Special Interests - Research Paper Example

 Special Interests Abstract This is a paper that aims at examining interest groups. The paper will explore interest groups and the ways in which they seek to influence the making of public policy. The paper will define what an interest group is and give examples of interest groups. Moreover, the paper will discuss how political parties and interest groups relate. Lastly, the paper will give an explanation of how interest groups strive to influence the President and the Congress as the two branches work together in the making of policies. Special Interests Definition of Interest Groups According to Grossman & Helpman (2002), interest groups refer to informally or formally organized organizations and associations of individuals who tend to share some common interests, which they represent to officials of the government. Interest groups can be formed for several reasons; first, they can be formed with the aim of celebrating some common heritage. Secondly, interest groups can be formed to shape a debate on policy, pursue a social or political agenda, or to strengthen a vocation or profession. A particularly well known interest group is the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Furthermore, interest groups can be regarded as institutions of linkage, especially because they tend to articulate the views shared by their supporters to policy making agencies. In some instances, interest groups can be referred to as lobbies, special interests, pressure groups, private interests, or organized interests. In any political system, there is the presence of interest groups. In the federal governments, interest groups tend to be active in the local, state, as well as the national level. Some interest groups may expand their operations beyond the domestic environment. Such groups have the ultimate aim of influencing decision making at the global and international level. The involvement of interest groups in diverse issues in the society makes them a strong political force in society. All interest groups have the desire to have an influence on the government policies, fulfill their causes, and benefit themselves in numerous ways. Examples of Interest Groups Over the years, various categories of interest groups have emerged. The categorization of interest groups depends on the nature and scope of the issues that the groups seek to address. Interest groups can be divided into two categories; one comprising of economic interest groups and the other consisting of noneconomic interest groups. Examples of interest groups include business groups, labor unions, intergovernmental groups, professional associations, and public interest groups (Ronald, 2004). Business Groups In American politics, business plays an essentially key role. Corporations have a profound impact on the running of the government as well as the conducting of elections. This is because key corporations can be regarded as crucial players in the economy of the United States of America. Business groups have become the most common interest groups; most registered lobbyists work on behalf of business organizations. In some circumstances, lobbyists may lobby for a single corporation. In other instances, business organizations may form associations with other businesses in the same industry to promote the interests of all the business organizations (Grossman & Helpman, 2002). Large corporations become members of many trade associations which represent the views of the entire industry in the political matters. Moreover, corporations may decide to support “umbrella” groups. These “umbrella” groups may include the U.S Chamber of Commerce and the National Association of Manufacturers which articulate the views of the entire business community. An example of an interest group that represents a certain industry includes the American Petroleum Institute, which works for oil companies (Wootton, 1985). Labor Unions Marot (2009) asserts that labor unions refer to interest groups which agitate for the rights of workers who undergo oppression from their employers. The main aim of labor groups is to fight for the increment of wages and salaries, and agitate for the improvement of working conditions of both unskilled and skilled workers. Since individual workers have remarkably little power and influence on their own, they bind together in labor unions. This way, they can exert significant influence on the employees. Labor unions emerged during the XVIII and XIX centuries. In the 1930s, labor unions gained a significant place in the political system of the United States. The fast growth of labor unions can be attributed to the National Labor Relations Act which enabled collective bargaining. In the 1950s, labor unions reached a membership peak of 35 percent; however, the membership in unions witnessed a profound decline during the 1960s. Currently, approximately 15 percent of the working population belongs to labor unions. The decline in union membership can be associated with the change in the nature of the global economy; in addition, the United States has shifted from manufacturing to a service-based economy. Nonetheless, labor unions still exert considerable pressure, especially when they focus on some issues such as elections (Marot, 2009). Intergovernmental groups Intergovernmental groups include a category of interest groups which represent the units of local and state government; they lobby for the interests of these groups at the national level. They work by representing their members’ interests to Congress and argue their positions through the media. The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) and the National Governors Association (NGA) play the role of representing officials of the state. For example, the NGA has been on the forefront in aiding members of Congress come up with a draft of social welfare legislation. Some foreign governments may also hire lobbyists who will represent their interests in the White House and Congress (Lowery & Holly, 2004). Professional associations Another significant example of interest group includes associations of professionals which promote standards of conduct, regulate practices, and set the rules for the profession. These associations also play the role of lobbying the government on issues, which relate to their profession. For instance, the American Medical Association fights against laws that tend to interfere with the autonomy of physicians. In addition, the National Education Association lobbies for policies that will be of profound benefits to both teachers and students. The federal and state laws restrict such groups from partisan activities. These associations have to testify before