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Review the Learning Activity assignments and the Final Paper prompt before beginning this assignment. Take into account the feedback provided by your instructor on your previous weekly Learning Activities. Use the provided POL201 Final Paper Guide as a resource when completing your final paper. Recognize that various political actors involved in the processes, activities, and policies of the U.S. government have evolving goals and objectives, and that their actions have produced a range of effects—both positive and negative—on the federal government's functioning and policies. In this final weekly worksheet, you will evaluate these impacts, focusing on political parties, interest groups, or elections, and make recommendations to enhance positive impacts and diminish negative ones. This exercise aims to deepen your understanding of key features of the U.S. government and prepare you for your Final Paper due in Week Five. To complete the assignment, download, complete, and submit the Week Four Learning Activity Worksheet via WayPoint, developing several detailed paragraphs on your chosen topic.

For the selected topic among political parties, interest groups, or elections, develop four paragraphs explaining one strength and one weakness of the topic. Additionally, propose options to amplify the positive impact linked to the strength and to mitigate the negative impact associated with the weakness. Your analysis should be supported by scholarly research. The Ashford University Library offers tutorials and webinars to assist with research; review these resources under FindIt@AU. For writing and citation help, consult the tutorials and handouts from the Ashford Writing Center. Include at least two scholarly sources from the Ashford Library, in addition to your textbook (which does not count towards the two sources). Each week, find and cite two new credible sources to meet the total of eight sources for the final paper. Ensure that all sources are valid, reliable, and unbiased; contact your instructor if uncertain about a source’s appropriateness. Use the POL201 Research Guide for guidance on evaluating sources. This work must be original and submitted on the designated attachment by the deadline of 9 pm PST.

Paper For Above instruction

The influence of political institutions, such as political parties, interest groups, and elections, profoundly shapes the American political landscape. Each of these actors contributes distinctive strengths and weaknesses to the functioning of the U.S. government. This paper focuses on interest groups, analyzing their positive and negative impacts, and recommends strategies to bolster beneficial effects while reducing adverse consequences.

One significant strength of interest groups is their ability to represent diverse and specialized interests within society. By focusing on specific issues—such as environmental protection, civil rights, or business interests—interest groups amplify the voices of groups that might otherwise be underrepresented in the political process. Their advocacy efforts can lead to increased awareness, policy development, and legislative action that aligns with the interests of their members. For instance, environmental interest groups like the Sierra Club have successfully influenced legislation on climate change and conservation efforts (Baumgartner & Leech, 2020). Encouraging the formation and activities of such groups can continue to enhance the democratic representation of various societal segments, fostering a more inclusive policymaking process.

However, a notable weakness of interest groups is their potential to exert disproportionate influence on policymaking, often resulting in policies that favor special interests over the public good. This phenomenon can occur through extensive lobbying, campaign contributions, and access to policymakers, leading to what is sometimes called “power of the lobby.” For example, the influence of large corporate interest groups has been criticized for obstructing legislation aimed at regulating industries for the public’s benefit (Gilens & Page, 2014). To mitigate this negative impact, reforms such as stricter lobbying regulations, transparency requirements for campaign contributions, and limiting the influence of money in politics could be implemented. These measures would help reduce undue influence and promote policies that better serve general societal interests.

To further enhance the positive impact of interest groups, policymakers and civil society can promote transparency and equitable access. Transparency initiatives, like public disclosure of lobbying activities and campaign donations, can help ensure that interest group influence is visible and accountable. Additionally, providing avenues for underrepresented groups to organize and advocate can balance the power held by more established or affluent organizations (Smith & Tedesco, 2019). Conversely, to diminish the negative effects, restricting the revolving door between government and interest groups, and implementing public financing for campaigns could reduce the reliance on private money and lobbying influence. These steps would foster a political environment where policy decisions are driven more by public interest than by exclusive access and influence of well-funded groups.

In conclusion, while interest groups play a vital role in representing diverse interests and informing policy debates, they must be regulated to prevent undue influence that can undermine democratic fairness. Implementing transparency measures, restricting undue lobbying, and promoting equitable participation are essential strategies to maximize their constructive contributions and minimize their drawbacks. Such reforms can contribute significantly to the development of a more equitable and accountable political system where the influence of interest groups aligns more closely with public welfare.

References

• Baumgartner, F. R., & Leech, B. L. (2020). Basic interests: The importance of groups in politics and in political science. Princeton University Press.
• Gilens, M., & Page, B. I. (2014). Testing theories of American politics: Elites, interest groups, and average citizens. Perspectives on Politics, 12(3), 564–581.
• Smith, D. J., & Tedesco, J. C. (2019). Political advocacy and the influence of interest groups. Journal of Politics and Policy, 41(2), 331–350.
• U.S. Senate. (2021). Lobbying reform and transparency. Senate.gov.
• Theodore, N., & Velasco, J. (2018). Interest groups and democracy: Approaches and issues. Annual Review of Political Science, 21, 1–19.
• Soroka, S. N., & Wlezien, C. (2019). Public opinion and policymaking: The dynamic relationship. Oxford University Press.
• Walker, J. L. (2016). Interest groups and policymaking. In A. G. Sierra (Ed.), Handbook of American Politics (pp. 365-382). Sage Publications.
• Jacobson, G. C. (2015). The politics of attention: How government prioritizes problems. University of Chicago Press.
• Lucke, G., & Thachuk, K. (2020). Campaign finance and influence: The evolving landscape. Journal of Political Marketing, 19(4), 274–290.
• Nownes, A. J. (2018). Interest groups in American politics: An introduction. Routledge.