利益集團是一群支持某些觀點並想要使國家向這個方向改革的人的集合，所有人或從屬於某個利益集團或處於 
政治冷漠，而具體的利益集團傾向取決於多重因素，例如資質、
財富和
識字率等。不同人所屬的利益集團取決於不同的標準，利益集團的具體觀點也會隨着當地宗教、社會運動和領導人的修正在不同國家間變化。值得一提的是，人群的不同個體可能支持任何一個利益集團，使得該群體支持所有的利益集團（儘管在支持人數上有差異）
基礎利益集團
利益集團系統是維多利亞三的核心玩法之一。遊戲中共有八種利益集團，以及一個額外的政治冷漠：
一國內利益集團的名字會隨着各自的情況變化，如暹羅的
虔信者 被稱作小乘佛教僧侶，日本的
軍隊被稱作
地主 則被稱為
意識形態
- 主條目：意識形態
利益集團包含一系列的意識形態，這些意識形態決定了他們所支持和反對施行的法律——利益集團通常偏愛那些契合他們信念和使他們受益的法律。
不同的利益集團有不同的意識形態（例如地主明顯比
工會更加保守），但是這些並不是被定死的。利益集團的意識形態也會隨着遊戲的進程和領導人個人的偏好與意識形態而變化。
此外，一些利益集團在特定國家內會有獨特的意識形態，例如支持儒家思想的
大清儒生利益集團。
利益集團的默認意識形態設置如下:
注: 利益集團的意識形態可能因國家或法律而異。例如, 如果該國允許奴隸制，地主將獲得（無法識別「蓄奴主義者」，請查閱Template:概念）意識形態。
領袖意識形態
每個利益集團都被一個政治家領導，他們的個人主張影響着這個利益集團的立場和觀點。這有時會使一個利益集團支持與其基礎觀點不同甚至完全相反的意識形態。
政治力量
人群中的個體會為他們所支持的利益集團或政治運動貢獻政治力量，一個個體貢獻的政治力量受到多個因素的影響而修正，其中的主要因素包括人群的財富和本國權利結構所賦予的政治地位（或投票權）。例如，在寡頭制國家內，一個富裕的
貴族 的政治力量是一個貧窮的
勞工 的成百上千倍。
有些人群沒有任何政治力量，這通常由於本國法律剝奪了他們的政治權力（例如人群的文化或宗教受到歧視，或婦女沒有投票權）。他們「被排除於權利系統之外」，無法通過加入利益集團等正常方式要求改革，不得不依靠政治運動向政府施壓。
吸引力
利益集團對人群存在一個吸引力權重，處於某個利益集團的人群可以為其提供政治力量。利益集團對人群的吸引取決於該人群的宗教、文化、是否受歧視、識字率、失業情況和職業，因此有的人不會進入特定的利益集團。利益集團對人群的吸引情況如下表：
| 軍隊
|
|
 實業家
|
 知識分子
|
地主
|
 小市民
|
 鄉村民眾
|
工會
| |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Requirements | One of: Pop is not discriminated Pop's profession is Aristocrats, Officers, or Servicemen |
Pop follows the state's religion | Country must be centralized | Pop's 識字率 is over 25% Country must be centralized |
Pop has primary culture Pop is employed in Manufacturing, Service, Urban Facilities, or Government |
Pop is employed in Agriculture, Ranching, or Plantations | Pop is not employed in Agriculture, Ranching, or Plantations Country must be centralized | |
| Base Weight | 0 | 25 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 75 | 50 | 50 |
| Other Weight Effects | +25 if not discriminated | −2 per 10% Literacy over 50% except  Clergymen
|
+10 if Literacy ≥ 50% +2 per 10% Literacy over 50%
|
Final weight multiplied by:
| ||||
| 職業 | ||||||||
 學者
|
|
+200 |
|
|||||
 貴族
|
+50 | +50 |
|
+50 | +200 |
|
|
|
 官僚
|
|
+100 |
|
|||||
 資本家
|
+200 | +50 |
|
|
|
| ||
 教士
|
+200 |
|
+50 | +100 | ||||
 職員
|
|
+100 |
|
+50 | ||||
 工程師
|
+50 |
|
||||||
 農民
|
|
+50 | +200 | |||||
 勞工
|
|
|
+50 | |||||
 技工
|
|
|
+100 | |||||
 軍官
|
+200 |
|
+50 |
| ||||
 自給農
|
+50 |
|
|
|
+200 | |||
 軍人
|
+100 |
|
|
|||||
 店主
|
+50 |
|
+200 |
| ||||
 奴隸
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
扶植和打壓
除非國家已經頒布 
保障自由, it can 
bolster or 
suppress interest groups, increasing or decreasing that groups attraction by some amount, as determined by its Free Speech law.
