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What impact do interest groups have on the political process
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Iron Triangle Many governments in the world, like the US have subgovernments, systems that help make the voices' of small groups interested in specific things heard. Without many subgovernments small interest groups would not even be recongnized. The iron triangle is one of those subgovernments; congressional committees work with interest groups and a bureaucratic agency to have demands met. Thanks to the iron triangle may small interest groups have a voice in their country governments' legislature. Congressional committees are the part of the iron triangle that puts bills into the legislative process after they work with interest groups. A member of a congressional committee proposes a bill into the committee to be voted on. Members of congressional committees are members of the legislative branch, so when they propose the bill into their committee they work with the other members to get it passed. If one member doesn't like the bill they can try to get the bill maker to change it to his liking so he will vote for it. For example in my congressional committee, the judiciary committee, congressman Mclenan proposed a bill to give tax cuts to banks who approve a certain amount of low income people's loans. We all thought that other people that needed loans might be overlooked just because they were not low income people. We made him make guidelines for that issue, so we could vote for it. 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. Bureaucratic agencies give information on the subject of the bill pressuring the congressional committees to listen to the interest groups and to pass the legislature.
The USDA does what the committees want because the House committees have the "power of the purse" and in return the USDA gets political support and budget appropriations. The Committees do what the AFBF wants in return for votes and campaign contributions. These iron triangles exist at the local and state levels as well. For example, one could exist between the North Carolina Farm Bureau, the North Carolina Congressional Committees on Agriculture and the North Carolina Department of Agriculture. This iron triangle may ensure that hog farmers receive state money from the "Rainy Day Fund" to create sanitary means of hog waste disposal.
Hamilton provides an inside look at how congress really works and clears up popular misconception that make members of congress look like wasteful bickering crooks that support gridlock and are only concerned with the needs of interest groups and lobbyists. Hamilton argues that Congress has changed for the better throughout the years and that they are held at higher standards than they were before. Hamilton states that Congress is not only working at keeping the public happy but that have recently become faced with a lot more issues than before, they are not only more issues but more complicated and technical that are very high risk policies that take a long time to produce a decision (Hamilton, 1988, 65). Hamilton states that Congress is a system in which the viewpoints of everyone are taken into account and make sure there is a consensus when it comes to defining decisions. Even though many of us acknowledge that lobbyist and special interest groups play an essential role in the law making party, Congress is making an effort to make sure that everyone’s voice is heard. Congress is making sure that the balance of power is distributed properly. In recent years, there has been a decline in mega-lobbies and interest groups so that not only the wealthy powerful get their voice heard, but the everyday american people get an opinion in things that affect them as well. In Gary Lee’s article, The NRA Has Lost some Firepower, we can see that interest groups are beginning to have less of an influence on larger political decisions (Hamilton, 1988, 65). For example, the National Rifle Association’s defeat in the battle over the “Brady bill” and their war towards trying to revamp Medicaid was a great loss for lobbyists and
Power is the main influence on Congress members. Without power there would not be a need of money, people wanting the best career for reasons other than to be successful, and Republican and Democratic parties who dominate all parties who have other views. Power is great or marked ability to do or act, strength, might, force. A certain member or party who has a lot of force in Congress can persuade other Congress men or women to vote for what they are told. The people who are tricked into schemes tend to be young members or those seeking approval and power themselves. These plans and wishes for control can cause loss of confidence and criticism of government, not only Congress. If members are found guilty of pressuring, paying money, among other things they can be brought to trial. In the end, this costs the country money to hold a trial that will most likely go to supreme court who have enough trials to take care of. Not all Congress members play mind games and vote for what they believe is best for the public good. The hard part is voting for who you believe is the best fit to make those decisions.
Congress has an extremely vital role in our government and their responsibilities give the American people guidance in many ways. They are responsible for making laws, declaring war, and the approval or disapproval of the appointed officials proposed by the president, such as Supreme Court Justices ("The House Explained"). They are also given the duty of impeachment of the President of the United States if necessary.