Congress on matters that affect their programs; they also rally their members to engage in talks with representatives from their districts and states (Ronald, 2004). Public interest groups This interest group gained prominence during the 1970s and can be referred to as a group which supports goals that do not directly benefit its members. The goals represented by public interest group express values which affect the entire society. The emergence of the first public interest groups was triggered by the onset of the environmental movements, women’s rights movement, and civil rights movements during the 1960s. Over time, proponents of these movements underwent evolution which altered the way they expressed their views from street protests to organized mass action within the political arena (Goldstein, 1999). These groups advanced to address issues such as rights of the disabled, gay and lesbian rights, domestic violence, as well as child abuse. Public interest groups have also advocated for programs that benefit the poor in society. The relationship between interest groups and political parties According to Lowery & Holly (2004), interest groups have a close and strong relationship with political parties in a number of ways. First, interest groups and political parties tend to co-evolve with one another. The two came into being with the ultimate aim of dealing with the inadequacies that prevailed due to poor leadership. The growth, decline and change in the form of interest groups tend to be in line with the changes witnessed in political parties. The second relationship and similarity between parties and groups is that the two entities have made attempts to instill discipline in each other. Groups assess the electoral process and influence the candidates who will represent the political parties in Congress. Similarly, political parties tend to exert pressure on interest groups to support the agendas of the parties in the public domain. Thirdly, political parties and interest groups can be regarded as central brokers within each other’s networks, as well as between other actors in the policy making process. Interest groups may play the role of bringing together actors in rival parties or even separate such actors. Political parties tend to support the cause of interest groups by keeping them in influential positions (Figueiredo & Rui, 2002). At the same time, political parties may exclude some interest groups in the policy and decision making processes. There tends to be some competition and cooperation between political parties and interest groups. For instance, groups and parties may engage in competition and cooperation in order to intervene between lawmakers and citizens. The other relationship between parties and groups is that the two entities serve the purpose of fashioning interlinked political identities for both organizations and individuals. Political identities emanate from partisan alignments, ideological alignments, as well as committed group membership. For instance, a strong bond exists between the Democratic Party and organized labor. Similarly, there are strong bonds between the Republican Party and Christian conservatives. These bonds serve the purpose of reinforcing, creating, and breaking down the royalties in groups and parties. As such, the study of groups calls for the study of political parties and vice Versa (Lowery & Holly, 2004). Interest groups have a significant role in offering knowledge regarding various subject matters. They have an influence in politics for they act as the source of legislative writing and litigation, which influence politicians. Since politicians aim at pleasing the masses, they tend to take the opinions and ideas generated by interest groups seriously (Wootton, 1985). How interest groups try to influence the president and Congress According to Goldstein (1999), interest groups have a considerable impact in the policy making process; moreover, these groups exert notable influence on the congress and the president in numerous ways. In the recent past, interest groups have coordinated with administrative agencies in the policy making process. Some interest groups represent the interests and the plight of only a few people. For instance, they may corrupt congressional leaders through giving them well paying jobs after the end of their terms. Interest groups tend to lobby the government by maintaining contacts with the Congress and the members of the executive regarding information on the impact of the proposed legislation. Interest groups may also take part in electoral activities with an aim of having those who support their cause reelected. For example, interest groups may give money to the members of Congress, and endorse some issues and some candidates, or even conduct some activities at the grassroots level. Interest groups may participate in the issues of Congress through activities such as congressional hearings. For instance, they may send an official or a member of the group to testify. Moreover, they may send some written comments to the committee or engage in both activities. In the making of public policy, interest groups have a stake in endorsing the best policies, which favor majority of the citizens (Figueiredo & Rui, 2002). In conclusion, interest groups refer to formally or informally organized associations of people who have similar interests. Interest groups are formed to fulfill a number of purposes and aspirations of the group members or the general public. Examples of interest groups include business groups, intergovernmental organizations, labor unions, and professional associations. There is a strong relationship between interest groups and political parties; these groups tend to have a profound impact on the political processes such as the electoral process. Interest groups also play an essential role of representing public interests in the policy making process. References Figueiredo, J. M., & Rui, J. P. (2002). “The Allocation of Resources by Interest Groups: Lobbying, Litigation, and Administrative Regulation.” Business and Politics, Vol. 4, No.2, pp. 161-181. Goldstein, K. M. (1999). Interest Groups, Lobbying, and Participation in America. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Grossman, G. M., & Helpman, E. (2002). Interest Groups and Trade Policy. New Jersey: Princeton University Press. Lowery, D., & Holly, B. (2004). Organized Interests and American Government. New York: McGraw Hill. Marot, H. (2009). American Labor Unions. New York: BiblioBazaar. Ronald, J. H. (2004). Interest Group Politics. Pennsylvania: Penn State University Press. Wootton, G. (1985). Interest groups: policy and politics in America. London: Prentice-Hall. Read More