policy agenda
The set of issues to which government officials, voters, and the public are paying attention
Collective action
Political action that occurs when individuals contribute their energy, time, or money to a larger group goal
Collective good
Also called a public good; a public benefit that individuals can enjoy or profit from even if they do not help achieve it
Free riders
Individuals who enjoy collective goods and benefit from the actions of an interest group without joining
Selective benefits
Benefits available only to those who join the groups
Economic interest groups
Groups advocating on behalf of the financial interests of their members
Public interest groups
Groups that act on the behalf of the collective interests of a broad group of individuals
Single-Issue groups
Associations focusing on one specific area of public policy, often a moral issue about which they are unwilling to compromise
Government interest groups
Organizations acting on behalf of local, state, or foreign governments
Lobbying
Interecting with government officials in order to advance a group’s public policy goals
Revolving door
The movement of individuals between positions in government and lobbyingg positions
Amicus curiae brief
A brief filed by someone who is not a party to a case in an attempt to persuade the Court to agree with the arguments set forth in the brief
Iron triangle
The coordinated and mutually beneficial activities of the bureaucracy, Congress, and interest groups to achieve shared policy goals
Issue network
The webs of influence between interest groups, policymakers, and policy advocates
Grassroots lobbying
Mobilizing interest group members to pressure their representatives bu contacting them directly through phone calls, email, and social media
Protest
A public demonstration designed to call attention to the need for change
Civil disobedience
Intentionally breaking a law to call attention to an injustice
