Interest Groups And The American Political Tradition

Interest Groups: Good or Evil?
The Roles of Interest Groups

Representation
Participation
Education
Agenda Building
Program Monitoring

How Interest Groups Form

Interest Group Entrepreneurs
Who Is Being Organized?
Members

Maintaining Membership
Attracting New Members
The Free Rider Problem

Lobbyists
Political Action Committees

Lobbying Tactics

Direct Lobbying
Grassroots Lobbying
Information Campaigns
High-Tech Lobbying
Coalition Building

Is The System Biased?

Membership Patterns
Citizen Groups
Business Mobilization
Access
Reform