Interest Groups and Public Policy

In the United States there are interest groups that form at a national and local level. These interest groups act as the voice of the American public in regards to public policy. There are three types of interest groups: public, economic, and environmental interest. These interest groups have goals to seek policy information on beliefs, commerce and ideals. Goals will vary from one group to another group. All groups use direct and indirect strategies to influence legislators. The American Culinary Federation represents a large number of culinary professionals of an interest group which represents it members in a local and national level.

Interest group is “a group of individuals organized to seek public policy influence, usually though not exclusively by attempting to influence government actors – masks an enormous amount of diversity among interest and interest groups” (Texas, 2011) Interest groups vary in size, age, resources, tactics, policy focus, ideological orientation, geographic focus, and tactics. The groups may have a public policy or a single issue. Some interest groups focus on government and getting public non-governmental organizations to support the interest groups objective. On a national level, interest groups represent units of the local and state government lobbying for their interest. These groups have an official role in the U.S. federal system that divides authority among local, state and national governments. “They present the views of their members to Congress and the administration and make the case for their positions in the media, while the National Governors Association and the National Conference of State Legislatures represent state officials” (Hays, n.d.).

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...g to fight child hunger. I belong to the American Culinary Federation which, I have been certified as Certified Executive Pastry Chef and I support the ACF’s beliefs!

Works Cited

ACF. (2008). Who We Are. Retrieved March 13, 2011, from www.acfchefs.org: http://www.acfchefs.org/Content/NavigationMenu2/About/Overview/default.htm

Hays, A. (n.d.). Democracy. Retrieved March 13, 2011, from www.alt.org: http://www.ait.org.tw/infousa/zhtw/DOCS/Demopaper/dmpaper9.html

Schmidt, S., Shelley II, M. C., & Bardes, B. A. (2011). American Government and Politics Today. In S. Schmidt, M. C. Shelley II, & B. A. Bardes, American Government and Politics Today (pp. 145-158). Boston: Wadsworth political Science.

Texas, U. o. (2011, March 13). Texas Politics. Retrieved March 13, 2011, from www.texaspolitics.laits.utexas.edu: http://texaspolitics.laits.utexas.edu/5_1_0.html