Special interest groups originally were formed as groups to promote the interests of a certain group not represented in the
political mainstream. The idea for these groups spread as others saw the effect one group could have on a political party. Eventually, "special interest groups" included mainstream subjects such as education, and large organizations such as the NEA.
While one person can affect the government, doing so is difficult and very time consuming. A more efficient use of time is to organize others of a like opinion into a group that shares the responsibilities and duties of petitioning the government for the change of benefit dictated by that opinion.
One negative aspect of this development is that once the group is organized it exists. Groups that exist do not cease to exist when they have completed their raison d'etre. Instead they find a new reason to exist, one of which is additional power. In fact, an advantage and a disadvantage of special interest groups is the issue of power wielded. To see citizens organizing into groups to direct the government would have heartened Jefferson. On the other hand, to see these groups operated by a handful of people despite the large memberships would have heartened Boss Tweed.
The NEA is a good example of these two sides of the special interest group. Sroufe (47) quotes Drew in the 9-8-80 "Reporter at Large" section of the New Yorker magazine that having obtained their Department of Education, the NEA wanted to then be the ones to run it. This special interest group was not content to petition the government for changes or redress of grievances: it wanted to be part of the government. But to be part of this process is to be politically involved and politically popular. The NEA operates like a political party, having a convention attended by delegates. Each chapter sends delegates to the annual convention where the year's agenda is prepared and voted on.
This ...