Comparing pressure groups Flashcards
Explain the role of pressure groups (PGs) in democracy.
Pressure groups are important to democracy as they allow citizens to participate in politics, advocating for various interests and causes.
Describe the influence of well-funded groups in the context of pressure groups.
Well-funded groups and corporations often have a disproportionate influence on politics compared to less funded groups.
Identify two similar interest groups in the US and UK.
The American Medical Association in the US and the British Medical Association in the UK are similar interest groups.
Define promotional groups and give an example from the US and UK.
Promotional groups defend similar causes; for example, the American Civil Liberties Union in the US and Liberty in the UK.
How do the organizational structures of pressure groups differ between the US and UK?
US pressure groups have both federal and state-based offices, while UK pressure groups typically operate at a national level.
Explain the access points available to pressure groups in the US.
The US federal system provides numerous access points for pressure groups, including over 19,000 directly elected mayors and city councils, compared to just 24 directly elected mayors in the UK.
Compare the frequency of referendums in the US and UK.
Direct democracy in the US allows for more frequent referendums, while UK referendums are held less often and usually on constitutional issues.
Describe the involvement of pressure groups in elections in the US.
US pressure groups can spend unlimited amounts on electioneering and donations to Super PACs.
What are the spending restrictions for pressure groups in the UK during elections?
In the UK, spending in individual constituencies is capped at £9750, with strict regulations on political advertising; fines eg Vote Leave campaign fined £66,000.
How does the lobbying industry compare between the US and UK?
The US has more than 11,000 professional lobbyists, while the UK has about 140 registered firms and individuals.
Explain the financial scale of the lobbying industry in the US and UK.
The UK lobbying industry is worth £2bn a year, while the US lobbying industry is valued at $3.47bn.
What is the ‘revolving door’ phenomenon in the context of pressure groups?
The ‘revolving door’ refers to the movement of individuals between roles as legislators and regulators and positions in pressure groups or lobbying firms.
Describe the impact of legal challenges on pressure groups in the US and UK.
Judicial review is more limited in the UK, while US pressure groups utilize it more due to the potential for landmark rulings that can change laws.
What was the outcome of the legal challenges supported by pressure groups for prisoners’ voting rights in the UK?
The European Court of Human Rights found the UK in breach of the European Convention on Human Rights, but UK governments have ignored the ruling.
Compare the methods of electoral campaigning used by pressure groups in the US and UK.
Pressure groups in the US engage in extensive electoral campaigning, while UK pressure groups face tighter restrictions on their electoral involvement.
Describe the relationship between promotional groups and political parties in the US.
Promotional groups in the US have strong links to political parties, with gun rights and pro-life groups typically aligning with Republicans, while gun control and pro-choice groups align with Democrats.
Explain the restrictions on promotional groups in the UK regarding political endorsements.
In the UK, promotional groups are often charities and are prohibited from endorsing political candidates.
How does big business typically align with political parties in the US and UK?
Big business traditionally supports Republicans and Tories, although Democrats and Labour have also received significant funding.
Define the role of trade unions in supporting political parties in the UK.
Trade unions have historically supported the Labour Party, which was founded with union backing; in 2019, 93% of registered donations to Labour came from unions.
Compare the influence of trade unions in the UK and the US.
Trade unions have more influence in the UK, where 23% of employees are union members, compared to only 10% in the US.
Explain the lobbying process in the US government.
In the US, lobbying involves targeting Congress and government at both state and federal levels, with a focus on government rather than individual MPs due to strong party discipline.
Describe the significance of court cases in the context of lobbying.
Court cases like Masterpiece Cakeshop v Colorado Civil Rights Commission and Ashers Baking Company Ltd v Lee illustrate how promotional groups can use the judicial system to influence policy.
How do grassroots campaigns function in the political landscape?
Grassroots campaigns and direct action are methods used by promotional groups to mobilize public support and influence political decisions.
Explain the influence of pressure groups in the US compared to the UK.
