Special Interests: Interest Groups
For politics to move swiftly and efficiently, it is not just the presidents/prime ministers, legislators, and the judiciary who mold and shape one’s government and political arena. There are also political actors, such as interest groups, which influences a nation’s politics whether in a positive light or in a controversial light. As of the present time, these interest groups influence as to how legislators and leaders of the administration take precedence as to how policies are made, how government funding is allocated, and how should government action be interpreted by specific sectors in society. While some often call these political actors nuances, these political actors represent the voice of the people often neglected and only spoken to once by the leaders of the government. Interest groups and their voice to some of the country’s greatest issues and controversies is important to sustain a country’s political sphere as disregarding them would likely turn the government to benefit only a few people.
According to Grigsby (2011), interest groups are individuals, organizations or institutions of similar opinion, interest, position and goal that have joined together to push for their political goals and influence leaders to support their position. The range of influence and pressure by these groups vary as some would pressure the government directly, while others will act separately from the government despite the need for their goals to be reformed in a public context. In addition to this, Welch, Gruhl, Rigdon and Thomas (2009) added that some interest groups are different in terms of their purpose and concentration. Some interest groups are transient, while others are permanent similar to political unions and organizations. A few would work on influencing or protesting against a particular program or policy, while some would push for general changes for a given sector. Interest groups also work with the executive and legislative branches, depending on the policies they wish to change or their advocacies that match the government. However, majority of these groups prefer working on a public forum as it gives them the freedom to expound on boundaries of discussion and address the general public.
Anyone could be a member of interest groups; however, this would depend on the criteria and type of interest group and the capacity of the interest group in question. In the case of interest groups, most of the known groups represent those from the business and upper class sector. Experts believe that the very reason why interest groups are mostly held and created by those from the upper class and business sector is because of the fact they are educated and familiar with the on-goings of politics. They are also capable of sustaining the interest group’s operations, which is why they are capable of utilizing immense power to their supporters. It is also noted that not all could maximize the full potential of interest groups as they tend to vary in perspective. Interest groups are broken down into different types, ranging from their varying affiliations to their political agenda and partnerships. According to Bardes, Schmidt and Shelley (2008), one of the major types of interest groups are those representing the economic sector. The two other types are known as public interest groups and single-issue groups. Foreign groups and organizations tend to make their own interest groups for the sake of their own political voice, but they also align on sector interest groups tend to follow.
Economic interest groups are groups that reflect various sectors of the complex American economy and society. Most of these groups tend to concentrate their actions and campaigns to influence Washington’s decision-making in issues regarding business, agriculture, labor, and even government officials and professionals. Business interest groups are those groups or trade/labor associations who work to represent their industries. One notable example to this is the US Chamber of Commerce, who acts as an umbrella group that represents business around the country. Some business interest groups also tend to be more influential than others given the nature of their members and their agenda. Some of the examples of these influential business interest groups are the US Chamber of Commerce, and the National Association of Manufacturers. In terms of agriculture interest groups, they tend to only represent 2% of the country’s population, but nonetheless, their position is often significant as they control the food sector, in terms of the prices, stocks and benefits. Agriculture business groups also tend to argue against policies that would pose restrictions to their livelihood. Some of the notable examples of agriculture interest groups are the American Farm Bureau and the National Farmers’ Union. In terms of labor, they represent the working force and are being represented mostly by the American Federation of Labor with the Congress of Industrial Organizations. Labor unions or interest groups argue against any policy or program that would hinder their membership to labor groups or to their benefits as workers .
