Government Interest Groups Essay

584 Words2 Pages

Interest groups have been part of the government since the time it was created. Their main purpose being to influence the government partially on the behalf of the citizens and their interests and concerns. Another role of theirs is informing the public of government actions such as changing legislature that could affect them in some way. When there is a disturbance between the government and the citizens the interest groups are there to provide support for the citizens in many ways. Even if interest groups are seen in a negative light there are still many groups that provide benefits to the citizens and the government. (351-2) There are currently five main types of interest groups: Business, Labor, Trade or Private, Citizen, and Intergovernmental; and these five can be split into three categories: citizen or public interest or economic. (355-6) Each interest group has the responsibility of informing their members on the actions of government related to the specific interest. (351) Many citizens today don’t have the time or money to attend or research and understand what is going on in the government currently. (351) Also, there is the issue that a citizen may be …show more content…

Within interest groups there are lobbyists and they primarily face the iron triangle and the courts which has its own confusing inner workings and benefits. (363-4) A few of the primary benefits of lobbing is being able to help determine who gets appointed in the supreme courts, filing Amicus Curiae, and providing an important part in money and expertise. (364) The more contacts that the interest group has the more power that it effects legislation and promote their interests. (365) However, it isn’t impossible, interest groups tend to spend around eight billion on lobbyists. (366) The AARP once stepped in and changed the course of a bill in 2006 to allow added benefits to Medicare.

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