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== Introduction ==

== Introduction ==

The public has flexed its [[muscle]] the past few weeks.  Public [[outrage]] forced [[CBS]] to withdraw from its [[network]] its [[bias]]ed [[film]] about former [[President]] [[Ronald Reagan]].  Public outrage also forced the [[Florida]] legislature to pass a special [[law]] to save the [[life]] of [[Terri Schiavo|Terri Schiavo-Schindler]].  A [[court]] had ordered her [[feed]]ing [[tube]] removed based on [[statement]]s by her estranged [[husband]] that [[Terri Schiavo|Terri]] did not want to live anymore.  This [[special law]] gave the [[feed]]ing [[tube]] back to [[Terri Schiavo|Terri]].

The public has flexed its [[muscle]] the past few weeks.  Public outrage forced [[CBS]] to withdraw from its [[network]] its [[bias]]ed [[film]] about former [[President]] [[Ronald Reagan]].  Public outrage also forced the [[Florida]] legislature to pass a special [[law]] to save the [[life]] of [[Terri Schiavo|Terri Schiavo-Schindler]].  A [[court]] had ordered her feeding tube removed based on [[statement]]s by her estranged [[husband]] that [[Terri Schiavo|Terri]] did not want to live anymore.  This [[special law]] gave the feeding tube back to [[Terri Schiavo|Terri]].

These were not acts of [[political party|political parties]], though the [[Republican Party]] did play [[minor]] [[roles]].  This was the public [[at large]], acting through “[[interest groups]]” and as [[individual]]s, that forced [[action]].  Today we will talk about “[[interest groups]].”

These were not acts of [[political party|political parties]], though the [[Republican Party]] did play [[minor]] [[roles]].  This was the public [[at large]], acting through “[[interest groups]]” and as [[individual]]s, that forced [[action]].  Today we will talk about “[[interest groups]].”