POLISCI 101 Study Guide - Advocacy Group, Amicus Curiae, Aarp

• School: UMASS-Amherst
• Department: Political Science
• Course: POLISCI 101
• Professor: Raymond La Raja

Document Summary

: an organized group of individuals or organizations that makes policy : form groups in collective action to increase chances their views will be heard and their interests treated favorably by government, sometimes referred to as lobbies, political action committees (pacs) help favored candidates win elections; interest groups, pluralism influence elected officials outcome of this competition is compromise, moderation, must attract and keep members. : all interests are and should be free to compete for influence in government: appeal to members by promoting political goals/policies and providing with direct economic/social benefits (like aarp; promotes interests + discounts, must build financial structure capable of funding its activities, must have leadership and decision making structure, most have an agency that carries out its tasks (research org. , pr office, lobby office, those with high incomes, high education, good jobs are more likely to join, us groups have upper class bias; interests are those of society"s haves , latent groups.