Interest Groups Influence in Policy Making in the USA Paper Example

The main goal of interest groups is to influence the officials within the government to pass some of the favorable pieces of legislation that support their group's goals. In order to achieve this, the interest groups can either use direct or indirect strategies for lobbying (Jenkins, 233). One of the famous interest groups that influence policymaking in the United States of America is the IAPAC (American Israel Public Affairs Committee) (Guerlain, 372). The group is an official lobby that enhances the American-Israel relationship. The group pushes its agenda mostly in the U.S. Congress. The group has been recognized for many years as the second most effective lobby group in the Washington DC (The Israel Lobby Archive). The most effective being AARP. The group acts as a liaison between the U.S. Congress and the citizens of the U.S. on issues relating to Israel and the U.S. Like most other interests groups in the U.S., AIPAC is completely nonpartisan as it takes not particular stance as the political parties are concerned.

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In democratic systems, the interest groups represent the needs and aspirations of the public. As the opinions of every citizen cannot be heard, the interest groups can function as their channel through which they make their demands known to the policymakers and the others influencers of the policy-making process (Jenkins, 233). The interest groups also take part in some of the processes acceptable in the democracies such as agitations for rights through demonstrations. The interest groups use both indirect and direct strategies to influence policymaking. Some of the direct strategies include rating of government officials, use of lobbying techniques, offering campaign assistance and building alliances (Heaney, and Lorenz, 268). On the other, the interest groups can also use indirect strategies such as public protests and demonstrations, making use of constituents as lobbyists, and generating public pressure. An example of interest group influence is the referral relationship and political support that the energy companies had with President George W. Bush's administration (Lee Cochran, 295). The same companies changed tactics and used pressure relationship when it came to the President Obama administration.

Interest groups influence government policies by exploiting their relationship with the policymakers, among other strategies. When the issue of interest group influence on policymaking is viewed in overall, a hierarchy is noticed. For instance, at the top of the influence, the interest group maker policies. However, this is highly uncommon. What is most common is the fact that the interest groups maintain close contact with the policymakers (Lowery, 23). Another important way in which the interest groups influence policymaking is through exploiting their unchallengeable veto status over important decisions made within the government. For instance, the interest groups influence the presidential appointments as a way of making their voices heard. Again, despite the fact that the interest groups command some attention from the policymakers, they also use pressure relationships to push their agenda (Jenkins, 233). Alternatively, such interest groups are aware of the fact that they only have a potential reprisal relationship with the policymakers, hence it can use this to threaten any member of the Congress that he or she will not have their support in any of the elections that would follow (Heaney, and Lorenz, 275). At the bottom of the hierarchy, the interest groups may not have any other option but to resist and agitate for whatever they want to be included or excluded from the government policies. In a situation where an interest group fails to lobby, they may use demonstrations as a way of pushing their agenda.

Conclusion

In summary, interest groups use their influence in the government to fulfill their goals that can either be the goals of the citizens or the goals of their governments. The interest groups use both direct and indirect strategies in ensuring that they influence some of the favorable pieces of legislation that align to their interests or the interests of the people they represent. The interest groups have been successful in the U.S. as they have influenced various pieces of legislation in the President Bush's administration as well as in the President Obama's administration. Lastly, the fact that such interest groups have remained relevant up to date makes them some of the most important groups that influence the political landscape in the history of the United States of America.

Works Cited

Guerlain, Pierre. "The Israel Lobby, American Democracy and Foreign Perceptions of the USA." Journal of Public Affairs, vol 11, no. 4, 2011, pp. 372-381. Wiley, doi:10.1002/pa.387.

Heaney, Michael T, and Geoffrey M Lorenz. "Coalition Portfolios and Interest Group Influence over the Policy Process." Interest Groups & Advocacy, vol 2, no. 3, 2013, pp. 251-277. Springer Nature, doi:10.1057/iga.2013.7.

Jenkins, Shannon. "The Influence of Interest Groups on State Legislative Behavior." American Review of Politics, vol 32, 2011, p. 233. University Of Oklahoma Libraries, doi:10.15763/issn.2374-7781.2011.32.0.233-258.

Lee Cochran, Christopher. "Sources: Guide to Interest Groups and Lobbying in the United States." Reference & User Services Quarterly, vol 51, no. 3, 2012, pp. 294-295. American Library Association, doi:10.5860/rusq.51n3.294.

Lowery, David. "Lobbying Influence: Meaning, Measurement, and Missing." Interest Groups & Advocacy, vol 2, no. 1, 2013, pp. 1-26. Springer Nature, doi:10.1057/iga.2012.20.

The Israel Lobby Archive. "The American Israel Public Affairs Committee." Israellobby.Org, 2017, http://www.israellobby.org/AIPAC/default.asp. Accessed 23 Nov 2018.