Influence of interest groups on the American legislature
We elect politicians on the basis on the issues by which they stand, and these issues are either held up or weakened by the numerous interest groups that exist today. Interest groups target both major and minor issues, using all of their resources to sponsor or overpower the groups’ concern. Interest groups are composed of a limited range of the body of voters who have a great stake in the issues their group support. They make evident the issues their group supports. Their resources are used in an attempt to make their issue public policy. Interest groups are persistent; they do not give up until they succeed. They lobby congress, take legal action, and attempt to influence election results in order to benefit their cause. ”The AARP monitors local and national legislation of interest to its members.”1 The AARP, an example of a non-PAC interest group, focus their efforts to electioneering and media. They influence the elections through their voter guides, election forums and the large senior voting population. Through television, radio, and periodicals the AARP is able to achieve many of their goals to aid retired persons.
In 1958, Dr. Ethel Percy Andrus, a retired educator, founded an organization dedicated to helping all persons over the age of 50.2 The organization, called the American Association for Retired Persons, or AARP, has grown over the years and reports to have 30 million and four thousand chapters nationwide.2 The AARP is unlike any other interest groups because it is a non-profit organization. Similarly to other interest groups, the AARP is a policy specialist that has a narrow view. Their three main policy goals are economic security for the elderly, affordable comprehensive health care for all, and improvements in the attitudes about the elderly in the workplace.4 Research on elderly needs and the economy, as well as a large volunteer network help the AARP influence thousands of potential members every year.5 The AARP is the oldest and largest interest group focused completely on senior citizens, using its numbers and resources to persuade policy makers for the benefit of the members of the organization.
The principle thrust of the AARP is to effectuate positive legislative action on the part of ...
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...g government is over.” While supporting the general consensus of the public, it opposes the ideals of the AARP. With republicans in control of congress, the AARP has come up against major resistance when attempting to pass legislation in their favor. Older citizens are no longer viewed as they were in the early half of the twentieth century, instead they are viewed as successful members of society that are no longer completely dependant on an outside organization for their welfare. Recently, the AARP has come under the scrutiny of the United States’ senate, led by Senator Alan K. Simpson, a republican from Wyoming.22 The senator has done this by questioning their status as a non-profit organization benefited by a tax exemption and unlimited lobbying privileges.23 In addition, Senator Simpson questions the non-partisan nature of the group, saying that “the organization imposes a policy agenda on an unwilling membership”.24 The AARP itself acknowledges that it is difficult to rally its members composed of such a great diversity of viewpoints.25 The AARP must find more innovative methods of reaching the electorate and to place themselves in to a position where they are above reproach
Interest groups, lobbyists, large corporations, and PACs try to influence the congressional committees' bills so they can have a say in the legislative process. When an interest group hears about a bill that is being debated on in a committee, they try to influence a members vote and they try to get a part of the bill changed. For example, a lobbyist came to me on a bill I proposed on making health care plans have no minimum requirement on benefits the company gives to its patients. He told me about how he did not get the right treatments and tests done on diseases he has and now is suffering badly from them. It was because the health plan did not have to give him anything extra. He changed my mind on the bill, and I changed the bill to setting a minimum standard on benefits given to patients.
Throughout the 20th century governmental responsibility has made remarkable progress. One major milestone of the widening of the responsibility of the federal government was it’s making an obligation to care for the elderly and retired in the form of social security. In 1935, the Social Security Act was enacted by the federal government to provide financial security to the elderly, retired citizens in America. Although the federal government first took on this responsibility in 1935, it is still affecting our lives today. However, social security would not have advanced this far without many organizations and individual reformers to begin and improve social security throughout history.
The federal government is responsible for the administration and financing of the Older Americans Act. All programs administered at the federal level are administered by the Administration on Aging (AoA), except for the title V community service senior opportunitie...
In 1965 the first Aging American’s Act was passed. This legislation was part of Lyndon Johnson’s Great Society reform. In passing this legislation nearly 50 years ago, the government created a new department the focused on the rights and needs of the gaining population called the United States Administration on Aging. The original legislation was complete with seven titles. The articles include Title I—the Declaration of Objectives for Older Americans; Title II—Establishment of Administration on aging; Title III—Grants for state and community programs on aging; Title IV—Activities for health and independence, and longevity; Title V—Community service senior opportunities act; Title VI—Grants for Native Americans; and Title VII—allotments for vulnerable elder rights protection activities. Each of these titles are present in the most recent Aging Americans Act Reauthorization Act of 2013. Each of the titles in the original and reauthorization have levels of measure to ensure that the legislation is enacted in a manner that will protect the aging population. The titles provide guidance to involved organizations and caregivers ensuring each is properly educated in treating the medical and mental health needs of the aging population as well as recognizing, reporting, and preventing elderly abuse, neglect, and physical, mental, and financial exploitation.
The Sadie Hawkins Dance originated from Sadie Hawkins Day, a day back in 1934 where if a woman was able to drag a man across the finish line before sundown, by law, he must marry her. The dance was the evening before the race, where the single women would try to stomp on the men’s feet in order to affect their ability to run. However, the entire story line of Sadie Hawkins Day was a plot device made by an Al Capp for two main characters, Abner and Daisy Mae.
