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Politics paper 3 > 5.3 Interest Groups > Flashcards

5.3 Interest Groups Flashcards

1
Q

What 4 factors explain why IGs are so active in the USA?

A
  1. Constitutional factors
  2. US political culture
  3. Ideology
  4. Role of the government
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2
Q

Explain how constitutional factors have led to IG activity:

A
  • Separation of Powers + federalism has led to huge number of access points
  • 1st amendment – constitutional right to freedom of association and assembly
  • Powerful judiciary – US courts are open to PG activity
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3
Q

Explain how political culture has led to IG activity:

A
  • US society is a ‘melting pot’ with a variety of religions, races, cultures, and traditions so huge scope for IGs
  • Role of money in elections means IGs can have considerable influence
  • Frequency of elections
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4
Q

Explain how ideology has led to PG activity:

A
  • Increased partisanship has led t growth of ideological IGs such as the Tea Party (conservative) and Centre for American Progress (liberal)
  • ‘Culture war’ has also sparked IGs
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5
Q

Explain how the role of government has led to PG activity:

A
  • High levels of scepticism about DC politicians so IGs can scrutinise the government effectively
  • Increase in size of government
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6
Q

What is an ‘interest group’?

A

An unelected group that has a specific interest they seek to represent, with the aim of influencing policy

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7
Q

What are the 4 main types of IG?

A
  • Policy groups
  • Single-interest groups
  • Professional groups
  • Super PACs
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8
Q

Describe policy groups + example:

A

IGs that seek to influence a whole policy area

League of Conservation Voters (LCV) is interested in all aspects of environmental policy

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9
Q

Describe single-interest groups + example:

A

IGs with one over-riding goal based on a specific and limited issue
NRA is dedicated to protecting the constitutional right to bear arms

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10
Q

Describe professional groups + example:

A

IGs formed to protect the interests of particular groups of people
American Bar Association (ABA) protects the interests of those working in the legal profession

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11
Q

Describe super PACs + example:

A

Formed to support certain candidates in elections

Future45 supported Donald Trump in 2016

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12
Q

Describe the NRA:

A
  • 5 million very committed members
  • Large and well-organised
  • Used attack ads in election and has a scorecard system to rank candidates
  • Spends millions on lobbying and campaigns
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13
Q

Why is the NRA so successful?

A
  • Politicians fear their activism
  • Very well organised at federal and state level
  • No rival can match its size and status
  • Well-finances
  • Good-sized membership and very committed
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14
Q

Describe the NARAL:

A
  • Single-issue pro-choice group
  • Endorses pro-choice candidates in US elections
  • Organised mass protests against the appointment of Brett Kavanaugh to SC
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15
Q

Describe PhRMA:

A
  • Sectional group representing interests of the pharmaceutical industry
  • Moulded Obamacare in its favour
  • “Behind the scenes” influence
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16
Q

Describe LCV:

A
  • Environmental cause group
  • 1.5 million members
  • “Dirty Dozen” list
  • Oppose construction of Keystone Pipeline
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17
Q

What tactics do interest groups use?

A
  1. Electioneering
  2. Lobbying
  3. Using the courts
  4. Grassroots activities
18
Q

Electioneering: why do IGs use this tactic?

A
  • Lots of elections to target
  • Elections are held frequently
  • Candidates want donations
19
Q

Electioneering: what 2 ways will IGs try to influence election results?

A
  1. Donating funds – through PACs and Super PACs
  2. Endorsing candidates – issue voter guides, use rating systems (LCV’s Dirty Dozen), advertising through attack ads, micro-targeting using modern technology
20
Q

Lobbying: what is it?

A

Refers to all groups that seek to influence policy

21
Q

Lobbying: where is it centred in US?

A

K street corridor in Washington DC

22
Q

Lobbying: how much does it cost to hire a professional lobbyist + how much spent in 2020?

A

Up to $50,000 per month

Over $3.5 billion was spent on lobbying in 2020

23
Q

Lobbying: how many lobbyists are there?

A

35,000 professional lobbyists in Washington DC – 65 per Senator and Congressman

24
Q

Lobbying: example of an IG using lobbying

A

PhRMA influencing the final composition of Obama’s 2009 healthcare reform bill (100 lobbyists)

25
Q

Lobbying: why is it controversial?

