Interest Groups and Government Policies Essay Example for Free

affaire Groups and Government Policies Essay cheer root words answer communicate and legitimize government policies in several counsels. As instability is sure to attract semipolitical activity1, it also attracts divert groups to meddle in such political activity. When authentic government policies conflict with the precise sakes of these groups, they nooky call the attention of the government by dint of universal demonstrations or proclaims.They can also use mass media to inform the general state-supported about their views on certain government policies, thereby communicating not only their position on the issues involved scarce also the government policies being addressed. On the separate hand, when certain government policies support the interests of these groups, they can move on enhance the legitimacy of such policies by conducting a populace forum designed to increase the publics awareness on such policies, thereby gathering more public support.Even wit hout interest groups, communicating and legitimating government policies can still be achieved. For the most part, people can still forge themselves without holding a collective interest other than the inclination to either support or protest an brisk government constitution.Since a more developed country is most likely populated by more interest groups2, governments faced with the task of issuing specific policies in order to foster economic growth are most likely to face opposition from certain interest groups who oppose such policies. One example is when a government decides to issue a policy of free trade in response to the need of increasing the countrys trading activities so as to stimulate the economy.Interest groups opposing the government policy of free trade can stage demonstrations in public locations. Doing so can increase their chances of being heard by the government and, in consequence, compelling the government to typeset its policies accordingly. At the same ti me, these interest groups depart openly communicate to the public the reasons why they oppose the policy without forcing them to join their cause. At the least, public demonstrations serve the offer of informing the public and the government that a domain of the society opposes certain government policies.Mass media plays a see role in communicating the views of interest groups towards government policies. Since individuals interact with issues emphasized in media coverage3, there is reason to believe that interest groups can relate and influence public perception through mass media in general. Interest groups can publish their articles through paid newspaper column space on a specific date of issue that they olfactory modality will have a lasting and strong impression on readers.Interest groups opposing specific provisions in government policies on healthcare, for instance, can pay for a space in a major newspaper where they can state their reasons for opposing the provisions and the alternatives that can be done. The method will most likely reach a large part of the population due to the large circulation of a major newspaper, thereby informing a broad segment of the public.Television and piano tuner shows also erect avenues for interest groups to communicate to the public their position on government policies. For example, an interest group opposing the existing government policy on carbon emissions can either make a request to telecasting networks to provide them with a show where they can air their views or accept invitations for coverions or interviews on television. Whether or not these interest groups are fitted to convince the viewing public, it is likely that they are still fitted to communicate a portion of the substance of the government policy on carbon emissions.On the other hand, interest groups can also legitimize government policies, especially those that are aligned with their concerns. One way of achieving it is to conduct a publ ic forum where people can participate or simply bear in mind to discussions about the policies. For instance, interest groups can hold a public forum in the town dorm and discuss immediate concerns regarding the current government policy on immigration.With the immigration policy favoring their side, these interest groups can disseminate the information about the benefits of the policy which can eventually translate to more public support. Since the key principle is that the people is the source of the governments power, public discussions conducted by interest groups which are suitable to gather public support for government policies further legitimize such policies.The pressure of interest groups to their congressional Representatives can also legitimize government policies. Letters to Congressional Representatives coming from interest groups can help inform these exercises that a portion of their constituents are in support of a government policy that the representative may o r may not actually favor.Through such letters, interest groups can drop a pressure on their dissenting representatives to favor the government policy regardless of political affiliations. skin senses campaigns when taken together with letters to Congressional Representatives can add more weight to the support precondition to government policies, giving these representatives more reason to align their positions with the public perception.Nevertheless, government policies can be communicated or legitimized to a certain degree despite the absence of interest groups. Other ways to achieve the polish of communicating and legitimizing government policies include signature campaigns, public dialogue with government officials and infomercials sponsored by the government.Through the endeavor of a few individuals, signature campaigns can be launched in support of or opposition to certain government policies. Signature campaigns of this nature do not necessarily require the leadership of interest groups since cliquish individuals can also gather public signatures even without an affiliation to any specific interest group. The purpose is to simply gather signatures as many as possible without attempting to form a formal group out of the total number of participants.Public dialogue with government officials can also be a way to inform the public about government policies. The dialogue can be sponsored by the berth of the concerned government official or the local members of the community. Through dialogue, government officials are able to discuss in detail the purpose and nature of certain government policies. People are also prone the chance to ask relevant questions to the government official whose response can further inform the public. respiration infomercials over the television or radio is also a way for the government to communicate its policies to the public and to further show the legitimacy of such policies. Since an infomercial is basically a one-way typ e of communication, it can simply inform the public about government policies at best. Government policies communicated to the public through radio or television infomercials are already assumed to be legitimate the government is presumed to disseminate information about government policies that are lawful and approved by the concerned government agency.Despite the possible action of communicating and legitimating government policies in the absence of interest groups, it is better if interest groups are still able to challenge or reaffirm government policies especially when taken in the context of a parliamentary society. The presence of interest groups can indicate the health of the political activity in any country. In their absence, the legislature and the government in general may possibly overlook vital social and political concerns or abuse their power to create and enforce policies.BibliographyBischoff, Ivo. Determinants of the Increase in the Number of Interest Groups in W estern Democracies Theoretical Considerations and Evidence from 21 OECD Countries. Public Choice 114, no. 1/2 (2003) 197-218.Domke, David, Dhavan V. Shah, and Daniel B. Wackman. Rights and Morals, Issues, and view Integrity Insights into the Role of the News Media. Political Psychology 21, no. 4 (2000) 641-65.Levmore, Saul. Voting Paradoxes and Interest Groups. The ledger of Legal Studies 28, no. 2 (1999) 259-81.