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Interest groups in politics
Impact of interest group on political system
Interest groups in politics
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The United States of America is a country that seems to be controlled by a vast amount of interest groups that are all competing for politicians to promote their interests. Therefore, this brings the question of whether or not the United States is a country run under the hands of rich, biased businessmen or corporate hands, or if it is a political design for politicians to have their campaigns paid for them, without having to do any work. This is also seen as interest groups that focus more on environmental or social issues uses opposition tactics to try to get governments to follow their interests but are essentially content I things do not worsen. Therefore, interest groups are arguably not integral to the functionality of the American political …show more content…
Therefore, Interest groups are arguably an integral part of American politics because they help set agendas and persuade politicians to react the way they want. An interesting fact about interest groups is that they articulate or represent ideas of what the people ‘want’ the government to do, even if interest groups are made from secular groups of individuals that represent specific causes. Furthermore, there are an enormous number of interest groups in the United States, and millions of Americans are members of one or more, at least to the extent of paying dues or attending an occasional meeting. This means interest groups can go to governments and claim that these people represent the views they stand for. When in reality, a large portion of these individuals join these factions to get special benefits or discounts. This begs the question on whether interest groups are actually an integral part of American politics because if an interest group is forcing legislators to draft legislation or encourage political parties to shape their platforms to represent the groups values while a large portion of the group does …show more content…
They change their tune depending on what state they are located in. Since this creates the understanding that interest group values are not universal, the credentials of these groups must be investigated so see where the skews of interest are being misrepresented or that people have to learn whether certain kinds of interest are more likely to be represented than others . This is also where upper-class bias becomes a factor because if you have the money and power to force your opinion on others the group will likely represent you more frivolously. This understanding creates the knowledge that interest groups are out to make sure their specific policy matters, or group values do not shift. Essentially, interest groups do not want to pass legislation to change or make a different, they are there to make sure no laws are passed that could be jeopardizing to their cause. As well, since it has already been established that interest groups, even though they might have the same name, change their values depending on the support group that surrounds them. For example, supporters of the NRA in Texas might be more supportive or follow different interest than supporters in California. This is an example of the disorganization and the instability most interest groups have due to not having a universal
Essentially, interest groups use many different tactics to accomplish their central goals but this paper will detail 2 of them. The first being lobbying, which is the act of persuading businesses as well as government leaders to help a specific organization by changing laws or creating events in favor of that group. Interest groups use this technique by hiring someone to represent them and advocate their cause to on the behalf of the entire group. These hired representatives usually have more than enough experience within the political field and are able to persuade connections within the government for help with their concerns. This method gets a lot of criticism because although lobbyist offer their input to government officials on pending laws, they only look at what is favorable for their cause. When trying to make a difference you have to not only reflect on your argument but on the side affects of that argument as
Interest groups, lobbyists, large corporations, and PACs try to influence the congressional committees' bills so they can have a say in the legislative process. When an interest group hears about a bill that is being debated on in a committee, they try to influence a members vote and they try to get a part of the bill changed. For example, a lobbyist came to me on a bill I proposed on making health care plans have no minimum requirement on benefits the company gives to its patients. He told me about how he did not get the right treatments and tests done on diseases he has and now is suffering badly from them. It was because the health plan did not have to give him anything extra. He changed my mind on the bill, and I changed the bill to setting a minimum standard on benefits given to patients.
The dangers of faction can somewhat outweigh the good. The framers of the American Constitution feared the power that could possibly come about by organized interest groups. Madison wrote "The public good is disregarded in the conflict of rival factions citizens who are united and actuated by some common impulse of passion, or of interest, adverse to the rights of other citizens, or to the permanent and aggregate interests of the community." However, the framers believed that interest groups thrived because of freedom, the same privilege that Americans utilize to express their views. Madison saw direct democracy as a danger to individual rights and advocated a representative democracy to protect individual liberty, and the general public from the effects of such inequality in society. Madison says "A pure democracy can admit no cure for the mischief's of faction. A common passion or interest will be felt by a majority Hence it is, that democracies have ever been found incompatible with personal security or the rights of property; and have, in general, been as short in their lives as they have been violent in their deaths."
