Interest Groups In Elections

Interest groups can be a private organization or a voluntary association, that try to influence public policy on its favor. There are two types of interest groups, there is private interests which is for interest of its members and there are public interests which is try to affect society. Lobbyists is a member of an interest group and it tries to influence the behavior of public officials. Lobbyists try to influence the legislative process by having bills in their favor passed and sop those that are against their objective, this is possible because they have or form personal relationships with senators or house Leaders. Lobbies usually donate money to campaigns in order to persuade candidates. A PAC or political action committee donates money

The PAC lobbies at a Federal level by endorsing candidates, speaking at political gatherings, and gathering petitions.

The influence and results demonstrated well- coordinated approach despite law regulations and restrictions. According to law, AIPAC is also prohibited to endorse particular candidates; however, AIPAC clearly decides on funding through private funds or PAC’s network. In order to avoid reference to AIPAC, political fundraising via numerous channels reaches the final goal: victory of a preferable candidate. Although direct lobbying is restricted under the US law, its existence represents a form of political action and a way of securing particular decision-making process. As such, lobbying is part of the US political process, with variety of special interest- groups advocating for their causes- the same way AIPAC does. Due to the sensitivity of

Democracy is the system of government where an entire population is represented through elected representatives. But there is a significant aspect in the US government that also acts as elected representatives which are in the form of interest groups. Interest groups are essentially a collection of people of organizations that tries to influence public policies. Just like the media and political parties, interest groups are one of the linkage institutions, linking the people to the government. The main role of interest groups in accordance to the government, is to mobilize the people. Ideally, an interest groups’ main goal is to ensure that a wide range of people and opinions are expressed in the democratic process. The significance of the

Political action committees (PACs) have gained influence throughout political history. However, their gain of influence does not play a role in their acceptance from political parties. People believe political action committees influence the legislature. Political action committees raise money for political campaigns and other political issues. As Elizabeth Drew said, “The process by which Congress is supposed to function have been distorted, if not overwhelmed, by the role of money. The ability of even the best of legislators to focus on broad questions, to act independently, or to lead has been seriously impaired.” This leads to people believing political action committees influence political official’s views on issues in the government. The increase in political action committees are said to influence and help the political officials that are going to run for office again, because they want to get more money from the political action committees for their next political campaign. However, the supporters of political action committees say they allow average citizens the right to let their voices be heard in the political process. Another argument political action committees express is the First Amendment. The people who support certain candidates believe that donating money is an act of Freedom of Speech. Still many people oppose them. There is a bipartisan consensus on the dislike of political action committees. It may be said that political action committees are a

or candidate? Today’s politics is being shaped by Super PACS and Interest groups, and we see this all the time in the elections happening. A Super PAC is a political committee that is organized to raise money to support their candidate so they can pull ahead in the polls, and spend money to oppose the other candidates. An interest group supports a certain side on a topic and a candidate for a position in government would find it beneficial to appeal to interest groups in order to gain supporters. Interest groups and Super PACs has changed the way we elect someone for their desired position. Some examples of interest groups are GLAAD, NRA, and PETA.These different Interest groups have nothing in common, besides the fact that everyone wants their support. A candidate can find good in appealing to certain topics to influence interest group help. The support given would definitely boost the votes and donations the candidate gets in order to ensure his win. It seems that a candidate can benefit from Interest groups just because of who the candidates know. This is seen as unfair or wrong, which I can personally see, but it does have its advantages. A couple examples of Super PACs are Commonsense Ten PAC, Patriot Majority, and Citizens for a Working America PAC. Politics is influenced by these PACs, which are either liberal or conservative, finding ways to raise money for a better chance to win. It is

Interest groups have long since been known to utilize the research available that benefits their specific cause consequently advancing an agenda unique to them. The National Center for Law and Economic Justice (NCLEJ) and the National Association for Health and Fitness (NAHF) are two such organizations. While both groups share a common interest for the welfare of Americans as a core value that each is deeply rooted in, they do not share the ideas as to whom specifically should benefit from aid or how said individuals would receive such assistance. These groups will need to overcome differences in order to effectively combat specific topics that are known for causing a dramatic effect on American society. One specific topic of increasing controversy

In our textbook, interest groups are described as ubiquitous, or like Santa Clause, because they are everywhere in American politics . Interest groups are organized groups that try to influence public policy on every level of government. Most people are against the idea of groups, even though most of us are members of interest groups whether we want to admit it or not.

Interest groups are groups of people who share the same views on public matters and work to shape public policy. Interest groups, sometimes called “pressure groups,” try to influence public policy. In doing so, they are more powerful than a few people acting alone could ever be. Interest groups are found everywhere in America and are involved with almost every level of government. The United States has many different cultures, religions, and ethnic groups. Members of these communities shape public policy both negatively and positively by joining or supporting an interest group. An interest group affects democracy in more negative way than a positive way most of the time depending on how you feel about the said group.( McClenaghan 242)

Define: Interest groups use this tactic to engage in activities which are aimed at bribing and influencing public officials to enact legislation to benefit their cause.

The act of lobbying can be beneficial to both the interest group and Congress, in some occasions. First, they provide important information on their targeted policy, giving Congress an expertise on policy areas they have to concern themselves with. Second, the groups can actually help politicians with strategies to get the legislation through. Members are able to confide in the interest group. Also, members of the group help a politician's campaign by telling he or she about what typical working people want and they may volunteer in the campaigning process. Lastly, groups can be influential in ideas and innovations.

As such they can band together to create the “wave” that brings about the change they are seeking. By working together to represent the collective views of the interest group, they can influence the government to create improvement(s) in the lives of the group members. This process of influencing the government is often referred to as lobbying. Interest groups will often hire a representative, or lobbyist, to lobby for the group. Each lobbyist is supposed to do their best to represent the interests of their interest group. This will eventually lead to a conflict of interests between lobbyists and interest groups. This leads to the issue facing democracy: how can everyone be equally represented and receive the change(s) they desire. The truth is, that is impossible. Not everyone can get what they want, for not everyone agrees on what should change and how. There are many conflicting views and opinions across lobbies and Americans as a

A method of participating in the electoral process that interest group make use of is publicly endorsing a candidate, and through the interest group’s political action committee, donating money to the candidate. The purpose of political action groups (PACs) is to collect and disperse money to political campaigns. Interest groups most commonly donate their funds to incumbent, people who currently hold office, because it is more likely that the incumbent will win as opposed to the challenger. An activity that interest groups also participate in is lobbying to shape public opinion. Lobbying is the process of sending a spokesperson of an interest group to a government official to communicate information regarding the interest groups opinion to

Interest groups are formed to influence policy within the levels of government by lobbying elected officials to vote for policies favored by the groups. The basic definition of an interest group is a “group of citizens who are organized and attempt to influence legislation so that it reflects their interest or policy goals” (Marion & Oliver, p. 281. 2012). Some groups focus only on a single issue, while others focus on larger areas of public policy. Some interest groups are created and dissolve over a period of a single election, while others have a long standing of influencing elections and public policy choices. Some choose to focus not only on government, but on persuading the public or other non-governmental organizations to support

Interest groups consists of individuals who share a common political goal and are united for the purpose of influencing government decisions to make up an organization. According to Walker (1983), “Interest Groups exert influence over legislators, bureaucrats, and the public” (p. 390). The goals of these groups are the represent the publics interest on certain topics. Interest groups survive off the common goals of the people and strive to represent their interest in way that will benefit the country and demonstrate the state American pluralism is in.