Public opinion

Public opinion plays a vital role in shaping political campaigns and the policy platforms that they champion. Those in power often have to gauge public opinion in order to make sound decisions and policies. Public opinion can also be a factor in informing how parties campaign for elections, as some candidates may be seen as more favorable than others by the public. We’ve put together a list of what public opinion (and well-informed opinions) means for politics, and why this matters for everyone.
Interest groups impact elections through advocating issues, contributing funds, mobilizing voters and so on. In 2015, the Wall Street Journal reported that interest groups spent over $1 billion on political campaigns. This is because interest groups have significant amounts of funding from private individuals and organizations. They are an example of one-man band in the electoral arena. Interest group’s ability to influence decision making affects many areas such as exercising power and creating external constraints on government officials which impede their ability to make rational choices best for society (Eliasson