Final answer:
A special interest group that addresses a broad range of issues for its members is known as a mass advocacy group. These groups often have significant resources to influence a wide array of public policies that may heavily benefit their interests, potentially at the expense of wider public welfare.
Step-by-step explanation:
A special interest group that focuses on a wide array of issues as it impacts its particular target members is known as a mass advocacy group. This type of group is characterized by its broad agenda, which seeks to influence public policy across a variety of issues that affect a large segment of the population, often with a substantial membership base. In contrast, a single-issue group concentrates on one specific area, a public interest group aims to promote issues that benefit the general public rather than its own membership, and a social movement is a broader collective that usually extends beyond the more formal structure characteristic of interest groups.
Special interest groups are adept at lobbying legislators to shape public policies in ways that may not always align with the broader societal good. These groups may represent businesses, professional associations, or other entities with specific concerns, advocating for policies that benefit their interests, often with significant financial or organizational resources to support their cause. The influence of special interest groups helps illuminate how policies can sometimes be skewed in favor of smaller, well-organized entities as opposed to the public at large.