Question

Given the inherent limitations of the vote as a means of expressing what citizens want

the government to do, how well do interest groups fill in the gaps in our representation? In what ways do interest groups make the United States more democratic? In what ways do interest groups make the United States less democratic? All told, are interest groups good or bad for our democracy?

Answer 1

Interest groups provide an important outlet for political participation for individuals. Protests by the Tea Party, for instance, gave people across the country the opportunity to speak out against government actions and power. The Occupy Wall Street campaign also gave a voice to those people who were upset with economic inequality and the impact of large corporations on the media.

Interest groups are also working to get problems on the agenda of government and track a number of government programs. After the passage of the ACA, the implementation of the legislation was tracked by various interest groups, seeking to use successes and failures to explain their arguments for and against the law. Opponents used the court system to threaten to change or abolish the legislation, and pressured executive agencies or entities that play a role in enforcing the law.

Interest groups provide opportunities for people to engage more civically. Socio-economic status is a major indicator of who is likely to join classes. There has been a dramatic increase in the number and styles of groups actively campaigning to get what they want from government. Many business and public interest groups have emerged, and many new interests have developed as a result of advances in technology, increased industry specialization, and interest fragmentation. In recent years, lobbying has also become more sophisticated, and many interests are now hiring lobbying companies to represent them.

Elected officials also talk about the effect on American politics of "special interests." Nonetheless, the truth is that interest groups work closely with Congress members and the administration to draft legislation and policy initiatives, provide information on a wide range of topical issues to both the government and the public, and make a significant contribution to political campaigns. Over recent years, the number of interest groups has increased dramatically, and it is hard to think of a section of American society that is not covered by one.

On the positive side, it can be argued that our democracy is enhanced by interest groups. They enable people to get input on issues they really care about. We allow the criticism to be brought to the attention of politicians all the time, not just at the time of the election. We are pushing for more democracy in these respects.
On the negative side, it can be argued that our democracy is being weakened by interest groups. We help create the impression of bribery at least because we contribute money to politicians. These also help the rich to have more influence than ordinary people because they are using money to gain access to political officials.