Special Interest Groups

Paper Summary:

The paper discusses how different social and political factors help explain the proliferation of interest groups during certain specifically volatile periods of a nation's political life. The paper looks at the beginnings of Common Cause, a nonpartisan nonprofit advocacy organization founded in 1970. The paper relates that Common Cause is dedicated to fighting against the influence of special interest lobbying groups that use money to influence politicians to vote in ways that are antithetical to the needs of ordinary Americans.

From the Paper:

"An interest group is defined as any organization that seeks to influence public policy. Interest groups are rife within American politics because of the diversity of America, the democratic heritage of America, and the decline of a multiparty system within the United States political system. Interest groups do not, therefore, arise spontaneously or automatically out of natural social processes. Rather, different social and political factors help explain the proliferation of interest groups during certain specifically volatile periods of a nation's political life. "

Sample of Sources Used:

• "About Us." (2007). Common Cause. Retrieved 30 Jul 2007 athttp://www.commoncause.org/site/pp.asp?c=dkLNK1MQIwG&b=189955
• "Interest Groups." (2007). The Social Studies Help Center. Retrieved 30 Jul 2007 athttp://www.socialstudieshelp.com/APGOV_Interest_Groups.htm
• "Media & Democracy." (2007). Common Cause. Retrieved 30 Jul 2007 athttp://www.commoncause.org/site/pp.asp?c=dkLNK1MQIwG&b=191982

More papers on Special Interest Groups:

• Descriptive Essay # 111494 : "Special Interest Groups & The Political Lobbying Process"
• Essay # 64968 : "Money and Special Interest Groups"
• Analytical Essay # 70196 : "Special Interest and the Iraq War"

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