Question

Hello,

I need to choose a special-interest group from the U.S. industry and examine their role in politics. Summarize your findings using at least 250 words and provide a minimum of one reference.

Answer 1

An interest group is an organisation whose members share common issues and attempt to influence policies of government that affect those issues.

An interest group is an organisation whose members share common issues and attempt to influence policies of government that affect those issues. Elected officials often complain about the influence of "unique interests" on American politics. However, the reality is that interest groups work intimately with representatives of Congress and the administration to draft legislation and policy projects, provide government and the public with data on a wide spectrum of topical problems and make a significant contribution to political campaigns.

Interest groups can be classified as to the groups that they represent. Examples of economic interest groups include the following:

• Big business (National Association of Manufacturers)
• Big unions (AFL-CIO)
• Trade associations concerned with a particular industry or segment of the economy (American Petroleum Institute)
• Organizations of professionals (American Medical Association)

The aim of these organizations is to safeguard their customers or members ' financial well-being. For example, the AMA has long opposed Medicare and the development of health maintenance organizations (HMOs) in favor of traditional fee-for-service as "socialized medicine."

The American Medical Association (AMA) represents physicians throughout the nation, encourages care norms, and publishes a number of medical journals. Traditionally, the association has endorsed Republican applicants, agreeing with the GOP on problems such as reform of medical abuse.