How does the government work? What are special interest groups and how do they function?

Question

Nope I'm a kid in high school truly interested in Government and Politics. Plus I'm planning to join the Civics Club so I don't want to "look" stupid in their discussions

Are lobbyists part of the special interest groups? Isn't it the same? Do you have to be a Senator in order to be in Special Interest Group? Is there any veto from group against the other?

Thanks nobody although I'm a little confused who's in the Special Interest Groups

Can Senators still be part of Special Interest Groups, do they function like federal agencies proposing for new legislation?

Answer 1

The US federal government is divided into three branches. They are Legislative (House of Representatives & Senate), Executive (President) and Judicial (Supreme Court). The House & Senate write laws and legislate taxes, the Prez approves and enforces the law and sets foreign policy, the Justices determine if laws are Constitutional.

Special interest groups are formed by people with a common agenda. They raise money, recruit volunteers, state their position and try to influence the law makers in their favor. They are not necessarily a bad thing. They can be small groups or huge groups (AARP, NRA, Unions). They do research and inform law makers.

I once heard that special interest groups would have no function if government wasn't always nosing in the people's business. It's true.

State governments can be modeled after the federal system with a House and Senate and Judges and a Governor. Local governments usually have city councils or county commissioners or ward leaders or even township trustees. Decisions are best made at the lowest level. Local governments are generally more responsive than the federal government.

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Regarding lobbyists - Yes they are the independent non-governmental workers in the special interest groups. They are not elected and meet law makers in the "lobby" so to speak to discuss issues. Senators are not lobbyists.

Regarding veto - This term applies only to the President. He rejects a bill (an act by Congress) by Veto. He may refuse to sign the act into law. There are checks and balances between branches of government. For example a political appointee by the Prez has to be approved by the Senate. When Bush recently appointed Sam Alito to the Supreme Court, the Senate questioned him before they approved his job.

Answer 2

Special Interest Groups don't exists as such. It is a generic term used to describe any group of people with an interest in a particular issue.

Answer 3

Better take a long Civics class dude. Don't want to spend the next year explaining how our government works. You an illegal alien?

Answer 4

1) It doesn't.
2) Rich people run the government.