Aside from business/economic related interest groups, there are also interest groups who work for the public interest. These public interest groups tend to work for causes that extends to other members or groups. One of the notable examples to these groups who work in general numbers is Amnesty International, as they lobby for the rights of political prisoners or exiles. These public interest groups are also divided: may they be working on multiple-issues or single issues. Multiple-issue groups address various issues such as racial and ethnic discrimination, women’s rights and LGBT rights. Some of the notable examples of these groups are the National Organization for Women and the Lambda Defense Fund. Religious groups can also be considered multiple-issue interest groups as they discuss various issues pertaining to religious teachings and position on various government topics. A prominent example of this religious group is the Christian Coalition. Environmental advocates are also a part of the multiple-issues interest groups as they handle issues on alternative energy, climate change policies and other environment-related activities of the country. Some of the notable examples are the Sierra Club, Greenpeace, and the Natural Resource Defense Council . Sidlow and Henschen (2008) explained that single-issue interest groups focus only on one particular issue pertaining to a range of topics, may it be just on a religious controversy or requirement. One notable example of these groups is the Mothers Against Drunk Driving, who concentrates on pushing for stiffer and powerful penalties on accused drunk drivers. Another example is the Right to Life organization which fights policies and programs against abortion.
When it comes to the differentiation between political parties and interest groups, many tend to become confused as to the nature of both groups. However, experts have noted that both groups are similar in some extent, but still different in operation and agenda. According to Nownes (2013) and Magstadt (2008), interest groups and political parties are similar in terms of its platform, agenda, and their political goals. However, political parties tend to influence the government directly by placing their members to particular positions in the executive, legislative and judiciary, including in high positions in various institutions and organizations. On the other hand, interest groups only try to influence the people who are in power by protests, and other schemes. The problem with this approach; however, means the government could turn away from the request of these groups and give favor to those from political parties and affiliations. While there are some interest groups that work actively with the public through national campaigns and sorties, there is still a high possibility that these groups would not be able to force reform to take place as they would not directly influence the government .
Interest groups also have a rocky relationship with political parties due to their differences. While both groups do share the goals and information pertaining to their agenda and reform proposals, they would eventually compete to gain political attention from the public. Both political parties work hand in hand come in time for election period or national debates. In one example, conservative interest groups such as the Club for Growth would push for the Republicans for the establishment of conservative political parties and projects. In turn, interest groups such as the AFL-CIO or the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, would support Democrats for the elections. However, by the time that these two groups would square off for support, interest groups tend to get more attention from the ordinary Americans than those of political parties. It had been noted by some studies that ordinary Americans tend to ignore politics, which makes it hard for political parties to sway the people to vote for them or listen to their campaigns. In the case of interest groups, they tend to sway more attention from the public as they are calling for programs and reform close to the life of the average American. Interest groups also tend to force political parties to nominate certain candidates or to compete for a position .
In Maisel and Berry’s review (2010), political parties and interest groups reflected a relationship that is also interrelated that they complete the other. According to Michael Heaney, a political expert on American politics, he noted that both political parties and groups have evolved in harmony with each other as they change depending on the other’s changes and developments. Political parties and interest groups also discipline each other in the sense the other dictates the policies and reforms they would try to enforce, as well as who would be representing either one of the groups. Their relationship, according to Heaney, is also a part of a brokerage deal as both groups would share their networks and associates and brings them together for an agreement. Finally, both groups share the same identity despite the instance of arguments and influence capacity. Both groups are established and share ideologies and ideas as to how they could bridge the gap on improving the problems needed in society . In this end, it is visible that while they argue regarding their political standpoint and their capacity, both groups play a vital role in influencing a country’s political standpoint and development.
Since interest groups tend to differ when it comes to their approach in influencing the Congress and the President when it comes to decisions, experts note that they use a number of strategies to make their efforts known and influence decisions and policies. One of the major methods used by interest groups is by direct lobbying, wherein interest groups would directly seek out political officials on meetings or caucuses and persuade them to support the goal and reform proposed by the interest group. Grigsby noted that the number of interest groups lobbying in the US government in any given moment would reach up to 13,000. When the Obama administration came into power, almost 4,000 lobbyists were installed by these groups for health care reform alone. Many experts firmly note that these groups and their appearance in Washington is not surprising, especially when it comes to sectors of great important such as healthcare. For direct lobbyists to succeed in meeting public officials, they tend to concentrate on a small number, whom they believe are front-runners in a given controversy or issue. Lobbyists must also be capable of digressing with public officials and establish close connections with those in high power. Some public officials also tend to lean towards the expertise of interest group lobbyists given their specialization on any given issue, which gives them a high advantage on making surefire decisions or policies if needed . Maisel and Brewer (2008) added that should an interest group wish to become politically involved with political reform and changes, they must register in Congress and to respective institutions as a lobbying organization. On the other hand, if they wish to just support a candidate for office or a position, they would need to make their own political action committees, tasked to handle contributions and plans to support the candidate in question. However, when it comes to political action committees, it would pose problems for those interest groups noted to be tax-exempt organizations. Once they come into active political campaigning, they may lose this status .
