Ch 15 Vocab

voluntary association of people who come together with the goal of getting the policies that they favor enacted

diffuse groups that educate the public and put pressure on policymakers in an effort to bring about societal change

the belief that citizens impact policymaking through their involvement in civil society

groups outside the government that advocate for policy

a theory that political power is distributed among many competing groups, which means that no single group can grow too powerful

a theory that the wealthy elite class has a disproportionate amount of economic and political power

the set of issues to which government officials, voters, and the public are paying attention

political action that occurs when individuals contribute their energy, time, or money to a larger group goal

also called a public good; a public benefit that individuals can enjoy or profit from even if they do not help achieve it

individuals who enjoy collective goods and benefit from the actions of an interest group without joining

benefits available only to those who join the group

groups advocating on behalf of the financial interests of their members

groups that act on behalf of the collective interests of a broad group of individuals

associations focusing on one specific area of public policy, often a moral issue about which they are unwilling to compromise

organizations acting on behalf of local, state, or foreign governments

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

the movement of individuals between positions in government and lobbying positions

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

the coordinated and mutually beneficial activities of the bureaucracy, Congress, and interest groups to achieve shared policy goals

the webs of influence between interest groups, policymakers, and policy advocates

mobilizing interest group members to pressure their representatives by contacting them directly through phone calls, email, and social media

a public demonstration designed to call attention to the need for change

intentionally breaking a law to call attention to injustice