Political Interest Groups and Presidential Elections
Within the United States and other democratic nations political interest groups are among "the most important institutions that define the character of the political system" (Thomas & Lynne, 3). Political interest groups are among other things a liaison between the public and government officials. Political interest groups often invest heavily in Presidential elections. Why? Ultimately political interest groups are interested in having their agenda pushed through during a given session. This means most political groups will do anything and everything necessary to get a candidate elected that sides with their interests. The electoral process as it stands now is set up to ensure a candidate is elected that will represent the interests and needs of the people. Because political interest groups represent the needs of certain groups of people within the US, they are an important aspect of most presidential campaigns. The Influence Of Interest Groups In Campaigns One example of a political interest group that recently influenced a presidential election is the case of the Swift Vets and POWs for Truth. This organization recently influenced the John Kerry and President Bush campaign. A nonprofit organization, th
Interest groups have helped shape presidential elections for decades. Only recently have candidates begun to realize the power interest groups may have over an election. Interest groups are an influential component of any election, but particularly presidential elections. Well financed and often more well known than political parties themselves, political interest groups are more and more becoming a powerful force in presidential, state and local elections. Benedict, Burbank & Hrebenar (1999) suggest that political groups including interest groups are "the essence of contemporary American politics" (p. 1). Political interest groups often are considered more powerful than political parties themselves, largely because of the influence they hold over ordinary people. Interest groups often also get more attention than formal political parties (Benedict, et. al, 1999). Part of interest groups strength lies in their lobbying power, which is the process of basically pressuring government agents to sway one way or another with respect to important legislation. Interest groups though always a part of electoral campaigns will likely continue to grow and influence future elections. In recent years the public and presidential candidate have continued to realize a growth not only in the number of groups but also the intensity of group activities and agendas (Benedict, et. al, 1999). A presidential candidate interested in winning an election should inform him or herself of the interest groups supporting his or her campaign and work to align agendas to help promote their overall success. Are interest groups vital to the livelihood of campaigns and elections? Yes. In the same way political parties influence politics so to do interest groups. Like political parties interest groups often help bridge communication between voters and the candidates (Andres, 1998). Political interest groups can be considered a glue that helps hold the very concept of democracy together, because they facilitate communication between citizens and government officials and ensure that all viewpoints are freely expressed, shared, argued and communicated. Interest groups participate in a variety of important parts of an
Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1493
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)
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