The Aristotelian view of democracy showed democracy as a supreme state of being, promoting equality more than anything. It allowed every person to have as much say in a government as any other person, and yet still allowed individuality to reign. To follow this path of "true" democracy is to follow the path to a perfect country. Yet America, which prides itself on being a truly democratic nation, is filled with corruption and extortion, nothing like the Utopia Aristotle portrayed.
xiii). Since the 1960s, when Lowi authored this text because he believed we were in a state of political crisis, interest groups have grown exponentially. This is due to growth in broad economic developments and growth and specific interests of citizens willing to take an active role in political processes. Interest group ideology has thrived on inadequate planning and overextension. Effective government requires formalities and moral legitimacy. Lowi argues that as long as well-moneyed interests do not grow to exercise an unjustly disproportionate amount of political capitol, interest groups should be welcomed in American politics as a means by which the average citizen can enjoy a greater amount of political efficacy. Lowi points out that nearly every area of government activity currently bears little relevance to the actual conditions they were designed for, and he calls for a return to older government that had consequences and held us responsible for consequences of political decisions because the current system does nothing to aid those who need government support the most, those one welfare and involved in those programs. Instead it is a power-grabbing money pool open for interest groups to take a hold of it,
We elect politicians on the basis on the issues by which they stand, and these issues are either held up or weakened by the numerous interest groups that exist today. Interest groups target both major and minor issues, using all of their resources to sponsor or overpower the groups’ concern. Interest groups are composed of a limited range of the body of voters who have a great stake in the issues their group support. They make evident the issues their group supports. Their resources are used in an attempt to make their issue public policy. Interest groups are persistent; they do not give up until they succeed. They lobby congress, take legal action, and attempt to influence election results in order to benefit their cause. ”The AARP monitors local and national legislation of interest to its members.”1 The AARP, an example of a non-PAC interest group, focus their efforts to electioneering and media. They influence the elections through their voter guides, election forums and the large senior voting population. Through television, radio, and periodicals the AARP is able to achieve many of their goals to aid retired persons.
These pluralistic interest groups are free to operate and lobby in the political arena, fighting against the majority and other competing factions for voice in Congress. With the influence of multiple factions operating throughout the political system, a balance of power is created (Kernell 2000, 429). This is much like the international theory of sovereign states balancing each other’s power to create a political system that focuses on stability, yet is always in a constant flux of power. With this in mind, special interest groups are constantly contending for power by raising money, campaigning, and lobbying in Congress. When a special interest group is threatened by a competing policy, the group will organize efforts to balance, or transcend the power of the competing group.
In today’s politics, interest groups play a large role in the government system. An interest Group is defined as 'an organized body of individuals who try to influence public policy.' This system is designed so that interest groups would be an instrument of public influence on politics to create changes, but would not threaten the government much. These organizations are either made up of people who represent a different organization or people who represent themselves. Interest groups represent the citizens’ interests and views, while expressing their own needs as well. They are the link between people and politics, giving a way for the public to voice their opinions. Members of interest groups use different tactics to basically impose their wants or needs onto the government by lobbying, educating, and campaigning.
The “advocacy explosion” in the United States in the 20th century has been caused by the extreme increase in the number of interest groups in the United States. The general public views the increase and the groups themselves as a cancer that has come to the body of American politics and is spreading. The explosion in the number of interest groups and interest group members and finances has had an effect on the decline of the American political party and partisanship, the effect on democracy and the public interest, and the bias that has come with interest group competition.
Do they play an important role in our democracy since they claim that they represent many people? There has been a continuing debate over the proper role of interest groups in the United States democracy. Interest groups are organized group of individuals who share the same ideas and their main goal is to influence media, lawmakers, and people with their ideas. On one hand, interest groups members and their leaders assert that they offer crucial information and services to the lawmakers and that lawmakers aren’t experts regarding every bill proposed
Interest groups are groups of people who share common interest and get together in order to influence decision making in Texas. Interest groups are grouped into three categories. The groups can influence issues the economy, business, or labor. (laits.edu.ut, 2006, pp.1). Now, these groups have many ways to influence decision making in Texas. Although they might be seemingly insignificant, their power may be surprising. As a conservative state, we have always stood for keeping the government small to retain the people’s power. Because of this goal, the political parties in Texas have weak political power, but the interest groups in Texas have strong political power. Political parties have many ways to achieve the decision making changes that
Interest Groups are formed by individuals who want to influence the government and American politics. The different types of interest groups in America include business/agriculture, labor/union, professional, public, ideological, and public sector. Regardless of the type of interest group, all interest groups have the common goal of wanting to influence the government and shape America into a better country.
Pressure Groups and Their Influence on the Government Britain is often referred to as a homogenous society as the public. tend to share similar political views. However, more recently, there. has been a decline in membership to political parties and an increase. in the membership of pressure groups. In this essay I will define pressure groups, information surrounding such as the amount of power.
This essay explores pressure groups and their role in democracy and society. It also discusses how pressure groups use the media as a communication strategy to influence.
The American Political System The American political system is a federal system, which consists of