Congress has come a long way since its creation but its role has not changed. Although there is much criticism on the way Congress is run, the system is an integral part of the American government. It's main and most important duty is to portray the wide arrayed views of the American people and this is not as easy as it seems. It can be a difficult process for Congress to come to an agreement on these issues because its members come from all over America with different views on what is right and what is wrong. The majority of American people feel that the public agrees on most issues but this is untrue. America is an extremely diverse nation with differing views on various issues. With all the different people in the country it is not unusual to get different opinions and beliefs.
Instead, Congress often delegates to federal entities authority to craft rules and regulations needed to carry out the mandates of laws. In order to maintain oversight over the entities that Congress grants authority to, Congress has established a requirement to publish a notice in the Federal Register detailing their proposed rules. Interested parties are then allowed a time period to express their concerns over said methods.
English philosopher John Locke viewed the power of the legislature as the most basic and important branch of government. The theory behind the legislature is that it will enact laws that will allocate values for society. The legislature works to makes laws, educate, represent, supervise, and make criticisms of the government. Most of the work of the United States Legislature is done in committee, where the real power of the legislature is held. Most legislation originates in governmental departments and agencies. In committees, a majority vote decides and often, compromise must be reached in order for a bill or law to survive committee action. This frequently requires that a delegate alter his position in order to achieve a compromise. This compromise may or may not reflect the wishes of the people he/she represents.
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.
interest groups. Following that, the Iron Triangle Theory states that the lobbyist work directly with Congress by giving money to the legislatures during the campaigns of the elected officials. In return, Congress passes legislation in favor of the interest groups. The Iron Triangle Theory is relevant as it relates to the idea of how the Board of Regents in any of the states lobby for their interest because it can point out some possibilities as to to how the educational institutions lobby in a collaborate effort themselves. For example, hypothetically speaking, let’s presume that the Kansas Board Of Regents decided to push for new academic curriculum relating to sexual education for first-year Freshmen and transfer students from Community
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.
influence the agenda that is agreed upon. The way the House is run leaves a
Legislation passed through the Senate is critiqued for its potential effectiveness and the effect of the legislation on Canada as a whole. A senator has a different perspective when approaching legislation as compared to an individual in the House of Commons. A premier is mainly concerned with the constituents who elected them, and therefore will frequently vote in favour of their party or the views of the region they are representing. A senator, on the other hand, is able to view the legislation from a more critical view, and consider the legislation without being occupied by the views of a particular party or constituents. A senator may also be placed in a committee. Senatorial committees are formed in order to discuss one or more specific issues in legislation, such as Administration and Conflict Interest, Internal Economy and Budgets, and Privileges, Standing Rules, and Orders. These committees can consist of at least twelve members. This is how most legislative review is
In our countries government, Congress plays a major role in decision making. They’re primary role is to pass laws. These laws start off as bills. Bills can only be introduced by members of Congress. Although these bills only come from Congressman, there are many people who influence these bills. Such as the president, regular citizens, offices in the executive branch, and many others. The bills right off the bat do not have a very good chance of passage. Only one out of every ten bills even gets any attention at all. This is because they must go through many tests and hearings before they even have a chance of landing on the president’s desk. These steps in a bill becoming a law are very important, and make sure that all bills passed into law are the best of the best.
The membership of the standing committees of each House is chosen by a. vote of the entire body; members of other committees are appointed. under the provisions of the measure establishing them. Each bill and resolution is usually referred to the appropriate committee. committee, which may report a bill in its original form, favorably. or unfavorably, recommend amendments, or allow the proposed amendments.
The second step to this process, which is members and only members only of congress take the bills or the draft of the law and present it to the other members of their house, which is the House of Representatives. Once it is presented, the rest of them members they either agree or disagree on the bill, if they all agree they go to the next part of presenting it, which is revision. They read over it...