CHAPTER 9
Interest Groups
IMPORTANT TERMS
*cue (political)
A signal, frequently provided by interest groups,
that tells a politician what values are at stake in an
issue and how that issue fits into his or her own set
of political beliefs.
direct mail
A mailing from an interest group focused at a
specialized audience whose purpose is both to raise
money and mobilize supporters.
Federal Regulation of Lobbying Act of 1946
A law which required groups and individuals
seeking to influence legislation to register with the
secretary of the Senate and the clerk of the House of
Representatives. Quarterly financial reports on
expenses were also to be filed. Note the 1995 reform
legislation was more stringent.
*ideological interest group
An organization that attracts members by appealing
to their interests on a coherent set of usually
controversial principles.
*incentive
Something of value offered by mass-membership
organizations to get people to join; it is a benefit
exclusive to members.
institutional interests
Individuals or organizations representing other
organizations.
*interest group
An organization that seeks to influence public
policy.
*lobby
A group that attempts to influence government
decisions, especially legislation.
*lobbyist
A person who engages in lobbying.
*material incentive
Something tangible, such as money or services,
which attracts people to join mass-membership
organizations.
membership interests
A type of interest group that represents the interests
of its members.
pluralistic political system
A description of the United States political system,
once used by scholars, contending that the policymaking process encompasses the effective
competition of interest groups. This account is now
generally considered incomplete, if not inaccurate.
political action committee
An organization which finances candidates and may
lobby. Such organizations can contribute no more
than $5,000 to a federal candidate in an election.
*public interest lobby
An interest group whose efforts significantly benefit
nonmembers.
*purposive incentive
An incentive to join a mass-membership
organization based on the appeal of the group’s
goal(s).
*ratings
An evaluation supplied by some interest groups that
ranks legislators on their degree of support for a
particular cause, such as unions or the environment.
These can be helpful sources of information, but are
often biased.
*social movement
A widely shared demand for change in some aspect
of the social or political order.
*solidary incentive
An inducement to join a mass membership
organization based on the sense of pleasure, status,
or companionship derived from membership.