COMPARATIVE POLITICS - PRESSURE GROUPS

Question 1

Similarities of US and Uk pressure groups over typing

Answer 1

Both have insider and outsider

Both have cause/sectional

Question 2

Similarities of US and Uk pressure groups over tactics

Answer 2

Same tactics like direct action and lobbying

Question 3

Similarities of US and Uk pressure groups over membership

Answer 3

Both have had rises in memberships

Question 4

Similarities of US and Uk pressure groups over participation

Answer 4

Allows for pluralism and for participation at times when elections aren’t on

Question 5

Similarities of US and Uk pressure groups over “revolving door”

Answer 5

Many former legislators in both countries go into lobbying

Question 6

differences of US and Uk pressure groups over access points

Answer 6

Uk - fewer due to: power centralised in west minister, uk courts less influence

Us - federalism, role of USSC, sheer amount of elections

Question 7

differences of US and Uk pressure groups over PAC’s

Answer 7

UK - has none

US - key roles in election campaigning

Question 8

differences of US and Uk pressure groups over tv ads

Answer 8

UK - stricter laws on political advertising, illegal for charities to donate to parties

US - More lax , NRA runs tv ads

Question 9

differences of US and Uk pressure groups over lobbying strength

Answer 9

UK - More unity so harder to sway

US - Wide range of institutions to sway so easier with less unity

Question 10

Arguments pressure groups more successful in the USA

Answer 10

Heaving campaign involvement

Many groups well funded and organised

Large number of access points

Lobbying USSX

Strong links to parties

Question 11

Arguments pressure groups more successful in the UK

Answer 11

Strong ties with labour and trade unions

Conservatives have backing of many business pressure groups

National referendums provides greater roles for groups

Question 12

Structural differences for pressure groups

Answer 12

Access points vary in number and importance

Importance in US to lobbying the USSC

Lobbying before brexit of eu bodies

Question 13

Rational differences for pressure groups

Answer 13

Revolving door in both countries

Focus of us making legislators change their vote compared to mp’s

Preference of discrete lobbying over direct action for gaining positive policy outcomes

Question 14

Cultural differences for pressure groups

Answer 14

Historic link between trade unions and labour

The tradition of the 1st amendment in US

Importance of direct action in both countries for civil rights