In recent years, associations formed by the victims of terrorist acts, their families, friends, and colleagues have emerged as an influential voice in government counterterrorism policy, in the passage of terrorism-related legislation, in civil court cases, and in other private-sector activi-ties, ranging from input in the design of the World Trade Center (WTC) memorial to the con-duct, remit, and operations of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States (“9/11 Commission”). Their effect on a variety of important issues, spanning actual poli-cies to compensation questions, however, remains a largely poorly understood development. Despite the fact that family groups or victims’ associations have been prominently involved in efforts in the aftermath of major terrorist incidents since the 1988 Pan Am 103 tragedy, little research has been devoted to analyzing the political, economic, and social activities of terror-ism victims’ associations or groups and their impact.This report examines the impact that terrorism has both on its actual victims and on their families in the aftermath of violent incidents. It seeks to better understand how society and government cope and adjust following a spectacular terrorist attack by focusing on the organi-zational dimensions and efforts of victims’ and family groups, their government and congres-sional lobbying efforts, their pursuit of civil justice remedies, and their internecine dynamics and relations.