Interest groups can also use indirect strategies to influence public policy-making and programs. Geer, Schiller and Segal () added that interest groups also tend to influence all types of policies and decisions done by the Congress and the President by utilizing media campaigns, legal challenges and grassroots organizing. On one such instance wherein all three strategies are implied is the Health Care Reform Bill in 2009-2010. Interest groups such as the American Medical Association, and the Chamber of Commerce, worked hand in hand to showcase their opinions regarding regulations on doctors’ fee, insurance coverage and fees, as well as insurance premiums through campaigns and media sorties. In some instances, interest groups would even utilize networking to mail out fliers and newsletters to pass to the public as to what the government or a political party has done for the country. One example of a group that works on this style is the Americans for Democratic Action. They would send mailings to a specific list of people and persuade them to join their cause by outlining all their arguments regarding the issue. Some of them would even resort to advertisements and skits to call attention .
They may also use rating systems that would showcase to people as to how a legislator or group supported a bill . Some interest groups even push for litigation as noted by Dautrich and Yalof (2011). Interest groups would use the court to file lawsuits, complaints, or even arbitration to defend their rights and the policies they wish to push forward. One of the notable examples of groups who use courts for their cause is the ACLU or the American Civil Liberties Union as they tend to initiate lawsuits once the government tries to push for policies that would endanger individual civil liberties. In this end, they would use their funding, public support, and skills to use litigation as an effective means to influence both Congress/Senate and the President .
Interest groups are seen by some as nuisances as they tend to rally against the government or political parties that tend to show less interest in pushing for policies that would benefit their interest and protect their rights. Nonetheless, many would agree that without these groups, the common American or citizen would never have a chance on influencing the political framework of policy-making without these interest groups. On the one hand, these groups do not easily influence a country’s state of affairs easily given their nature and capacity. However, on the other hand, they try to make it a point to try coming up with both direct and indirect means to influence the government. Without these groups, it is indeed possible that policies would only benefit a few people and projects that could benefit each sector of a country would not be possible as there would be no voice to support and sustain these pleas.
Bibliography
Dautrich, K., & Yalof, D. (2011). American Government: Historical, Popular, and Global Perspectives. Boston: Cengage Learning.
Geer, J., Schiller, W., & Segal, J. (2011). Gateways to Democracy: An Introduction to American Government. Boston: Wadsworth.
Grigsby, E. (2012). Analyzing Politics: An Introduction to Political Science. Belmont: Cengage Learning.
Magstadt, T. (2008). Understanding Politics: Ideas, Institutions and Issues. Belmont: Cengage Learning.
Maisel, L. S., & Berry, J. (2010). The Oxford Handbook of American Political Parties and Interest Groups. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Maisel, L., & Brewer, M. (2008). Parties and Elections in America: The Electoral Process. Lanham: Rowman and Littlefield.
Nownes, A. (2013). Interest Groups in American Politics: Pressure and Power. New York: Routledge.
Schmidt, S., Shelley, M., & Bardes, B. (2008). American Government and Politics Today. Belmont: Cengage Learning.
Sidlow, E., & Henschen, B. (2008). America At Odds. Belmont: Wadsworth.
Welch, S., Gruhl, J., Rigdon, S., & Thomas, S. (2011). Understanding American Government. Boston: Wadsworth.
