Interest Groups and Legislation, Essay Example

An interest group refers to a group tightly or loosely organized, but determined to prevent or encourage public policy changes without standing as aspirants seeking elective positions. The terms lobbying group, advocacy group, special interest and pressure group also refer to interest group. There has been a concern across US that interest groups have influenced the American politics a lot (Gerber, 2011, p.38). This notion, however, is never a consensus among researchers and journalist. However, the actions of lobbyists have some influence on legislation.

Interest groups fund quite a number of politicians’ campaigns. These groups have concerns to push for adoption of certain legislation through congress (Bardes et al, 2008, p.179). The president and congress, on the other hand, rely on the support of the interest groups during elections. Special interest groups are so strong that they can organize voters against or for a politician. Still, there are special interest groups, which can have material input into the manner of writing certain legislative laws or bills.

There is an argument that the reason of interest groups influencing politics is to gain some access to the legislators and thus influence legislation through them (Little & Ogle, 2006, p.96). Their donations to fund campaigns are not equal to buying votes but to seek access. However, I feel that interest groups should not have so many points to access the legislators. Pressure groups should play a neutral point in politics and campaigning. The law recognizes them, and they have a right to sue congress if congress does anything contrary to the law. Their active playing of the campaign is not satisfactory because it leads to a lot of embezzlement, which is undesirable to the economy. There are many interest groups and their dividing in favor of different candidates for elective positions distorts their role.

References

Gerber, E., R.  (2011). The Populist Paradox: Interest Group Influence and the Promise of Direct Legislation. Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press.

Bardes,  A., B., Schmidt  W.,  S. & Shelley  C., M. (2008) .American Government and Politics Today. Belmont, CA: Cengage Learning.

Little,  H.,  T. & Ogle, B.,  David. (2006). The Legislative Branch Of State Government: People, Process, And Politics. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-CLIO.