Executive Summary: The Role Of Interest Groups In Politics

An interest group is a group of people that have organized for a purpose to promote a cause and influence policy by informing those that make the policy decisions. Indeed, these groups do not have the ability to make policies they do have the artful competence to influence policy makers (Teitelbaum & Wilensky, 2013). Some methods used to persuade these politicians are to initiate research that indicates support for the interest groups’ position. For example, an area of concern was a television ad concerning health reform in 1993, in which information was provided illustrating that certain suggestions should be rejected or reconsidered prior to becoming a policy (Teitelbaum & Wilensky, 2013). Many lobbyists are known to use actors to gain access to the politicians, such as Michael J Fox, when he lobbied for Parkinson’s’ disease. As the politicians’ time is in short supply, having short and specific information is vital to get the point across if the lobbyist has the ability to have access to the politician.

Some examples include American Medical Association (AMA), which resisted HMO’s for many years arguing that the HMO could have a negative impact on how physicians practiced and offered tax credits for people buying private insurance, according to Teitelbaum and Wilensky (2013); American Red Cross, which advocates for blood donations and works to ensure the safety and value of blood products throughout the world (Teitelbaum & Wilensky, 2013). In addition to the blood work, the American Red Cross also plays a role in disaster recovery, such as providing supplies from donations and organizing volunteers in coordination with public health services; National Rifle Association (NRA), that argues for the rights of people in gun