Chapter 9: Interest Groups

Informational Benefits

Special newsletters, periodicals, training programs, conferences, and other information provided to members of groups to entice others to join.

Lobbying

A strategy by which organized interests seek to influence the passage of legislation by exerting direct pressure on members of the legislature.

Staff Organization

A type of membership group in which a professional staff conducts most of the group's activities.

Grassroots Mobilization

A lobbying campaign in which a group mobilizes its membership to contact government officials in support of the group's position.

Issue Network

A loose network of elected leaders, public officials, activists, and interest groups drawn together by a specific policy issue.

New Politics Movement

A political movement that began in the 1960s and '70s, made up of professionals and intellectuals for whom the civil rights and antiwar movements were formative experiences. The New Politics movement strengthened public interest groups.

Political action Committee (PAC)

A private group that raises and distributes funds for use in election campaigns.

Institutional Advertising

Advertising designed to create a positive image of an organization.

Membership Association

An organized group in which members actually play a substantial role, sitting on committees and engaging in group projects.

Collective Goods

Benefits, sought by groups that are broadly available and cannot be denied to nonmembers.

Public Interest Groups

Groups that claim they serve the general good rather than only their own particular interest.

Interest Group

Individuals who organize to influence the government's programs and policies.

501c Committees

Nonprofit groups that also engage in issue advocacy. Under Section 501c of the federal tax code such a group may spend up to half its revenue for political purposes.

527 Committees

Nonprofit independent groups that receive and disburse funds to influence the nomination, election, or defeat of candidates. Named after Section 527 of the Internal Revenue Code, which defines and provides tax-exempt status for nonprofit advocacy groups.

Solidary Benefits

Selective benefits of group membership that emphasize friendship, networking, and consciousness raising.

Purposive Benefits

Selective benefits of group membership that emphasize the purpose and accomplishments of the group.

Material Benefits

Special goods, services, or money provided to members of groups to entice others to join.

Iron Triangle

The stable, cooperative relationship that often develops among a congressional committee, an administrative agency, and one or more supportive interest groups. Not all of these relationships are triangular, but the iron triangle is the most typical.

Pluralism

The theory that all interests are and should be free to compete for influence in the government. The outcome of this competition is compromise and moderation.

Free Riders

Those who enjoy the benefits of collective goods but did not participate in acquiring them.