Question

Interest groups are groups of people with a shared interest or characteristic who attempt to influence government to promote their shared interest. A variety of different types of interest groups exist. For example, economic groups can be a collection of small businesses, such as the Small Business Association of America, or a union, such as the California Faculty Association. Your constitutional right to engage in interest group activity can be found in the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which reads: “Congress shall make no law...abridging…the right of the people to peacefully assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” Concurrently, James Madison was quite weary of the power of business interest groups and suggested that restraints be placed upon the mischiefs of faction. Today interest groups have grown significantly due to the decision in Citizens United. Are interest groups good or bad for democracy? Defend and explain your answer.

Answer 1

An interest group refers to a group which tries to safeguard and promotes the interests of its members. It is not a political group seeking to capture political power, though it may have a political character of its own. An interest group can be defined as an association of persons with a common economic interest who try to influence government judicial decisions. For example, The Trade Unions, Minority groups, Farmers groups, Women groups etc. Sometimes it is also observed that at the time of elections the candidates who are standing for the office accept monetary gains from the interest groups. In my opinion, in the interest of the general public, candidates should refrain from accepting monetary gains from the interest groups. The existing literature demonstrates that the businesses with the most to gain from favourable public policy engage in the most and make campaign contributions or lobby politicians. Rather the government should engage more to help facilitate civic engagement that will allow people to feel more connected to the political and social community.

But largely interest groups contribute to the proper functioning of democracy. These interests groups are also called pressure groups as they pursue their political goals through lobbying. They distribute persuasive literature and launch public campaigns to build grass root support for their political objectives. They also provide legislators with a useful flow of information considering the interest of democracy.