In addition, the critical approach requires both knowledge and reflection to come to an understanding of the interest group and its needs. Thus, the critical theory can provide a more balanced view of interest groups and what they really want. For example, in the pluralist theory, a major drug company winning Congressional support for its policies may be seen as representing the needs of all drug companies, and thus

Interest Groups and How Their Influence on Public Policy Interest Groups and their influence on public Policy Interest groups are clusters of people that come into existent to make stresses on government. The leading interest groups that are located in the United States are financial or occupational, but a range of other clusters -- philosophical, public interest, foreign policy, government itself, and ethnic, religious, and cultural -- have memberships that cut across

Interest Groups Seek Influence Public Policy Interest Groups Seek Influence Making Public Policy Define an interest group, with examples An interest group can be described as an association that is formally organized that is in pursuit of influencing public policy. The wider description, scholars using it increasingly, older contrasts with it, narrower ones, which are inclusive of private associations only that their formal organization is distinct like Italy's General Confederation of industry and

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

The top of the group would be contract lobbyists who have the most information about a particular part of the political process and have close connections with policymakers in that area. They are the most threatening of all the lobbyists because of their sheer influence. They are hired by specific interest groups to further their interests. They are sought for their knowledge in their own interest area. For example

Interest Groups A FORCE TO RECKON WITH Special Interest Groups An interest group, or a special interest group, is a group of concerned individuals who share common goals (JB-HDNP, 2012). They connect the public to lawmakers and vice versa. They try to sway public opinion, election, and public policy (JB-HDNP). Special interest groups make strong demands on the government (Magleby et al., 2010). These groups may be economic or occupational, ideological, public interest,