勢力
一個利益集團內所有人群的政治力量之為這個利益集團提供勢力——這決定了利益集團在國內和政府中的clout – the amount of political weight it can assert on the country and the government. 利益集團的勢力等於集團內政治力量與全國政治力量的百分比。例如，如果全國人群的政治力量為100k而
實業家 的政治力量為30k，他們的勢力即為30%。
Clout determines the interest group's classification within their country – whether they are considered powerful, influential, or marginalized.
An interest group becomes marginalized if their clout drops below 4%, unless they are in government. They become influential again if it increases above 5%.
Similarly, a interest group becomes powerful if their clout rises above 20%, and influential again if it drops below 18%.
支持度
- 參見：政治運動
| Source | Approval |
|---|---|
| Law Stances | |
| Strongly Approves | +2 |
| Approves | +1 |
| Disapproves | −1 |
| Strongly Disapproves | −2 |
| Law Changes | |
| One step | ±5 |
| Two steps | ±10 |
| Three or more steps | ±20 |
| Pop political strength | |
| Each ~6% loyalist | +1 |
| Each ~6% radical | −1 |
Interest groups have a level of approval, which has two main sources: stances on 
laws, and pop 
loyalists and 
radicals. Other factors may affect approval as well, such as the player's choices in certain events. Total approval is capped between −20 and +20.
Each interest group and its leader's ideologies set its stance towards various laws from on a five-point scale, from 
Strongly Disapprove (−2) to 
Strongly Approve (+2). Approval from laws is the sum of all stances, capped at ±5.
In addition to the stance on enacted laws, proposed and recent law changes have an increased effect on an interest group's approval. A change which moves one step along their stance scale adds ±5, two steps adds ±10, and three or more steps adds ±20. This effect is added throughout the proposed change, and when a law is fully enacted, it remains and decays over five years. Cancelling the proposed law change immediately removes this effect. The effect of law changes on approval is not directly capped and can stack when changing several laws in a short time.
The percentage of pops supporting an interest group which are loyalists or radicals also affects approval, up to ±15 if all of the pops are loyalists or radicals. The actual approval effect is determined by the percentage of pop political strength, if more political strength comes from loyalist pops, it is positive; otherwise if more comes from radicals, it is negative. This scaled by the relative amount, for example if two-thirds (66%) is loyalist and one-third (33%) radicals, the approval effect is +5 as the loyalists provide +10 which is offset by the radicals' −5.
Government and military wages affect certain interest groups by ±1 for each step above or below normal wages. Government wages affect 
Intelligentsia and 
Petite Bourgeoisie approval, and military wages affect 
Armed Forces approval.
If a group is powerful and 
in opposition, their approval drops by −1.
Finally, there are many events, especially surrounding law changes, that add temporary approval modifiers to various interest groups.
效果
If an interest group's approval is −10 or less, they are Angry. They cannot be added to the government, but do not leave it if they're already in it. They also contribute their clout to the radicalization of any movement they support, possibly starting a revolution.
From −9 to −5, a group is Unhappy, activating their negative trait.
From −4 to +4, a group is Neutral, providing no special effect.
From +5 to +9, a group is Happy, activating their first positive trait. They also stop backing any movements.
At +10 or above, a group is Loyal, activating their second positive trait.
特質
Each group has three traits associated with it, one negative, and two positive. If group's approval is −5 or less, their negative trait is active. Approval of at least +5 activates their first positive trait, and +10 or more activates both of their positive traits.
Traits of a powerful group are twice as powerful, while marginalized groups cannot activate their traits at all.
