Chapter 5 - 3/5 - Interest groups Flashcards
Pluralism?
When a society has many groups representing widely different interests.
How do interest groups differ from political parties?
They do not seek power, just to influence those that do have power.
What are sectional interest groups?
Groups that represent a section of society such as trade unions.
What are causal groups?
Groups that act in favour of ideas or ideology in the belief they benefit us all, rather than just a small sector or group of people.
What sectional groups represents American business?
US Chamber of Commerce
What sectional groups represents American farmers?
National Farmers’ Union
What are the four functions of interest groups?
- Representation
- Citizen participation
- Agenda building
- Programme monitoring
How do interest groups build an agenda?
They might bring together different parts of society (business, religion, government) and put pressure on them. They might also draft up bills which politicians can copy word-for-word to propose as law.
What are the two categories of interest groups?
- Sectional groups
- Causal groups
What are the 4 types of causal groups?
- Single-interest groups
- Ideological groups
- Policy groups
- Think-tanks
Give an example of a single-interest group.
National Rifle Association (NRA)
What is a single-interest group?
A group created in response to a specific issue.
What is a professional group?
A pressure group organised to promote the interests of a particular profession.
What is a policy group?
An ideological group that campaigns on a wider range of issues such as the environment.
What two things are important to the success of interest groups?
- Money
- Membership size
What tactics can interest groups use to achieve their aims?
- Endorse a candidate
- Lobbying
- Organising media campaigns and marches
- Legal challenges (NAACP funded Brown v Topeka)
What does NAACP stand for?
National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People
Give an example of a policy group.
Sierra Club
What does the Sierra Club policy group promote?
Policies to protect and preserve the environment.
Who founded the Sierra Club?
John Muir
When was the Sierra Club founded?
1892
What tactics does the Sierra Club use to promote its cause?
- Endorsement of Democrat candidates
- Social media campaigns
- Making calls and delivering leaflets
Who did the Sierra Club endorse in the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections?
Clinton and Biden because the Democrats are more sympathetic to environmental issues than the big business supporters of the Republican Party.
