Special Interest

Interest Groups Name Institution Interest Groups Introduction This paper discusses the relationship between interest groups and political parties and how interest groups influence the President and Congress. According to Cohen (2002, p.34) “an interest group is a private organization of individuals who have banded together because of a common cause or role”. When people join these groups, they exercise their right guaranteed by the First Amendment to the U.S Constitution to “assemble” and “petition” the government (Cohen, 2002). Interest groups can be defined according to the type of interests they defend. Examples include economic groups, spiritual groups, artistic or recreational organizations, ethnic groups, associations of local governments, and public interest groups (Cohen, 2002). Economic groups may include manufacturers, associations or labor unions. These represent the most common type of interest groups and also, in general, the type with the most resources. Within this large category, there are many more specialized groups representing specific types of industries and occupations. An example of this group would be banking and financial organizations. Examples of the latter would be professional associations. In Texas, some of these interest groups include Texas Bankers Association and Texas Medical Association (Newell et al., 2008). Like most labor unions, these groups represent people who share a type of livelihood. Unlike most labor unions, they are composed of people who are generally well educated and relatively wealthy. Spiritual groups may include church organizations or pro-life or pro-choice associations. These groups unite people who may otherwise have very different views but who share a faith or a public policy position derived from their faith. Artistic or recreational organization includes people who share a hobby and other types of pastime. A good example is the Texas Association of Bass Clubs. Examples of ethnic organizations include the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) or the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) (Newell et al., 2008). The two most important points to understand about interest groups are that not all people who share an interest are organized and the organized interests are much more powerful than unorganized interest. There are three general rules of interest group formation. First, economic producing groups are more likely to be organized than are consuming groups (Newell et al., 2008). Second, regardless of the type of group, people with more education or income are more likely to join than are more people with less education and income (Newell et al., 2008). Third, citizens who join interest groups out of personal involvement as opposed to economical stake tend top feel very strongly about the particular issue that is the group’s reason for existence (Newell et al., 2008). They are therefore much more likely to contribute money, write letters, attend rallies, an in other ways engage in actions that get the attention of government officials. Consequently, because they are much more likely to be organized, producers tend to exert more political influence than consumers, the middle and upper classes more influential than the working class, and passionate believers more influence than citizens who are less emotionally involved. Organized Groups in the Political Process Interest groups attempt to persuade both the public and individual government officials to take a particular point of view on specific public policies. In trying to be persuasive, they perform six critical roles in the political process. First, they furnish information to officeholders in all branches of government (Newell et al., 2008). This activity includes both communicating their collective opinion on public policy and supplying policy makers with their version of the facts. Second, they politicize and inform members of their groups as well as others (Newell et al., 2008). Third, they mediate conflict within their groups (Newell et al., 2008). Fourth, they engage in electioneering, especially the contribution of money to candidates, and possibly in their interventions in the government process, such as filing law suites (Newell et al., 2008). Fifth, they influence public opinion by disseminating information that supports their policy stand. Sixth, they help their members to become more involved democratic citizens (Newell et al., 2008). This is achieved by providing institutions other than political parties that help people in the process of governing. Interest groups therefore enhance democratic government by supplying information to citizens, contributing to debates about issues, getting people involved in politics, and shaking up the established order by influencing institutions. One of the most common ways interest groups try to ensure than there future efforts at persuasion will be more effective is by supporting candidates for public office. Interest groups that have helped elect a politician can be confident that they will not be forgotten when the politician enters government. Usually, the most effective way to help candidates is to give them money. Because campaigning demands the purchase of advertising in expansive media, all candidates but the few who are personally rich need to beg wealthy individuals and groups for large amounts of money. In this regard, one of the important developments of recent decades has been the rise of political action committees and their influence on elections. The Role of Interest groups on the President and Congress and the Policy Making Process Interest groups play a significant role in policy making in many countries across the globe including the US. One of the most vexing questions in political science is the nature of interest group influence. Congress is the chief policy making organ in the US. Congress often works together with the president and other interest groups in formulating policies. As a result, interest groups have a critical influence on the policy making process. They influence the decisions taken by the sitting president and Congress. It is important to understand the role information plays in the policy making process before discussing the influence of interest groups on policy making process. Thousands of lobbyists from astonishing arrays of interest groups descend on Washington every year to lobby for special favors, major legislative ...