RESULTS.org: A Non-Profit Organization Advocating for Change
RESULTS.org is a non-profit organization based in the United States that campaigns for services, legislation, and resources that would make a meaningful impact in the lives of people living in poverty. The organization works specifically on wellness, literacy, and economic opportunity for people in the United States and around the world.
Influencing Congress: Supporting Politicians and Providing Information
While interest groups do not specifically hold elected office, they advance their agenda by ensuring that their issues are discussed by both Congress and the president. One way for advocacy groups to exert leverage in Congress is to support politicians who are perceived to be committed to the causes they lobby for. They can provide monetary support, provide valuable information and even openly campaign for certain candidates. In return, those candidates are expected to push their agenda once they are elected into the house. An example is a planned visit to Capitol Hill by interest groups to warn legislators about the potential adverse consequences of repealing Obamacare without a ready coverage (PEAR).
Another way interest groups influence Congress is by providing information to committees and subcommittees of Congress on issues of interest to them. They give the committees support on such issues, give advice on certain problems as well as information that can help their cause. There is intense lobbying as their personnel visit representatives in the capitol and also attend fundraisers and social functions to solicit support from lawmakers. Various groups, including result.org, have met America's new president as they seek information about his policies on jobs (Paquette).
Mobilizing Members and the Public: Protests for Change
The final way interest groups can influence Congress and the president is by mobilizing their members and the public to protest against issues or programs that are deemed to be against public interest. They can provide an organized flow of information to their members on important issues and have a huge influence among voters hence can control not only Congress but the president. Various interest groups have organized protests against the president's pick for secretary of education (Perez).
Works Cited
Paquette, Danielle. “Donald Trump And Labor Unions Don’T Always Get Along — But They Did Today”. Washington Post 2017. Web. 26 Jan. 2017.
PEAR, ROBERT. “Muted Response From Health Lobby As Affordable Care Act Faces Repeal”. NEW YORK TIMES 2017. Web. 26 Jan. 2017.
Perez, Juan. “CTU Stages Anti-Trump Demonstrations At Schools Throughout Chicago”. Chicago Tribune 2017. Web. 26 Jan. 2017.
“RESULTS | Homepage”. Results.org. N.p., 2017. Web. 26 Jan. 2017.
