Special Interests Groups ca also be defined as interest group, pressure group or advocacy group.

By
definition they can be defined as an association of organizations, individuals of industry that receives or
seeks benefits or privileged treatment through legislations (Special- interest group, n.d). They are usually
formally organized based on several shared concerns with the aim of influencing public policy to benefit
their causes or themselves. They exist in society for a variety of special interests including but not
limited to gun rights, gay marriages, work place conditions and hate crimes. The primary focus of this
paper is to discuss how special interests acquire power and how the operate within society focusing on
California as the Case study. Finger, L. K. (2019) proposes the two faces of power model which stipulates
that power rests in the interest group’s ability to set agenda and the other power being invested in the
group’s engagement with legislators. Other factors that give power to interests groups include size,
leadership, cohesiveness and resources (Elements of Successful Interest Groups, 2021). Access to
financial resources is important in influencing policy (Access to money). The most significant interest
groups are in mainly in Agriculture, Business and economy, Education, energy and environment, health,
labor, law enforcement, legal, public interest and political reform, recreation and transportation and
social issues.

A special interest group operates through having shared interest with people with similar ideologies
whereby they advance knowledge and create awareness in a specific area in learning or technology
where members cooperate with one another to produce solutions through communication, meetings
and conferences. These groups attract supporters through lobbying, polls, publicity stunts, media
campaigns, research, polls and policy briefings. Interest groups use both legitimate and illegitimate
tactics to advance their interests. Aitken et al (1989) states that these groups organize meetings, make
advertisements, draft letters to editors and interview spokespersons on contemporary affair programs
on radio and television. They design public activities to attract attention of the public and the media.
Byrt (1990) also states that these groups use tactics such as testimonies in hearings, indirect and direct
contacts with officials, helping in implementation of policies, assisting in drafting legislation, electoral
campaigns and public endorsements of candidates. Interest groups offer people the opportunity for
participation. People who join an interest group willingly do so due to the expressive benefits. People
who join the interest groups have an opportunity to express the moral or ideologies ideals they believe
in. These include civil rights, speech, political equality or economic justice. These groups work to further
both elite and mass goals. However mass based interest groups have less independent influence on
policies in comparison to economic elites and groups representing business interests. Theories suggest a
high prevalence of elite domination and biased pluralism (Maximo, 2014).

Most of the interest groups seek to influence government policy by establishing direct contacts with
governmental leaders or lawmakers and lobbying. Lobbyists are usually former governmental officials
have contacts in the Congress and the executive branch and know the intricacies of policies in
Washington. Interest groups provide support through campaigns for legislators who favor their policies
and sometimes motivate the group’s members to win party organizations posts. Interest groups urger
their members to vote for candidates who support the group’s views. Therefore, organizations may have
special interest groups which are based on the basis of logic of interest group membership and
participation. In fact, members pay dues, donate their time and money to join the group in expressing
their values. Interest groups may take an indirect approach to gain power in influencing policy agenda
by staging protests to disrupt ongoing activities, generating larger member base and putting extra
pressure on those that oppose the interest group. They can also influence and affect decision making
through consultants and lawyers or communicating with government officials. These groups’ power is
mainly referent, coercive and expert power.

In my opinion, Special interest in California is somewhat detrimental. This is because the groups’ focuses
on their own goals and concerns which in turn undermines the role of constituents in the legislative
decision-making process. However, though there is good reason to believe that interest groups have
detrimental effects on public good. Interest groups play a significant role in policymaking. Without the
expertise of the interest groups, public policy in California will suffer since a significant number of
senators and assembly members each session have less experience with the institutional process and
issues before the legislature. I believe that the advantages of these groups outweigh their advantages.

References

Finger, L. K. (2019). Interest group influence and the two faces of power. American Politics
Research, 47(4), 852-886.

Courses.lumenlearning.com. 2021. Elements of Successful Interest Groups | Boundless Political Science.

Byrt, W.J. Business and Government in Australia; Macmillan Company of Australia: South Melbourne,
Australia, 1990.

Aitken, D.; Jinks, B.; Warhurst, J. Australian Political Institutions, 4th ed.; Longman Oleshire: South
Melbourne, Australia, 1989.

Maximino, M. (2014). The influence of elites, interest groups and average voters on American politics.