...Relationship between interest groups and government: Bangladesh perspective in the light of FBCCI, BGMEA and DCCI Introduction Interest group, also called special interest group or pressure group, any association of individuals or organizations, usually formally organized, that, on the basis of one or more shared concerns, attempts to influence public policy in its favor. All interest groups share a desire to affect government policy to benefit themselves or their causes. Their goal could be a policy that exclusively benefits group members or one segment of society (e.g., government subsidies for farmers) or a policy that advances a broader public purpose (e.g., improving air quality). They attempt to achieve their goals by lobbying—that is, by attempting to bring pressure to bear on policy makers to gain policy outcomes in their favor. Interest groups are a natural outgrowth of the communities of interest that exist in all societies, from narrow groups such as the Japan Eraser Manufacturers Association to broad groups such as the American (AFL–CIO) and to even broader organizations such as the military. Politics and interests are inseparable. Interests are a prevalent, permanent, and essential aspect of all political systems—democratic, authoritarian, and totalitarian regimes alike. Definition According to Wikipedia, ‘The term interest group refers to virtually any voluntary association that seeks to publicly promote and create advantages for its cause. It applies...
Words: 2215 - Pages: 9
...Define an interest group with examples. Interest group – usually a voluntary organization where members share a common interest in which they seek to influence public policy, without seeking political control. They have primary activities such as lobbying the members of the legislative bodies through contributions to political parties, trying to elect sympathetic or pliable politicians, and by conducting covert or open propaganda campaigns. (Interest Groups, n.d.) There are a few different types of interest groups and they are as follows: Economic Interest Groups This is the largest category that includes organizations that represent big businesses, such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), as well as big labor – the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organization (AFL-CIO) and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. (Types of Interest Groups, 2012) Public Interest Groups These groups usually do not expect to profit directly from policy changes. These groups gain financially by getting donations from individuals and foundations that support their activities. Groups such as Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), League of Women Voters, and Common Cause belong with the public interest groups. (Types of Interest Groups, 2012) Government Interest Groups Even with the structure of the federal system, it does not surprise us that there are organizations to bring issues of local and state government before...
Words: 1529 - Pages: 7
...Running Header: Special Interest Special Interest Jermall Cuffee Professor: Dr. Jane El-Yacoubi POL 110 03/03/13 So, when the election is all over. What can the average American do to stay involved in the political arena and not have to wait for the next election? There is one significant way of influencing American government and that is through an Interest Group. Interest Groups also known as advocacy groups, lobbying groups or special interest, are in place to persuade or prevent changes in public policies. They exist for the solemn purpose of conveying the views and defending the interest of a part of society to public officials. There are all types of interest groups in America from animal rights groups to public interest groups to citizen groups. Interest groups get there start when James Madison developed the theme in “The Federalists (No. 10). In it he discussed factions, which was his term for interest groups and Madison believed that will always have diverse interest especially when it comes to economic circumstances and property ownership. Even though interest groups can be found deeply rooted in many different traditions and cultures such as Germany, they are common threads that can be observed in the development of interest groups mostly in Western industrial societies. There are about four phases in which the development of interest groups can be viewed. In what is called the first phase or the preindustrial phase beginning in the 1830s to the 1870s, there...
Words: 2073 - Pages: 9
...2: Special Interests What Are Special Interests Groups Special interest groups are often referred to as pressure groups, single issue groups, vested interest groups, lobbyist and several other titles. Through there are many names they essentially are all the same meaning; “An organization of people or a “letterhead” organization, sharing a common goal that seeks to influence the making of public policy” (Wilson, 2009, pp. 141). There is a lot of debate as to the negative and practical aspects of interest groups. Interest groups come in forms of Unions, Economic groups, Ideology groups, Social Policy groups or Public interest groups. They exclusively are engaged to influence the president and congress by promoting what values enforced by the government. Interest groups play a vital role in shaping public policies. They are one of four linkage groups which also include the media, elections and campaigns as well as political parties. These groups keep the citizens connected to the government. James Madison explains in Federalist #10 that public views are refined and enhanced "by passing them through the medium of a chosen body of citizens, whose wisdom may discern the true interest of their country..." (Independance Hall, 2008). This was written in the essence of how to mitigate the effects of particular interest groups. It is hard to know what he would think of this design today. Impact on Government in the Creation of Public Policy Special interest groups can have negative...
