inal answer:
Factors such as reduced congressional research staff, member turnover, term limits, and specialization in local interests have increased Congress's reliance on interest groups for expertise and information.
Step-by-step explanation:
The reliance of Congress on interest groups has been influenced by a variety of factors. One factor is the reduced availability of in-house expertise, as evidenced by cuts to funding for Congress's own research and support staff and the reduction by 45 percent of the combined staffs of the Congressional Research Service, Government Accountability Office, and Congressional Budget Office from 1975 to 2015. Additionally, member turnover and term limits have resulted in legislators having less policy expertise and political experience, leading them to seek information from lobbyists and interest groups who can supply knowledge. Lastly, as lawmakers become more specialized and focused on local interests, they often rely more on interest groups for information about technical policy details, voting cues, and legislative agenda-setting.