Interest Groups
An Interest-Groups is a formal organization of individuals or entities that attempt to influence Public-Policy to benefit specific causes or industries. Unlike Political-Parties, which focus on electing candidates to office, interest groups focus on influencing those already in power. As noted by Britannica, these groups are fundamental to the process of Representative-Democracy.
Types of Interest Groups
Groups are often categorized by their goals. Economic-Interest-Groups include Labor-Unions and trade associations like the U.S.-Chamber-of-Commerce. Public-Interest-Groups advocate for the collective good, such as the Sierra-Club for the environment or Common-Cause for government reform. Professional groups, such as the American-Bar-Association, represent specific vocations.
Strategies of Influence
The primary method of influence is Lobbying, which involves providing information to legislators. Groups also engage in Electioneering by providing financial support through Political-Action-Committees (PACs). The Supreme-Court case Citizens-United-v-FEC significantly expanded the ability of these groups to spend money on political communications, a shift detailed by The Federal Election Commission. Furthermore, groups use Litigation to challenge laws in court, often filing Amicus-Curiae briefs.
Theoretical Models
Political science offers three main theories regarding interest group influence: Pluralism, which views group competition as beneficial; Elitism, which suggests wealthy interests dominate; and Hyperpluralism, which argues that an excess of groups leads to gridlock. The concept of the Iron-Triangle explains the stable relationship between interest groups, Congressional-Committees, and the Bureaucracy.