Interest Groups
It is commonly state that the President of the United States of America is one of the most powerful persons in the free world. However due to the restriction set by our constitution and a system of checks and balances, these powers are split between the Executive, Judicial and Legislative branches. The president being a part of the executive branch his/her main role is to approve or veto bills that have gone through the legislation introduction and voting process. With the veto process, congress have the ability to override the president’s decision to veto a bill, with two-thirds majority vote from members of the house or representatives and the senate. One other stipulation is if the president decides or do not respond to the bill proposal
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within 10 business days after it is received, the bill is automatically become a bill. As the president, “according to Article II, Sec. 3, of the U.S. Constitution he or she is required that from time to time give to Congress information of the State of the Union and recommend to their Consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient.” (Longley)This legislative agenda is normally sponsored by a lawmaker, in which can either be the president’s chief of staff, or other liaisons in Capitol Hill.
Even though we have house representatives that will bring ideas and issues to congress, there are also Interest groups, a group of people or organizations sharing a common goal who actively attempt to influence the government.
These interest groups help bridge the gap between citizens and the government and enable citizens to explain their views on policies to public officials. These groups would help provide public officials with detailed information that might be difficult to obtain, which in return help make policy choices better. Just as how there are checks and balances for the government, some interest groups serve as a check of public officials to make sure they are carrying out their duties responsibly. An interest group can lobby members of congress to act in the interest of the group. For example, “if the senate passes a bill opposed by the group, the groups lobbying efforts can shift to the House of Representatives. If the house passes the bill, the group can try to influence the new law’s application by lobbying the executive agency that is responsible for implementing the law. The group might even directly challenge the law in court or by filing a brief as a friend of the court.”(Sidlow & Henschen 128) There are a vast number of interest group and they all serve as a liaison for a specific topic that meet the needs for some if not most
Americans.
There is a huge disconnect with the public opinion and senators votes. An example would be with the unfortunate situation in Connecticut of the Sandy Hook Middle school massacre that took the lives of innocent children back in 2012. This was the turning point for most Americans, as according to CNN/ORC International poll released that week, “it indicated 86% of the public supported some form of background checks that are not currently required by law for gun sales, and an ABC News/Washington Post survey released Tuesday which indicated that 86% of Americans said they favored background checks for gun sales on the internet and at gun shows.” (Steinhauser) Although most Americans were in favor of the proposal for sticker gun control, which was backed by President Barrack Obama. The bill itself went down in flames, after the bill fell short by six votes.
The second amendment was passed by congress in 1789 which states; “A well-regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a Free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” The second amendment has been the most scrutinized and the most appealed amendment in the constitution. “It can be argued that on the one hand, some believe that the Amendment's phrase "the right of the people to keep and bear Arms" creates an individual constitutional right for citizens of the United States.” (“Second Amendment”) One example of an appeal is the Gun Show Background Check Act of 2013 to amends the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act to “require all firearm transfers at gun shows to involved a licensed dealer whom would keep records of the transfer, run background checks on the purchaser, and report all details of the transaction to the attorney general within 10 business days.”(S. 22 — 113th Congress)
within 10 business days after it is received, the bill is automatically become a bill. As the president, “according to Article II, Sec. 3, of the U.S. Constitution he or she is required that from time to time give to Congress information of the State of the Union and recommend to their Consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient.” (Longley)This legislative agenda is normally sponsored by a lawmaker, in which can either be the president’s chief of staff, or other liaisons in Capitol Hill.
Even though we have house representatives that will bring ideas and issues to congress, there are also Interest groups, a group of people or organizations sharing a common goal who actively attempt to influence the government.
These interest groups help bridge the gap between citizens and the government and enable citizens to explain their views on policies to public officials. These groups would help provide public officials with detailed information that might be difficult to obtain, which in return help make policy choices better. Just as how there are checks and balances for the government, some interest groups serve as a check of public officials to make sure they are carrying out their duties responsibly. An interest group can lobby members of congress to act in the interest of the group. For example, “if the senate passes a bill opposed by the group, the groups lobbying efforts can shift to the House of Representatives. If the house passes the bill, the group can try to influence the new law’s application by lobbying the executive agency that is responsible for implementing the law. The group might even directly challenge the law in court or by filing a brief as a friend of the court.”(Sidlow & Henschen 128) There are a vast number of interest group and they all serve as a liaison for a specific topic that meet the needs for some if not most
Americans.
There is a huge disconnect with the public opinion and senators votes. An example would be with the unfortunate situation in Connecticut of the Sandy Hook Middle school massacre that took the lives of innocent children back in 2012. This was the turning point for most Americans, as according to CNN/ORC International poll released that week, “it indicated 86% of the public supported some form of background checks that are not currently required by law for gun sales, and an ABC News/Washington Post survey released Tuesday which indicated that 86% of Americans said they favored background checks for gun sales on the internet and at gun shows.” (Steinhauser) Although most Americans were in favor of the proposal for sticker gun control, which was backed by President Barrack Obama. The bill itself went down in flames, after the bill fell short by six votes.
The second amendment was passed by congress in 1789 which states; “A well-regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a Free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” The second amendment has been the most scrutinized and the most appealed amendment in the constitution. “It can be argued that on the one hand, some believe that the Amendment's phrase "the right of the people to keep and bear Arms" creates an individual constitutional right for citizens of the United States.” (“Second Amendment”) One example of an appeal is the Gun Show Background Check Act of 2013 to amends the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act to “require all firearm transfers at gun shows to involved a licensed dealer whom would keep records of the transfer, run background checks on the purchaser, and report all details of the transaction to the attorney general within 10 business days.”(S. 22 — 113th Congress)