Assignment #6

[Ebony Scott]

Read the document "Interest Groups 1" (you should have been e-mailed
a
link). Answer the following questions.


1. Is the thinking of the framers relevant to contemporary politics?
No back then the government had purpose which was to protect citizens
from the evil effects of factions and to have a fairly even government
where no one branch is higher than the other that way there would be
no dictators.

Does Madison have anything to say that resonates with the dynamics of
American politics in the twenty-first century? Madison stated that if
our government doesn't acknowledge the people self-interests that will
take away our (the peoples) political freedom, which will then cause a
revolt.


2. What is significant about the evolution in academic thought
regarding interest group activity that took place between Truman’s
The
Governmental Process and Dahl’s Who Governs? Interesr groups were look
at like politics...in order to have politics you had to have political
groups. So basically the interest groups represent the people of
America.
In Dahl view though interest groups are seen as the people of reason
and by that i am saying they are the problem solvers of politics the
reasonable people.

between the
rise of pluralism and the events of the 1960s? Are you a pluralist,
hyperplurasit or elite theorist? Why?

I am an Elite Theorist because I believe that the government sides
with the rich and simply do not listen to the poor. I believe that
interest groups are good in theory but I do not believe that the
government listen to them in reality. They take things they have to
say into consideration but do not really follow through with really
anything interest groups have to say. Basically I believe that
interest groups are not really going far.


3. With the increasing prevalence, political acumen, and practical
effectiveness of narrowly focused single issue interest groups, has
the time come for greater control on the behavior of citizens and the
activities of interest groups? Should groups, for example, be
required
to look at more than one issue, or should they be required to explain
how their positions and interests would benefit the nation? Are these
efforts to regulate groups’ behavior, and do they infringe on
individual or group freedoms?
I believe that interest groups should be able to look at more than
one issue at a time for one maybe issues would be fixed faster and two
the American people voices would actually be heard. I do not believe
they infringe on Individual freedoms nor group freedoms because you
are speaking for the american people therefore you have to tell the
people and you should tell them how a certain issue benefit us as
Americans if we fix the problem.


Truman


1. How does Truman define an interest group?

Truman define an interest group as "any group that, on the basis of
one or more shared attitudes, makes
certain claims upon other groups in the society for the
establishment,
maintenance, or enhancement of forms of behavior that are implied by
the shared attitudes."


2. What is the political role of the individual in Truman’s
analysis?
That an political role as an individual is weak but as a group role is
strong and will get things done.

3. What does Truman feel about the assertion that there is an
inclusive national or public interest?
Truman feels that there where always be groups that is for something
or against it and the inclusive or public interests can not really be
proven.


4. What are the major factors that determine the success of an
interest group in gaining access to government.
Major facotrs are how popular the group is, how strong their issue is
and how much do they relate to the American people.