| 利益集團 | 憤怒特質（支持度≤5） | 滿意特質（支持度≥5） | 忠誠特質（支持度≥10） |
|---|---|---|---|
| 地主
|
貴族特權 那個貴族履行責任且不用被稅吏糾纏的時代哪兒去了？是時候重回舊日榮光了。 −10% Agriculture, ranching, plantations tax |
親族紐帶 即使身處變革的年代，我們仍然明白一段美好婚姻的價值。人脈關係比他們跨過的國境線還古老，甚至比聯盟和政府都存續更久。 +10% Influence |
貴族義務 我們比普通人更優渥，這意味着我們有責任照顧他們。如果他們試圖親自張羅什麼，那也是自取滅亡，註定要失敗。 +10% Aristocrat investment pool contribution |
|
虔信小說 如今的價值觀如此被毒害，文學如此腐敗，以至於教育本身對道德產生了侵蝕作用。比起教人們當前體制認為「正確」的東西，更好的方法是教他們什麼應該是正確的。 −10% State education access |
君權神授 我們相信，我們的生活蘊含着內在的秩序；而社會對於這種秩序的映照，可以是更為良善的，也可以是更為墮落的。倘若統治者道德高尚、法令公平公正，我們的人民就必能知曉其中的道理。 +10% Authority |
多子多孫 禁欲主義對於少數獻身於精神追求的人來說是好的，但對於普通人來說，最重要的價值觀是建立家庭和照顧孩子。 +2.5% Birth rate |
|
物資浪費 對國家的忠誠不等於對政府的忠誠。如果我們不能信任當權者，我們不妨按我們認為合適的方式使用給到我們的東西。 +25% Military goods cost |
老兵諮詢 技術進步正在改變戰爭的面貌，但我們只有對其充分了解，才能運用其精妙。幸運的是，我們這裡有第一手經驗的人，對此應該有所見解。 −10% Military technology cost |
愛國熱情 無論戰略多麼高明，武器多麼先進，有些戰鬥只有靠努力和勇氣才能打贏。那些真正相信自己國家所代表信念的士兵將不顧一切地勇敢戰鬥。 +15% Unit defense +15% Unit offense |
| 小市民
|
排外 我們都知道誰應該為我們國家的現狀負責，人們只是害怕說出來。與此同時，他們還在背後嘲笑我們讓他們逍遙法外。需要有人採取行動。 −10% Influence +100% Radicals from discrimination |
中層管理者 我們不能讓每個人都照本宣科，但至少可以把做過的事情都記在書本上。總有人需要記住在這裡做事的正確方式。 +10% Bureaucracy |
國債 只要政府可以被信任會償還債務，把我們辛苦賺來的積蓄用於資助這個偉大的國家不僅是愛國的，還是一項很好的投資。 −10% Loan interest rate |
| 鄉村民眾
|
傳統 這些管理國家的人似乎對未來應該是怎樣有各種各樣的想法。但既然是他們導致了現狀，我們為什麼還要相信他們呢？ −10% Tech spread |
誠實工作 我們靠誠實的工作和汗水謀生。如果這意味着我們生產的比我們需要的更多，那就太好了。 +10% Agriculture, ranching, logging throughput |
農民市場 如何將我們生產的產品分發給需要的人，現今似乎成了一個大問題。要是大環境允許，我們完全有能力親自把產品送到所需的人手中。 +10% Infrastructure |
| 實業家
|
避稅 誰最清楚我們的錢應該花在哪裡？不是政府，當然更不是現任政府。幸運的是，他們的無能留下了可以好好利用的徵稅漏洞。 −10% Manufacturing tax |
進步的引擎 看看現代的奇蹟吧！沒有時間猶豫了。只要一個東西能被構思、設計並獲得專利，它就應該被建造、測試並立即投入使用。 −10% Production technology cost |
就業創造者 人首先得會花錢才能賺錢。只要政府能夠承諾不干預我們的投資，我們就沒道理不把利潤投入經濟增長。 +10% Capitalist investment pool contribution |
| 知識分子
|
社會批評 當權者往往認為自己無可非議，但權威並不能讓某人的想法變得有趣。我們有很多有趣的事情要說，並且我們確切地知道該對誰說。 −10%威望 |
先鋒派 別人連想都不敢想的，我們就已經大聲說出來了。我們的藝術和思想將直接切入人心，迫使人們睜開眼睛，如果不是驚訝，那就是驚愕！ −10% Society technology cost |
宣傳者 在我們的詩詞、信件和政治宣言中，我們首先必須堅持把祖國取得的進步作為一個榜樣，一個在這個新時代我們能夠帶給世界上不幸地區的榜樣。 +25% State migration pull |
| 工會
|
合法怠工 負責人似乎希望我們閉嘴，只照吩咐去做，毫無自主思想。讓我們看看，如果我們真的把這種哲學貫徹到我們「無需技能」的勞動中，他們會怎麼看。 −15% Construction Efficiency |
產業骨幹 不管是誰來負責，是工人們的合作方式最終對工廠的運作狀況產生了更大的影響，而不是高層制定的任何規則。 +10% Manufacturing throughput |
團結 所有想要工作的人都應該有工作！任何人都不應被排除在外。我們必須相互支持，保障每個人的權利，才能獲得和付出勞動對等的報酬。 +10% Workforce ratio |
部分國家擁有特殊特質
| 利益集團 | 特質 | 條件 |
|---|---|---|
|
|
工作倫理 記住，金錢具有增值的性質。錢生錢，利潤的產生是一種創造行為，是對上帝工作的尊重和讚美。 +5% 公司吞吐量增益 |
國教是 新教替換 多子多孫
|
|
苦行主義 遠離世界上的玩樂是正確的道路。不要讓自己被物質的變化所困擾；一切都是過眼雲煙。 -50%生活水平降低帶來的激進派 |
國教是 印度教、 大乘佛教或 上座部佛教替換 多子多孫
| |
| 志願勞動 | 國教是 錫克教替換 多子多孫
| |
| 世俗授權 | 國教是 格魯派替換 多子多孫
| |
| 最好的復仇 | 國教是 猶太教替換全套特質 | |
| 葉史瓦 | ||
| 意第緒傳統 | ||
| 天皇氏 | 國教是 神道教替換全套特質 | |
| 世俗神社理論 | ||
| 廢佛毀釋 | ||
| 達瓦 | 國教是 遜尼派或 什葉派替換 多子多孫
| |
| 沙里亞法 | 國教是遜尼派或什葉派，不是（無法識別「土耳其」，請查閱Template:國旗新） 替換 君權神授
| |
| 奧斯曼民事法典 | 是（無法識別「奧斯曼帝國」，請查閱Template:國旗新） 替換 君權神授
| |
|
|
本地上任 | 是 大清 替換全套特質 |
| 新生軍隊 | ||
| 自強 | ||
| 生命衝力 | 是 法蘭西，或有法蘭西主流文化替換 愛國熱情
| |
| 好老大 | 主流文化屬西語圈、歐洲傳承，不屬伊比利亞 | |
| 長官統治 | 啟用DLC rp1_content，是 巴西替換File:IG trait materiel waste.png.png物資浪費與 老兵諮詢
| |
| 軍人俱樂部 |
執政和在野
Interest groups which are not 
marginalized are either 
in government or in opposition.