Many residents in the United States receive healthcare through various forms, such as insurance’s, Medicaid or Medicare. Medicaid is health care for the low income including children, pregnant women, disabled, blind and elders (Adams). According to the Congressional Budget Office there are about 51 million people that are covered by Medicaid and also it the largest drain on state budgets (Adams). Most countries have some type of form of health care they provide, for example, Japan is a democratic country that provide health care, but is different from other countries. There are also many interest groups that either agree or disagree with expanding Medicaid. The New Hampshire (NH) Community Behavioral Health Association and the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) are two of the many interest groups that are in favor of expanding Medicaid’s spending, as well as RTI International. However, Ohio Right to Life and Cleveland Right to Life are interest groups that oppose the expansion of Medicaid.
These pluralistic interest groups are free to operate and lobby in the political arena, fighting against the majority and other competing factions for voice in Congress. With the influence of multiple factions operating throughout the political system, a balance of power is created (Kernell 2000, 429). This is much like the international theory of sovereign states balancing each other’s power to create a political system that focuses on stability, yet is always in a constant flux of power. With this in mind, special interest groups are constantly contending for power by raising money, campaigning, and lobbying in Congress. When a special interest group is threatened by a competing policy, the group will organize efforts to balance, or transcend the power of the competing group.
in society, thus came about his idea to form the AARP. The AARP is a nonprofit,
An interest group is a group of people that have organized for a purpose to promote a cause and influence policy by informing those that make the policy decisions. Indeed, these groups do not have the ability to make policies they do have the artful competence to influence policy makers (Teitelbaum & Wilensky, 2013). Some methods used to persuade these politicians are to initiate research that indicates support for the interest groups’ position. For example, an area of concern was a television ad concerning health reform in 1993, in which information was provided illustrating that certain suggestions should be rejected or reconsidered prior to becoming a policy (Teitelbaum & Wilensky, 2013). Many lobbyists are known to use actors to gain access to the politicians, such as Michael J Fox, when he lobbied for Parkinson’s’ disease. As the politicians’ time is in short supply, having short and specific information is vital to get the point across if the lobbyist has the ability to have access to the politician.
The framers of the U.S. constitution envisioned a balance on government power by granting citizens the right to participate and protest against government to change something or support it. This freedom that all Americans can enjoy to organize and express their view has given rise to the formation of numerous group of people with similar interest. An Interest group is a group of people that make policy related appeals to government to influence government policies and programs. Interest groups are sometimes referred to as “lobbies” (Interest Groups 245). Additionally, an Interest group allows citizens to participate in politics and raise their voices for policies that they care about all the time. Interest groups plays critical role in the democracy by representing the issues of citizens, educating them, and by allowing them to participate in American politics.
contributions that older adults make to civic society, and put undue stress on, and devalue
Prior to reading about “Aging in America”, I was aware of economic, long-term care, and health care concerns with “baby boomers” retiring over the next few decades. However, some of the actual statistics Squiers found were surprising, for instance there are approximately “75.9 million” adults in the baby boom generation (2005, p. 193) and the U.S. has the third largest population of seniors. Also informative was that the “baby boomers” will lose both Medicare and Social Security benefits due to there being “nearly twice as many boomers as there are current Medicare recipients” (Squiers, 2005, p. 193) and the funds will not be enough to cover the number of people aged 65 and older coming into retirement.
As I read through the chapter and glanced at the essay assignment, I began to realize how much I am truly missing in the world of politics. I quickly change the channel when someone is telling me how bad America is, that they don’t have the same chances as the next person, that by making sure we vote that things can change. Looking back I can remember in school the teachings about the Constitution, Our Founding Fathers, the American Revolution, Patriotism and what it took to achieve and the sacrifices of so many in the earlier decades to ensure our freedoms. Have I taken all this for granted because I choose not to vote or be a part of conversations involving politics? What brought me to the conclusions to not be a part of it all? I can’t recall
Interest groups are often a controversial topic when it comes to American politics because like a coin, there are two sides to the argument. On one side, people feel that interest groups have too much influence than the people in the government. On the other side, people feel interest groups are an effective voice for the people. No matter which side you are on, interest groups are a big part of the U.S government. Interest groups are effective because it provides the people direct access to their government.
America is a country where everyone is free to live however they like, but it is possible for some people to live a happy life, if no one is around to take care of them. Nearly three hundred million people reside in the America, and out of those three hundred million populations, senior citizens make a 12 percent of the entire population. A senior citizen is commonly known as a person who is over the age of 65 and living on retirement, or known as social security benefits (Census Bureau). Ever since Franklin D. Roosevelt implied the act of Social Security in 1935, seniors are regularly provided a financial help, but seniors, along with financial help, seeks also accompany of someone who can look after them. Because of constantly growing needs of senior citizens, government as well as many non-profit organizations is working on helping seniors. Therefore I decided to research on this particular issue in my community, and I found that 64.5% of seniors are living alone in metropolitan area of Atlanta.