management - response
dall3al7ob
_week_2-__website-_kelly_.docKelly
Influence of interest groups on public policy
One way interest groups influence public policy is simply with the reputation their group (or members) displays. There are many different ways this can be done but typically these are institutional groups such as the church (178). This website is an article is about the interest group, House Committee on Energy and Commerce and their hand in a victory in court against the Clean Air Act. Although there is some conflict in this article as whether or not these lobbyists’ actions were ethical, it shows that well known lobbyists can have great influence on decision making. These men made it a point to have their prestigious law firms posted on the briefs they prepared, a way of trying to show their influence to the cause. Peters describes this as “their actions are legitimated through the prestige of the institution” (178).
This website has the remarks by President Obama about the Disclose Act. This act would force corporate political advertisers to disclose where they get their funding during the time when their special interests were campaigning. Although this is generally not about the process of public policy I felt like it is a good example of limiting interest groups of their influence and to what extent the limit has impact. Peters discusses this idea when he states how important access to the political process and influence is to interest groups and when limited conflict between the two can arise (170-171). Ideas of corporatism are also within this example. Corporatism restricts the number on interest groups involved in the policy process (171).
http://www.c-span.org/video/?65467-1/policy-media-strategies (Links to an external site.)
One of the most powerful ways interest groups influence public policy is going straight to the public. Interest groups go out to neighborhoods and businesses or hold forums to spread the word on the topic at hand. Another popular way with interest groups to reach the public is with marches. Protests are also used by interest groups to get their point across. These actions are in Peters’ book where he states that things causing conflict, such as the possibility with protests or marches, are what will bring light to policy needs and potential solutions (174-175). The website is a video on C-Span on how interest groups and politicians try to get support from the public.
