Environmental groups still wield the threat of public criticism, boycotts and lawsuits.

He said the group was wielding power in a way that "directly affects the safety of the flying public."

These groups wielded great political, social and economic influence.

Known as the Minutemen, the group often wielded pipes, bats and their trained fists to make their point.

And for good reason: Republicans need enough votes to override a Presidential veto of their budget proposal, and neither group wields enough members to provide them.

Advantages: The groups would wield considerable market power.

Beneath this formal structure, several other groups wielded considerable power.

"These groups wield a tremendous amount of power, and many times they don't wield it wisely," she said, noting that commercial development helps keep down property taxes.

Leftist groups, some of them emerging from years underground, wield significant influence in the universities and some professional groups, Nepalese say.

Uganda is an exceptionally lush, mostly rural country where conservative Christian groups wield enormous influence.