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[[File:Teaparty.jpg|right|thumb|275px|The [[Tea Party Movement|Tea Party movement]] is a [[conservative]] [[United States|American]] grassroots movement.]] 
'''Grassroots''' is a political term referring to people organizing at the local level who personally support a particular point of view and are willing to vote and volunteer in personal activism (such as marches) to support a cause.  It may catch on and spread across the nation.

The grassroots' bottom up struture is contrasted with national organizations' top down control of local chapters across the country that have no input on [[policy]], such as the [[DSA]]; or hired interest groups ([[astroturf]]),  the [[Establishment]], and people who take political positions based on personal gain. Grassroots is a spontaneous bottom-up movement of people with common interests rather than a top-down movement of professional organizers.

Genuine grassroots participation in politics exemplifies the civic duties promoted by [[republicanism]].

The grassroots are overwhelmingly [[conservative]].

==Suggested further reading==
* Jensen, Richard J. ''Grass Roots Politics: Parties, Issues, and Voters, 1854-1983'' (1983) [http://www.questia.com/read/15326916?title=Grass%20Roots%20Politics%3a%20Parties%2c%20Issues%2c%20and%20Voters%2c%201854-1983 online edition], by a Conservapedia editor

==See also ==
*[[Grassroots lobbying]]
*[[Phyllis Schlafly]]
*[[Tea Party Movement]]
*[[Yellow vest movement]]

[[Category:Political Terms]]
[[Category:Republicanism]]

== External links ==

*[http://www.mo4arts.org/DifferenceGrassroots%26Direct.pdf Difference between grassroots lobbying and direct lobbying]