The Interest group connection: electioneering, lobbying, and policymaking in Washington

Abstract

Organized interest groups - sometimes referred to as special interests or factions - have always played an important role in American politics. They organize constituencies, helping to protect their rights, defending their interests and giving them a voice in politics. Without organized interests many workers, business leaders and issues advocates would feel that they had no influence on the political process. Interest groups help connect Americans to their government. The connections established by these interest groups are myriad and complex, reflecting the interplay of group goals, resources and structures. These complexities require interest groups to alter their strategies and tactics in response to changing institutional arrangements and political realities. By facilitating political representation and participation, the interest group connection makes an important contribution to American democracy. The chapters of this book focus on contemporary interest group activities in Washington DC at a time of change. The authors explore the electoral, congressional, executive and judicial connections initiated by organized interest groups and examine the impact on interest group activity of the Republican takeover of Congress and the Democratic takeover of the White House.