A
  1. Extremely expensive so not viable for all IGs – dominated by the power elite so not a level playing field
  2. Close relationship between members of Congress and lobbyists can lead to concerns of unethical conduct eg high profile lobbyist Jack Abramoff convicted of fraud
  3. Revolving door – prospect of a highly paid job as a lobbyist when a member of Congress leaves office might influence their decision whilst in office
26
Q

What Act was introduced to regulate lobbying + what did it do?

A

The Honest Leadership and Open Government Act 2007

  • Ex-Senators/members of executive must wait 2 years before joining a lobbying company
  • Lobbyists are prohibited from giving gifts
  • Must be full disclosure of all lobbying activity
27
Q

Using the courts: why do IGs use them?

A

SCs ability to interpret the constitution makes them an important access point

28
Q

Using the courts: how do IGs use the courts x4?

A
  1. PGs attempt to influence appointments by lobbying the Senate
    Eg Planned Parenthood (liberal) campaigned in favour of Obama’s nomination of Sotomayor but Christian Coalition (conservative) campaigned against her
  2. Bring cases to the courts
    Eg Brown v Board was sponsored by NAACP
  3. Submitting amicus briefs (written arguments)
    Eg record number of amicus briefs submitted to the Obergefell v Hodges case
  4. Influence SC justices and public opinion
29
Q

Grassroots activity: why do IGs use this tactic?

A

Used to raise public awareness, affect voting behaviour, and indirectly influence decision makers

30
Q

Grassroots activity: how do IGs do this x4?

A
  1. Marches and demonstrations
    Eg BLM protests
  2. Advertising campaigns
    Eg NRA ran a TV ad to put pressure on Obama not o pass new gun control laws
  3. Postal blitzes
  4. Violence and disorder
    Eg In 2009 a Kansas doctor who performed abortions was fatally shot by pro-life extremists
31
Q

How can an IG attempt to target the president?

A
  • Electioneering: financial contributions to campaigns, endorsements
  • Lobbying the President to bring about change or to influence appointments
  • Providing expertise in key areas
32
Q

What is crucial for IG success with the president?

A

Ideological compatibility

Liberal PGs such as NAACP and NARAL will enjoy better success under Biden that they did under Trump

33
Q

Who else, close to the president, can an IG attempt to influence?

A

The federal bureaucracy (if the President isn’t receptive to IG ideas)

34
Q

What is an ‘iron triangle’ + example?

A

When an IG forms a close relationship with a relevant government department
Eg ‘Military industrial complex’ is an Iron triangle formed between
1. Lobbyists representing major weapons manufacturers (want to keep defence spending high)
2. Pentagon (also want to keep defence spending high)
3. Congressional defence committees (want to protect defence jobs in key states)

35
Q

Why do IGs seek to influence Congress?

A
  • Useful access point as legislative body
  • Bicameral structure means there’s a broader range of possibilities for influence
  • Divided government means IGs have greater opportunity to dilute legislation they disapprove of
  • Regularity of House elections
36
Q

How do IGs influence Congress as a whole?

A
  • Lobby congressional leaders or committee chairs
  • Use professional lobbyists
  • Electioneer to gain influence (includes donating via PACs)
37
Q

How do IGs influence the Senate particularly?

A
  • Influence the confirmation process

- Target individual senators who threaten to filibuster

38
Q

What 2 theories do you use when arguing PGs enhance democracy?

A
  • Tocqueville’s view: 19th century optimistic view that IGs are vehicles for participation and education and train people to become good citizens
  • Classic Pluralist argument: Dahl in 1960s argued that although there is some inequality between IGs, there are so many that it is hard for a few to dominate
39
Q

What 2 theories do you use when arguing PGs undermine democracy?

A
  • Elite theory: Wright-Mills in 1950s stressed inequality between IGs and that IGs cooperate with politicians to advance own interests do not benefit the public
  • Hyper-pluralism: Raunch in 1990’s suggested that there are too many IGs exerting influence that government becomes paralysed
40
Q

What limits are there on the power and influence of US pressure groups?

A
  • Constitutional factors: federalism and SOPs mean IGs can’t influence all access points
  • Pluralist democracy allows huge number of IGs to succeed so difficult for one to dominate, aided by “equal and opposite” forces that act as a counterbalance
  • Legal restrictions on campaign finance reforms which restricts amount of money IGs can donate and legal restrictions on professional lobbying

Politics paper 3 (7 decks)

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