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Interest Group

Definition

An interest group is an organization of people who share a common interest and work together to protect and promote that interest by influencing the government.

Analogy

Think of an interest group like a sports team. Each player (or member) has a shared goal (interest), and they work together to achieve it, whether it's winning a game or influencing policy decisions.

Related terms

Lobbying: This is the act of attempting to influence decisions made by officials in the government, most often legislators or members of regulatory agencies. It's like the coach trying to convince the referee about a decision during a game.

Political Action Committee (PAC): A PAC is an organization that pools campaign contributions from members and donates those funds to campaigns for or against candidates, ballot initiatives, or legislation. It's like fans raising money to support their team.

Grassroots Lobbying: This involves mobilizing interest group members and other volunteers to contact representatives directly. It's like fans cheering on their team from the stands.