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 representing the needs of the people served by that drug company, and assume the competition was not as valuable or representative. However, the critical view would look at what the drug company really wants by altering policies, and if the decisions will enhance service and research, or really only enhance the company and its value to shareholders. After looking at the two different theories of interest groups, it seems, as interest groups have grown increasingly powerful, that the critical approach is the more valid and sensible of the two. The pluralist view assumes competition is good, the larger interest groups are the most valid, and that interest groups and their leaders represent a majority of the members in those groups. However,...
Critics take a narrower look at interest groups and their ultimate objectives, and so, seem to be able to see the groups more effectively and control them more efficiently. Thus, the critical view of interest groups seems to be the most valid and effective today.
Schlesinger defines a political party as a "group organized to gain control of government in the name of the group by winning election to public office" (1153). This is different to an interest group who wishes to influence public policy. A political party wants to control the government and therefore create policy. Additionally, the members of the political party are focused on winning an "election to public office" as the
Political Science Annotated Bibliography The Purpose of a Political Court In the view of Henry J. Abraham (Abraham 1998, 55), "theoretically," just about any qualified law school graduate with ambitions for an important judicial appointment would appear to have a fair chance at being nominated to the U.S. Supreme Court. That is providing, of course, the candidate is politically "available" and is, in Abraham's words, "acceptable to the executive, legislative, and private forces
During the last week of the Convention the delegates added a few refinements, raised some serious concerns, and discussed what they agreed to over the four months of deliberations. Mason expressed the wish that "the plan had been prefaced by a Bill of Rights." Elbridge Gerry supported Mason's unsuccessful attempt to attach a Bill of Rights. Randolph joined Mason and Gerry and declared that he too wouldn't sign the
The prevailing culture has its greatest effect in terms of the form of government accepted by the people. The American system of government was shaped to be different from the parliamentary system prevalent in England and in other countries of Europe. The most dominant form of government in Europe today is some form of parliamentary government with a prime minister generally chosen from the political party with the largest number
Political Science Inequality, Voting and American Democracy. The American political system has always prevented electoral participation by certain social groups, especially those with the fewest resources. The obstacles to participation have changed over time and today formal barriers to participation have largely disappeared. Nevertheless, voting turnout has declined over the twentieth century, and the poor and less educated continue to vote at a lower rate than those who are wealthier and
Political Science The United States Congress is the U.S. Government's Legislative Branch and is responsible for passing laws that affect Americans. Interest groups such as the U.S. movie industry try to influence Congress to pass laws that will be the best for their industry. In order to influence Congress, special interest groups use lobbyists to deal directly with Congressmen and persuade them. At the same time, other interest groups have lobbyists
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