An interest group in government contributes its clout to the success chance of passing the laws they support, and to the stall chance of the laws they oppose. Proposing law changes usually requires an interest group in government which supports that law as well. Interest groups in opposition don't contribute their clout directly; however, unless they are happy or loyal, they may start a movement opposing a law change or demanding that a law be passed. By adding their clout to movement support, they can still affect the chance of success or stall.
合法性
- 主條目：合法性
Legitimacy represents how well a government can function based on popular support for the ruling interest groups and how well those groups can work together. Legitimacy is strongly affected by Governance Principles and Distribution of Power laws. Legitimacy is increased by including high clout interest groups and high vote parties in government and decreased by having too many interest groups or parties, or groups which are too ideologically opposed in government. More autocratic forms of government also gain legitimacy by including the ruler's preferred interest group in government.
改革政府
Government can be reformed at any time by adding or removing interest groups. Any group in opposition can be added freely, but removing a group in government radicalizes 25% of its members. In countries with voting, elections provide an opportunity to reform the government without angering interest groups' members – the first reform within six months of a finished election does not radicalize members of groups removed from government.
There is a quick reform option which presents the three highest legitimacy options available, but note that this does not include the current government nor does it take radicalization from removing interest groups into account.
政黨
- 主條目：政黨
Countries with voting and elections also have political parties, alliances of interest groups with similar concerns. Parties count as a single group for the purposes of legitimacy, and so allow more interest groups to be added to the government without penalty. However, in order to add or remove a party from government, all of its member interest groups must be added or removed together. There is no penalty for leaving an interest group out when it wants to join a party, except that it is impossible to reform government while a party is "split" this way, without unifying the party in government or in opposition.
Parties gain additional strength from votes of the last election. Pops do not vote for interest groups directly but rather for political parties, therefore interest groups that do not join a party miss out on a large amount of potential political strength.
政黨吸引力
Interest groups update their party affiliations at the beginning of each election campaign and join the party they have the highest attraction towards, discounting parties that do not meet the requirements to exist or that the interest group is otherwise prohibited from joining. All Interest Groups have a base attraction of −5 towards all political parties and must have a final attraction of at least +1 in order to join a party. If an interest group does not have positive attraction towards any valid party, then it does not join any party or participate in the current election.
Below is a partial list of each interest group's attraction factors towards political parties as well as which other interest groups share those same factors. These tables only take typical core ideologies into account; leader ideologies in particular can greatly affect an interest group's party attraction. See Political party for a full list of all possible attraction factors.
