Pressure Groups and Intergovernmental Relations

Abstract

The loose articulation between the various com ponents of the federal government, weaknesses in the linkage system between party and government, and lack of program matic orientation to public policy are characteristics of the political process utilized by pressure groups in exploiting inter governmental relationships. Every segment of the economy is represented by powerful private interest groups constructed on the pattern of national, state, county and local administrative units. Public policy is being shaped between the downward pressures of vast expenditures of federal funds and the upper thrust of legislative interventionism on behalf of local interests. In the milieu of policy competition between the several levels of the federal system, organizations of public officials serve both as pressure groups and as channels of access to government for private interests. Pressure groups are especially advantaged by the necessity for government agencies to indulge in "pressure gamesmanship" while building political support with "internal constituencies" of other agencies and "outside constituencies" among public or private pressure group clientele. Private in terest groups are becoming more closely integrated with the governmental process while public groups are wielding greater authority in policy decisions; both are contributing to policy co-ordination by exerting influence to span the divisive forces inherent in the federal system.