Pros And Cons Of Interest Groups
Interest groups are one important mechanism through which citizens in the United States make their ideas, needs, and views known to elected officials. Citizens can usually find an interest group that focuses on their concerns, no matter how specialized they may be. Directories of American voluntary associations reveal the incredible variety of reasons why citizens band together.
However, interest groups generate a great deal of controversy. Some critics even blame interest groups for many of the problems in America. Other people, however, see interest groups as a vital component of the American democratic system.
Pluralism is the idea that democratic politics consists of various interest groups working against each other, balancing one another …show more content…
They argue that the interest groups interfere with democracy because they seek benefits for a minority of people rather than the greater good of the majority. The National Rifle Association, for example, has repeatedly blocked new gun control legislation despite the fact that a majority of Americans actually want stricter gun laws. Other critics argue that the interest group system is really effective only to economic interest groups, which have greater financial resources at their disposal. Nearly two-thirds of lobbyists in Washington represent economic groups. Critics also argue that interest groups tend to ignore the interests of the poor in favor of middle- and upper-class Americans, who have more time and money to …show more content…
One of the first measures regulating interest groups is a statute passed by the House of Representatives in 1857, which enabled news reporters to be excluded from sessions, if they were seeking to influence ongoing debates. In 1890, the first state lobbying law was passed in Massachusetts, and by 1946 most states had passed acts and regulations to limit lobbying activity. One of the milestones was the 'federal regulation of lobbying act' of 1946. This act, however, was not conceived to repress interest groups. Rather, it was assumed that cooperation with these groups was desirable and inevitable. According to this law, interest groups involved in congressional work have to register, name their employer, publicize their financial funding, and present a report every three months. This law has shown to provide some loops for groups, though, as it proved to be easy to avoid
However, interest groups generate a great deal of controversy. Some critics even blame interest groups for many of the problems in America. Other people, however, see interest groups as a vital component of the American democratic system.
Pluralism is the idea that democratic politics consists of various interest groups working against each other, balancing one another …show more content…
They argue that the interest groups interfere with democracy because they seek benefits for a minority of people rather than the greater good of the majority. The National Rifle Association, for example, has repeatedly blocked new gun control legislation despite the fact that a majority of Americans actually want stricter gun laws. Other critics argue that the interest group system is really effective only to economic interest groups, which have greater financial resources at their disposal. Nearly two-thirds of lobbyists in Washington represent economic groups. Critics also argue that interest groups tend to ignore the interests of the poor in favor of middle- and upper-class Americans, who have more time and money to …show more content…
One of the first measures regulating interest groups is a statute passed by the House of Representatives in 1857, which enabled news reporters to be excluded from sessions, if they were seeking to influence ongoing debates. In 1890, the first state lobbying law was passed in Massachusetts, and by 1946 most states had passed acts and regulations to limit lobbying activity. One of the milestones was the 'federal regulation of lobbying act' of 1946. This act, however, was not conceived to repress interest groups. Rather, it was assumed that cooperation with these groups was desirable and inevitable. According to this law, interest groups involved in congressional work have to register, name their employer, publicize their financial funding, and present a report every three months. This law has shown to provide some loops for groups, though, as it proved to be easy to avoid