Key Terms
Membership organizations
Individuals join voluntarily and pay dues. Built around a shared cause or concern.
Corporate/institutional groups
No individual members; represent companies or government entities. Lobby to protect business interests or secure budget
Associations
Groups of companies or institutions in the same trade or industry. Competitors join together because they share regulato
Legislative liaisons
Represent government entities (universities, municipalities, executive departments) before legislatures. Example: a stat
Volunteer/amateur lobbyists
Unpaid; lobby for causes they care about personally. Sometimes called "hobbyists."
Inside lobbying (direct)
Takes the message directly to government officials. Includes testifying at hearings, drafting legislation, contacting ex
Outside lobbying (indirect)
Takes the message to the public, hoping public pressure moves lawmakers. Includes press releases, media placements, coal
Private interest groups
Seek particularized benefits for a narrow set of interests (tax exemptions, fewer regulations, favorable contracts). Ben
Public interest groups
Seek collective goods that benefit most or all citizens (clean air, public safety, consumer protection). Collective good
Material incentives
Tangible membership benefits (discounts, services) that help overcome free riding.
Solidary incentives
Social benefit of associating with like-minded people.
Purposive incentives
The cause itself motivates membership; people care about the issue.
Fragmentation example
A broad medical association may not adequately represent subspecialties, so neurologists form their own group. When a la
Elite critique (Schattschneider)
"The flaw in the pluralist heaven is that the heavenly chorus sings with a strong upper-class accent." Businesses and we
Neopluralist view
Acknowledges resource advantages but argues wealthy interests don't always win; public opinion, political culture, and c