The Goal Of This Assignment Is To Familiarize Students With

The Goal Of This Assignment Is To Familiarize Students With Interest G

The goal of this assignment is to familiarize students with interest groups. Please follow the steps below to complete your assignment. Select an interest group (AARP, AHIP, Coalition for Health Services Research, Emergency Nurses Association, Pharma) Discuss how they are pushing their agenda (i.e., mechanisms used to influence policy makers), key obstacles, and spending (consult the Center for Responsible Politics, Investigate the interest group’s website and review their position statements, testimony, and consult media reports to obtain more information on the group’s lobbying efforts. Submission Requirements: Presentation is original work and logically organized. Followed current APA format including citation of references. PowerPoint presentation with 5-8 slides were clear and easy to read. Speaker notes expanded upon and clarified content on the slides. Incorporate a minimum of 4 current (published within the last five years) scholarly journal articles or primary legal sources (statutes, court opinions) within your work. Journal articles and books should be referenced according to current APA style.

Paper For Above instruction

Interest groups play a significant role in shaping public policy and government decisions in the United States. They organize individuals and organizations to influence legislation and public opinion, often employing various strategies and tactics to advance their agendas. For this assignment, I have selected the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), a prominent interest group dedicated to advocating for the interests of older Americans.

AARP employs multiple mechanisms to influence policymakers, including lobbying, grassroots mobilization, public advocacy campaigns, and research dissemination. Lobbying remains a central strategy, where representatives meet with legislators and government officials to advocate for policies aligned with their mission. AARP also leverages grassroots activities by mobilizing its millions of members through campaigns, petitions, and community events to generate public pressure on lawmakers. Furthermore, AARP publishes research reports, policy briefs, and position statements to inform both the public and policymakers about issues affecting seniors, such as healthcare, Social Security, and retirement security.

The group faces several key obstacles in its advocacy efforts. One significant obstacle is the polarized political climate, which can hinder bipartisan support for proposed policies favored by AARP. Additionally, competing interest groups and industry lobbyists, especially those from the healthcare and insurance sectors, challenge AARP’s positions and funding. Public skepticism and misinformation about aging and healthcare policies also pose hurdles, requiring AARP to engage in extensive public education and outreach.

In terms of spending, AARP invests substantial resources into lobbying efforts, grassroots mobilization, and public relations campaigns. According to the Center for Responsive Politics, AARP's lobbying expenditures reach millions annually, reflecting its strategic focus on influencing healthcare and social policy. Their financial commitment is evident in their extensive outreach activities, advertising campaigns, and policy advocacy initiatives.

The effectiveness of AARP’s influence can be observed in its tangible policy wins, such as the preservation of Social Security benefits and the expansion of Medicare coverage. Their strategic alliances with legislators and advocacy on critical issues have contributed significantly to policy outcomes that benefit older Americans.

In conclusion, AARP exemplifies a powerful interest group employing multiple mechanisms—lobbying, grassroots activism, and research—to shape public policy. Despite obstacles like political polarization and opposition from other interest groups, their substantial financial and organizational resources enable them to continue advocating effectively for the interests of older adults.

References

1. Berry, J. M. (2020). Lobbying and Policy Change: Who Wins, Who Loses, and Why. University of Chicago Press.
2. Center for Responsive Politics. (2023). AARP. https://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/aarp
3. Federal Election Commission. (2022). AARP advocacy expenditures. https://www.fec.gov
4. Ginsberg, R. (2018). Interest Group Power and Representation. Annual Review of Political Science, 21, 287–307.
5. Hojnacki, M., & Kimball, D. C. (2021). Organized Interests and Health Policy: The Impact of Interest Group Advocacy on the Affordable Care Act. Journal of Health Politics, Policy and Law, 46(2), 217–245.
6. Walker, J. L. (2017). The Leaning Tower of Interest Groups. In Interest Groups and Democratic Governance (pp. 157-181). Routledge.
7. Wilkinson, M., & Thorson, E. (2019). Advocacy and Influence in Health Policy. Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, 38(2), 457–481.
8. Yale, J. (2019). Social Movements and Interest Groups in Health Policy. Journal of Social Policy, 48(1), 187–205.
9. Zahariadis, N. (2020). Ambiguity and Organization in Policy Analysis. Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory, 30(1), 58–76.
10. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2022). Medicare Program Data. https://www.cms.gov