Chapter 15: Interest Groups & Social Movements

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

Civil society

groups outside the government that advocate for policy

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 or 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 groups without joining

Selective benefits

benefits available only to those who join the group

Economic interest groups

groups advocating on behalf of the financial interests of their members

Public interest groups

groups that act on 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

interacting with government officials in order to advance a group’s public policy goals

Revolving door

the movement of individuals between positions in government and lobbying 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 by contacting them directly through phone calls, email, ad 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