Words: 2034 - Pages: 9
...Abstract Developing countries seeking to build their economy commonly look to attracting multi-national corporations (MNCs) through low cost labor and lucrative tax incentives plans in the hopes of creating a mutually benefiting relationship between both parties. However bringing in these outside businesses poses a legitimate threat to elite special interest groups already existing and thriving in the current economic state. MNCs must due their due diligence when selecting a potential host country and then determine the best strategy to deal with these groups in order to mitigate as much risk as possible. Contents Abstract ……………2. Contents……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 3 Intorduction 4 Literature Review 6 MNCs must determine the political environment 6 Why elite special interest groups exist 8 Strategies for dealing with elite special interest groups 9 Corupption………………………………………………………………………… 9 Assisting host government in creating a functioning economy………………… 11 Methodology 12 Conclusion 12 References 16 Multi-National Corporation’s Strategies for Special Interest Groups within a Host Country Research of developing countries has shown that economic growth is closely correlated to its cash flows and the quickest way for developing countries to increase those cash flows is through attracting new businesses. Technology has played a major role in the globalization of business and has made it much easier for corporations...
Words: 4358 - Pages: 18
...Political Parties vs. Interest Groups In the United States we have two types of linkage institutions. A linkage institution is a group of people trying to connect the public and the government. One of the linkage institutions present in the U.S. are interest groups. Interest groups are groups of people who share common objectives. Their sole purpose is to influence the policymakers. The second linkage institution present in the U.S. is political parties. Political parties are an ongoing coalition of individuals who organize to win elections, operate the government, and determine policy. Their sole purpose is to become the policymakers. With these two linkage institutions come many advantages in both their favors. For one, interest groups...
Words: 411 - Pages: 2
...Special Interest Shavonne Holman Professor Steven Holeman, Sr. POL110 March 2, 2013 Define an interest group, with examples. An interest group is an organization whose members share common concerns and try to influence government policies affecting these concerns. Interest groups are also known as lobbies; lobbying is one of the ways interest groups shape legislation and bring the views of their constituents to the attention of decision-makers. A great example of an interest group would be The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) which has about 32 million members. Interest groups are organizations that seek to influence the decisions of government. According to Truman, interest groups can be defined as groups that, based on one or more shared attitudes, engage in influencing political decision-making, in order to successfully implement certain political goals or values (Truman, 1993). They usually, but not always, are formally organized. The relation between interest groups and government and society is an affirmative one, although groups may at times employ destructive methods in order to accomplish their goals. The existing social order is accepted by interest groups, and governmental power and its institutions are utilized to attain advantages, protect members and to fight political opponents (Truman, 1993). Two kinds of organizations: Institutional Interest and Membership Interest. Institutional Interest are individuals or organizations representing...
Words: 1926 - Pages: 8
...Branches of Government The Founding Fathers envisioned that the Legislative Branch would be the most powerful branch when they drafted the Constitution because they wanted to prevent a country run by a dictator. They outlined the delegated powers in Article I for the Legislative Branch that includes: the authority to declare war, raise an army, levies taxes, provide for common defense, make new or change laws and so on. The Legislative Branch is empowered to create new laws “deemed necessary” as cited in the Necessary and Proper Clause sometimes referred to as the Elastic Clause. The Necessary and Proper Clause gives Congress the power "To make all Laws which shah be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution" Congress's other powers...
Words: 1358 - Pages: 6
...Interest group systems are entities that define the nature of connections between interest groups and the government policy making system. The study of interest groups can be categorized into three prominent schools of thought, pluralist, neocorporarist, and controlled. These three interest group systems differ from each other by their group to societal interest ratio, type of membership and member commitment, organizational structure, and connection/relationship with the government. The pluralist interest group system defines how interests are organized and how they participate in the process. Democracy is viewed as a marketplace where individuals, political parties, and interest group have primary influence over public domains. Further,...
Words: 278 - Pages: 2
...2011-12-13 United States Government Political parties & interests groups Political Parties * American political parties do not have clear programs, regular members, annual meetings, party leaders don’t decide who will run for election, etc. – the ideology of American parties is not very distinctive – they are electoral machines – they help people get elected to Congress and help us organize our thinking. * Political parties have existed since the first decade of the new government’s existence. Americans have always had ambivalent feelings about them. * Parties are necessary, and they perform vital functions, they are crucial institutions when it comes to organizing competition when it comes to elections, structuring the thinking of the society. If they help us distinguish various political sides, we can start identifying with them (liberal, conservative) * Ad-hoc coalitions – built in order to pass a specific bill. Party functions: * Organize the competition * Unify the electorate * Inspire and inform voters * Translate preferences into policy * Provide loyal opposition * Organize Government * Help Govern * Act as Watchdogs * Nominate Candidates * Ensure Candidate Quality * Winner takes all election system – if you have to be big to win, it makes no sense for small parties to function. * Party systems – Multiparty and Two Party System. * Minor parties: Persistence and Frustration * American parties...
