Interest group

Definition

An interest group is an organized collection of individuals or organizations that seeks to influence public policy to benefit their specific interests. They operate at various levels of society, including local, national, and international, engaging in lobbying, advocacy, and public campaigns.

Related terms

Lobbying: The act of attempting to influence decisions made by officials in the government, often by interest groups.

Advocacy: The act of arguing in favor of something, such as a cause, idea, or policy; often undertaken by interest groups.

Political Action Committee (PAC): A type of organization that pools campaign contributions from members and donates those funds to campaign for or against candidates, ballot initiatives, or legislation