INTEREST GROUPS

Interest Groups

Interest Groups and How They Seek To Influence the Making of Public Policy

Introduction

Interest group refers to a group of individuals connected by ties of mutual interests and benefits, whose members are aware of the existence of these bonds. Its members may take more or less active role in articulating their interests to institutions of the state trying to influence the realization of these interests. Interest group is a group of non-political actor, but who wants to have an impact on the outline of policies pursued by governments. The concept of interest groups is associated with lobbying (Skinner, 2007). In connection to the interest group this paper will attempt to answer following questions:

What is an interest group?

What is the relationship between interest groups and political parties?

How interest groups try to influence the president and Congress as these two branches work together to make policy?



Question No 1: What is an interest group?

An interest group is the term used to refer every type of voluntary group or association or organization, which attempts to encourage and promote its cause in a way to gain public support. Number of organizations fall under the category of interest groups, most common includes non-governmental organization, charitable organizations, labor union, employee association, neighborhood associations, trade association and corporations (Herrnson, Shaiko & Wilcox, 1998).

Question No 2: What is the relationship between interest groups and political parties?

The reason for the existence of the interest groups is to make demands on the public office holder, in particular government. Occupational and economic group are considered most effective interest group in Untied States of America. However, number of other groups exists on the basis of ideology, ethnicity, public interest, government, foreign policy, race and religions. These groups too have members from big occupational and economic groups, which not only reduces their influence but stabilize it (Strolovitch, 2007).

There are movements documenting presence of large number of people against governmental policies, actions and new legislations in United States. Economic underdogs, women, blacks, and Native Americans at different points in time have organized such movements to show their agreement or disagreement with governmental policies and moves (Kollman, 1998).

Factors which defines the power of an influence groups includes resources, cohesiveness, resources, techniques, strategies and leadership in particular the capability for nominating or supporting candidates from a political party. Moreover, the ability to furnish funds for lobbyists is another factor of power determination of interest groups. However, for many the actual power of interest group lies in the roots of their operating strategy to connect and establish relationship with governmental and political environment of the country (Gerber, 1999).

The prime engagement of the interest groups for many decades is creating lobbies, which have increased the significance of these efforts as they are now rooted in deep in the process of election. However, the efforts of lobbying have extended the utilization of utilization of PACs (Political Action Committees). Moreover, interest groups also utilize techniques like advertising, cooperative lobbying and mass mailing to deliver the message ...