Final answer:
The American system features more interest groups than that of Great Britain due to greater limits on inside lobbying, barriers to participation, and the American political philosophy.
Step-by-step explanation:
The American system features more interest groups than that of Great Britain because of several factors:
- Greater limits on inside lobbying activities: Today, there are regulations that restrict the types of gifts and benefits that lobbyists can offer to lawmakers. These restrictions have reduced the influence of certain interest groups.
- Barriers to participation: Factors like wealth and education strongly predict political engagement. Wealthy individuals and large corporations are more likely to participate in the political process, as they have the resources to hire lobbyists or contribute funds to political campaigns.
- American political philosophy: The American system was designed to allow factions and interest groups to compete for influence. The framers of the U.S. Constitution recognized that individuals would form groups to advocate for their interests, and they believed that letting these groups flourish was a natural way to control them.