How Interest Groups Influence Legislation In The Government

Interest groups use several strategies to influence legislation in the government. The strategies interest groups implement differ based off financial resources, number of members, and types of members. One of the strategies used by interest groups is lobbying. Lobbying seeks to pass legislation or to influence implementation of legislation. Interest groups can use lobbyists at several stages of the legislative process. One implementation is lobbying congress directly, which, to be done effectively, has a few requirements. Lobbing congress directly first requires access to Congress, which can be through the form of a representative from a district or a direct relationship with a congressional member. This method also requires the utilization of language that is considered relevant to congress members to create a convincing argument supporting the interest group’s cause. This includes language surrounding job creation, job depletion, or gun control. A third stipulation in lobbying Congress is donations. An interest group has a significantly better chance of gaining support from a Congress member if the group has previously donated or will donate to a member of Congress.
A factor that would influence this form of lobbying to be used by an interest group is the size of the group, as well as its reputation and prominence. Large and prominent interest groups with significantly large voting memberships can utilize this form of lobbying. Morally salient causes can also use this, as well as interest groups that have the financial resources to fund campaign donations. The goal of the interest group is also important when deciding to lobby the President. This method is generally used for lobbying the President to veto or not veto a bill or to affect the implementation, or lack thereof, of a