Words: 1802 - Pages: 8
...Lobbyist and interest groups have a huge impact in law making. These people try to lure political officials to change their opinion on votes that would benefit these interest groups. These people use money to take these political officials out for dinner and to buy them gifts. Based on government laws this practice is not illegal and it is only legal when the house or the senate is not in session. But overall “lobbyist are salespeople hired to persuade decision makers in the Legislature and in the agencies of the executive branch” (Ramsey 2). There are not many restrictions on interest groups or lobbyist are doing. These interest groups invest millions of dollars into these lobbyist to persuade government officials to get their vote on certain...
Words: 611 - Pages: 3
...Lia Ballard Texas Government Prof. Eck Question 1 Constitutional government began in Texas under Mexican rule. During the Texas Revolution, delegates met for the Convention of 1836 to hastily draft a new constitution for the fledgling Republic of Texas. Faced with the threat of imminent Mexican attack, they incorporated large sections of the United States Constitution along with some Mexican law this constitution was put in place to survive the Mexican assault on Texas while still under Mexican control. This constitution was a compromise of the United States beliefs of freedom with Mexico’s ideals of having Texas land under its control instead of the United States’. The constitution was also a way to break away from Mexico while still technically under its government. Nine years later, Texas was able to take more care when drafting its first state constitution because of the Mexican defeat. Adopted just before annexation, the Constitution of 1845 set forth Texas law in a simple and straightforward manner. Constitutional scholars consider it to have been one of the best state constitutions in the country at the time of state constitutions being birthed. In 1861, when Texas seceded from the Union, this constitution was amended to transfer Texas statehood from the United States of America to the Confederacy. After many years and many rewrites of the Constitution, the Constitution of 1876 was created and is still in place. A convention was called in 1875 after a failed attempt...
Words: 1044 - Pages: 5
...In the United States we have a government that has strong leader that represent our country. We has a country have many opportunites to vote for who ever we want in office. Our country has been through many changes and have suffered from changes that have been made. But we still try to keep a strong government and hope that are leaders are leading this country well. However we have do have tendance to compete on who we want to run our country. During election time our leadership meets every year to talk about who they think will be a good fit for the senate and president. They will sit back and analyze all resumes that come in office. Once the people are approved for the running of the position then things start to flow. One of the key topics that every person in office talks about is policy and ways to support many programs. This is where the interest groups fall in place during the run for senate or president. What is a Interest Group According to www.learner.org, an interest group are any organization of people with policy goals who work within the political process to promote such goals. Interest groups try to influence every branch and every level of government. Interest groups may also support candidates for office but they do not run their own slate of candidates. Interest groups are often policy specialists. Interest groups attempt to influence policy in various ways by either Lobbying Government, Engaging in election activities, Educating various publics and Mobilizing...
Words: 1554 - Pages: 7
...MODELS FOR POLICY ANALYSIS INSTITUTIONALISM: POLICY AS INSTITUTIONAL OUTPUT Government institutions have long been a central focus of political science. Public policy is authoritatively determined, implemented, and enforced by these institutions. Therelationship between public policy and government institutions is very close. Strictly speaking, a policy does not become a public policy until it is adopted, implemented, and enforced by some government institution. Government institutions give public policy three distinctive characteristics. •First, government lends legitimacy to policies. Government policies are generally regarded as legal obligations that command the loyalty of citizens. •Second government policies involve universality. Only government policies extend to all people in a society; the policies of other groups or organizations reach only a part of the society. •Finally, government monopolizes coercion in society, only government can legitimately imprison violators of its policies. The impact of institutional arrangements on public policy is an empirical question that deserves investigation. Federalism recognizes that both the national government and the state governments derive independent legal authority from their own citizens. PROCESS: POLICY AS POLITICAL ACTIVITY Today political processes and behaviors are a central focus of political science. Political scientists with an interest in policy have grouped various activities according to their relationship with...
Words: 1479 - Pages: 6
...Define an interest group, with examples. Interest groups defined as organized group of people who share common attitudes and interests, and try to influence policy by shaping public opinion, opposing or supporting candidates, and influencing the decisions of government officials. Interest groups seek to represent the views and difficulties of their members. Interest groups known as lobbies; lobbying is one way in which interest groups form legislature and represent the views of their voters to the attention of decision-makers. Many interest groups headquarters are in Washington, D.C. this allows access to legislatures and policymakers. Interest groups can be assembled into several broad categories; Economic, Public, Government, Religious, Civil rights, Ideological, Single-issue....
Words: 571 - Pages: 3
