Lobby Groups
In this comparison between David B. Truman and V.O. Key, Jr.’s views on lobby groups they have different interpretations on role and interaction of these groups in government. In a democratic system there is bound to be resentment and desire for change because it is impossible to satisfy everybody. Truman and Key describe how those individuals try to be recognized while forming groups for “strength in numbers”. In the comparison of interest and pressure groups it is apparent that although they created resentment in the inner layers of government, they were necessary to the development and progress of the political system.
According to David B. Truman in the excerpt from The Governmental Process he demonstrates the need, influence and the importance of containment of lobby groups. Although lobby groups are separated into organized groups and unofficial groups, he considers them both equally important and dangerous interest groups. Through his writings he also demonstrates his opinion that political parties are only a large form of an interest group. Political parties don’t have as many concurrent attitudes because of its influence on impressionable people and its size, but nevertheless it is an interest group. The small, either unofficial or official interest groups usually have influence upon various members of the political parties and use their influence to infiltrate their attitudes to the National Government. Both interest groups and political parties have played a large impact on the development of the governmental system and it is noticeable because although they are not the group that obtained the control and power of the operation, many of their proposals have been put into existence. They were not incorporated into the government because of the people’s constant fear or losing the ideal of democracy and the threat of becoming too socialistic. Therefore it was important to have individuals representing their groups (states) in the government. The establishment of interest groups was necessary because “We do not, in fact, find individuals otherwise than in groups”. Interest groups were only a means for influential powerful people to be able to gain recognition from the government by obtaining a following. It is essential in the democratic process to have the individual’s interaction and as a result of having a large complex government; the individual must strive to be large and complex. They obtain this goal by forming interest groups and then they have a chance of making an impact on the government.
Truman states that the National Government and the State Legislatures take notice when the interest groups consolidate and tend to accept compromises over common goals. When they are verified of an increasing amount of support for a particular policy or deceit against it, they usually take action. In this manner, the interest groups are beneficial to the government because their opinions were created by an...
