The Influence Of Interest Groups On American Politics

It is evident that interest groups have more of an influence than a citizen’s ability to

Dating back many decades, it appears that lobbying and politics have always gone hand and hand on any political stage. Lobbying has always had a strong presence in the legislation system. Lobbying is the process of offering campaign contributions, bribes, or information to policymakers for the purpose of achieving favorable policy outcomes. Conventional wisdom suggests that lobbying is the preferred mean for exerting political influence in rich countries and corruption in poor countries. The legislation is meant to benefit society and ensure that citizens are having their voices heard, instead of hindering them in favour of the multi-national corporations. Lobbying has a negative influence on legislations in both developed and developing

Interest groups have a lot of influence over decision that the government makes and has made. These groups, when formed right, are highly organized and have a definite agenda they are trying to push that is important to them. Interest groups will lobby in congress as well as other levels of government to get new laws and regulations passed.

Limiting interest group is like cutting off the blood that flows through America’s vein. Interest groups plays a pivotal role in todays U.S society ranging from but not limited to; helping Congress and the administration to draft legislation and policy initiatives, provide information both to government and the public on a broad range of topical issues, and contribute significantly to political

AARP, American Association of Retired Persons, is considered by Human Events as one of the most powerful lobbies. Many websites state that the focus of AARP is not the seniors, nut the money involved. The tactics the AARP are considered “scare tactics.” American Association of Retired Persons used scare tactics by scaring the seniors into thinking their Medicare benefits were going to be taken away from them by congress without their support. Obamacare was highly supported by the members of AARP, why? The AARP convinced its members without Obamacare their Medicare would be reduced. However, this was not the case, it did not protect Medicare benefits, and it actually cut 500 million each year.

They have lobbied for the recent drug coverage that the government offered to help older Americans pay for their prescription drugs (AARP website, n.d.). In addition, they have helped to advocate the Older Americans Act, which allows the older Americans to have continued established programs, such as Meals on Wheels, to help with the aging population. Lastly, they have even helped the older Americans who are of same sex relationships understand how this will affect their benefits in Social Security and Medicare. AARP has evolved to include the issues that the public is most concerned about, thus making them a relevant and strong special interest group to help lobby the United States Congress on possibly new health policy

Recently, the AARP has come under scrutiny of the United States Senate, led by Senator Alan K. Simpson, a republican from Wyoming. The senator questions the AARP’s status as a non-profit organization benefited by a tax exemption and unlimited lobbying privileges. In addition,

The American Association for Retired people, or AARP, is a nonprofit organization that includes just under 40 million members. AARP protects the elderly from financial abuse by supporting health care, employment, and income security (AARP Mission 2107). A woman named Dr. Ethel Percy Andrus was inspired to create the AARP in 1958 after the first Interest Group she started, the National Retired Teachers Association, had outgrown itself. Andrus’ passion to start these groups came from what she called her, “philosophy of productive aging.” In the 40s and 50s, the main problem for elderly people was getting health insurance (AARP History 2010). Rising medical costs were ruining their lives. Under her first organization, Dr. Andrus searched for

Sometimes a lobbyist can only get a couple minutes of their time, so the lobbyist must be prepared to make what they are going to say to persuade them fast. Lobbyist usually provide arguments, confirmation, and research to maintain their group situations. Many government officials don’t have time to research the issues themselves, so they depend on the information that interest groups and lobbyists provide to keep them informed and up to speed. Even though persuasion is a very important part of lobbying, interest groups also provide some material incentives to government officials. Also, what wealthy interest groups usually do is contribute to campaigns, and run advertisements to reach their goal. Another useful method interest groups use to accomplish what they want is boycotting, or declining to purchase an organizations

I agree with Massura’s statement that today, most politicians are fame- and power-addicted. Once politicians are voted into office, they have to strike a balance to conform to the concerns for their constituents but also try not to alienate too many people for fear of not getting reelected. Lobbyist groups provide candidates with the most of the money for reelection campaigns that a politician considers when making important decisions. They are put in positions of honor and esteem and often feel above the law because of their positions. Unfortunately, many politicians fall to unethical lifestyles and get caught up in the glory of the position rather than sticking to the campaign platforms that allowed them to be elected in the first place.

Parties are not mentioned in the U.S. Constitution, they are vital to the function of the electoral system in the states. Parties organize opposition by recruiting and nominating candidates, act as opposition powerless, unify electorate, and provide government and people linkage.(Magleby 55)

Says Grossmann on page 3, “interest groups often play a central role in setting the government agenda…[and] are often found to have a substantial impact on policy outcomes.” Many political candidates from both sides of the partisan aisle have run on a platform of neutralizing the force of special interests in Washington, and this illuminates why that’s an important issue. Special interests lobby because they have something to gain from the result of the policy, or those they represent do. It’s not always a nefarious intention, but the parochial nature of special interests is in conflict with policy that affects the American public at large, and those interests often win out because they wield power over lawmakers at the national, state and local

Once known as the American Association of Retired People, AARP is one of the most powerful political lobbies in Washington. Congress of Democrats with close ties with Washington, DC, and the state capital to exert enormous political influence. That year the federal government and not-for-profit corporation that take tens of millions of dollars in grants to not-for-profit registered charity millions of dollars to license the brand of AARP. AARP reported $ 994 million in 2008 revenue and more than $ 10 billion assets. AARP will lobby heavily on health care reform, approved by more radical measures favored by the Democratic leadership in the House of Representatives in November. AARP It and health care reform,

Political parties and interest groups play important roles in government. These groups have similarities and differences that I will be approaching, after identifying the function of each group. Their aims, interests, policies and goals are what distinguish them apart.

The Influence of Pressure Groups on the Government This essay will outline the significance to which pressure groups have an influence on government and explain how they have fared under New Labour governments. Whilst the term ‘pressure groups’ may be relatively new, the concept itself dates back as far as 1787. The Society for Effecting the Abolition of the Slave Trade was led by William Wilberforce and Thomas Clarkson and successfully campaigned for the abolition of the slave trade.