Role of Interest Groups in US Federal Government Policies

This essay identifies the role of interest groups in US political system and explains how they influence public policies of the US federal government. It provides examples of how interest groups have influenced US diplomatic relationships and domestic policies. The report is relevant and to the point.

Running Head: FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
Name of the Student:
Name of University:
Author Note:

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Interest groups play a significant role in the democratic politics. As a matter of fact, the
influence of the political groups are considered to be the part and parcel of democratic
foundation. Based on this understanding, this essay tries to identify the role of the interest
groups in US political system. Moreover, the essay is also care to explain the means through
which the political parties and interest groups are tried to influence the public policies of the US
federal government.
There are several instances in which the US government was compelled to deal with the
interest groups and it had a great impact on the change in the US policies as well. In his study
Gilens and Benjamin (568) argued that the interest groups in US was responsible for changing
the US diplomatic relationship with Iran. The containment policy maintained by the US
government towards Iran. The US government never interfered in the Iranian policy despite of
having a series of common interests. In case of the emergence of the radical groups like Hamas
and Hezbollah and Iran-Iran War both US and European power nexus remained silent. However,
enormous pressure from the political parties and the interest groups the US government had to
interfere into the diplomatic policy of Iran. During 1990s the domestic cry for taking adequate
steps to stop Iran from increasing its nuclear ambition pushed America to change its foreign
policy and make a stern move towards Iran.
In the domestic politics also the interest groups and the political parties played a
significant role in shaping the policies of the US government. For an instance, it can be opined
that the Obama government intended to put a ban on the private licensing of assault weapons that
was incorporated into the anti-gun violence program in US in 2016 (Gillin). This was a
repercussion due to the mass shooting at an elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut in
December, 2012 (Kopel). However, despite of all the efforts taken by the Obama government,

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the political parties and the interest groups imposed immense pressure on the government to
repeal the program. As a matter of fact, the US government was compelled to revoke the anti-
gun violence program and President Barrack Obama had to step away from the previous support
on gun ban (McGlinchey). It was purely an example of the pressure from the interest groups and
the political parties to influence the government policies.
There are other examples of influence of the political parties and the interest groups to
push the government in order to fulfil their interests. According to Kopel it can be argued that the
interest groups are to some extent influenced the government decision making and policy
procedure so that their interests will be met.
From the above discussion, it can be estimated that the role of the political parties and
interest groups are highly relevant in order to understand the US government’s change of policy.
In this context, the essay rightly highlights the relationship between the government decision
making and the interest groups through providing two examples. From that point of view the
report is quiet relevant and to the point.

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Reference
Gilens, Martin, and Benjamin I. Page. "Testing theories of American politics: Elites, interest
groups, and average citizens." Perspectives on politics 12.3 (2014): 564-581.
Gillin, Joshua. "Congress Blocked Obama's Call For New Gun Laws After Mass Sh". Politifact,
2017, https://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2017/jan/06/congress-blocked-obama-
call-gun-control-mass-shoot/. Accessed 28 Oct 2018.
Kopel, David. "President Obama Signs Three Constructive Gun
Measures". Washingtonpost.Com, 2015, https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/volokh-
conspiracy/wp/2015/12/10/president-obama-signs-three-constructive-gun-measures/?
noredirect=on&utm_term=.d50f6e89770a. Accessed 28 Oct 2018.
McGlinchey, Stephen. US arms policies towards the Shah's Iran. Routledge, 2014.