special interest groups
Organized political advocates
Special interest groups are organizations that advocate for particular causes, industries, or constituencies.
They lobby legislators, fund campaigns, and mobilize voters to influence policy in their favor.
The term often carries negative connotations, implying narrow concerns elevated above the public good: Politicians accused each other of being beholden to special interest groups.
What counts as a "special interest" typically depends on the speaker's politics—one person's special interest is another's vital advocacy.
- organizationsStructured groups with purpose
- factionsDissenting internal groups
- caucusesClosed political party meetings
- associationsMental or organizational links
- lobbyingAdvocating to decision-makers
smoke-filled rooms · dark money · PACs · single-issue voters · social movements · influence peddling · super PACs · revolving door · unions · political action committees · corporate donors · deep pockets · campaign finance · trade associations · political influence · think tanks · professional associations · AARP
- groupsteam, teams, group, club, clubs
- groupingscategories, classes, divisions, clusters, sections
- clubssports clubs, women's clubs, book club, chess club, book clubs
- online communitiesforum, online communities, discussion board, forums, message board
special interest groupsgeneral welfare
Collective societal benefit
the public · the masses · the people · ordinary citizens · silent majority
special, interest, groups, specially, specialty, speciality, specialize, specialise, specialized