US pressure groups are considered to have more influence due to the separation of powers, allowing them to target the executive, legislature, and judiciary effectively.
What is the impact of unlimited independent expenditures by US pressure groups?
The right of US pressure groups to make unlimited independent expenditures in election campaigns gives wealthy groups significant power and influence over the legislature and executive.
Describe the success factors for pressure groups in the UK.
UK pressur groups can achieve considerable success by persuading the government to support their causes, aided by strict restrictions on election spending that level the playing field for smaller groups.
Explain the goals of the Brady Campaign in the US.
The Brady Campaign advocates for gun control in the US and received over $37 million in funding in 2019, aiming to reduce gun violence.
What historical event led to the naming of the Brady Campaign?
The Brady Campaign is named after James Brady, Reagan’s press secretary, who was shot during a 1981 assassination attempt.
What legislation did the Brady Campaign help pass, and what was its impact?
The Brady Campaign was instrumental in passing the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act in 1994, which introduced federal background checks for gun buyers, although gun deaths and school shootings have increased since its enactment.
How does the Second Amendment affect gun rights in the US?
The Second Amendment protects gun rights in the US, making it difficult for Congress to pass legislation that infringes upon these rights.
Describe the significance of the Second Amendment as defined by the Supreme Court in District of Columbia v Heller.
The Second Amendment is defined by the Supreme Court as conferring an individual right to bear arms.
Explain the role of the NRA in American politics regarding gun rights.
The NRA defends gun rights and has made donations to many members of Congress to influence legislation.
How has Congress responded to gun control legislation proposed after the Sandy Hook shooting in 2012?
Congress has been unwilling to pass even mild gun control legislation, including proposals made by Obama.
Define the Snowdrop Campaign and its origins.
The Snowdrop Campaign was formed in 1996 in response to the shooting at Dunblane Primary School, initiated by local people.
What was the outcome of the Snowdrop Campaign in the UK regarding handgun legislation?
The campaign achieved its aim of a total ban on private handguns, which was passed by Blair’s government in 1997.
Explain the difference in lobbying focus between pressure groups in the US and the UK.
US pressure groups focus on lobbying the legislature due to the separation of powers, while UK pressure groups primarily lobby the executive.
Describe the impact of unlimited election spending on US pressure groups.
Unlimited election spending allows US pressure groups to exert more influence on members of the legislature and contributes to the formation of iron triangles.
How does the power of the Supreme Court in the US compare to that in the UK regarding pressure groups?
The Supreme Court in the US is more powerful as the Constitution is sovereign, allowing for legal challenges that can lead to significant victories for pressure groups.
What are the implications of the weaker trade unions in the US compared to the UK?
Weaker trade unions in the US result in less protection for workers’ rights, while UK unions have historically pressured governments and funded Labour governments.
Explain the concept of the ‘revolving door’ in the context of lobbying in both the US and the UK.
The ‘revolving door’ refers to former legislators, ministers, and government staff monetizing their contacts and experience by working for private lobbying firms in both countries.
Describe the influence of lobbying on members of Congress in the US.
Members of Congress are influenced by lobbying as they seek support from pressure groups during election campaigns or fear condemnation for not aligning with them.
How do UK electoral finance laws affect lobbying compared to the US?
Tight UK electoral finance laws and a stronger party whip system make MPs less likely to be influenced by lobbying compared to their US counterparts.
Describe the influence of political alliances on Labour and Democratic parties.
Unions help fund Labour and Democratic parties and share many of the same objectives, allowing them more influence when these parties are in power.
Explain the difference in how unions are treated under Democratic or Labour-led executives compared to Republican or Tory-led executives.
Democratic or Labour-led executives generally allow unions more influence, while Republican or Tory-led executives tend to listen more to big business.
How do political groups (PGs) campaigning on social issues receive different receptions based on government type?
PGs campaigning on issues like abortion, gay rights, civil rights, gun rights, and the environment receive varying receptions depending on whether the government is Democratic/Labour or Republican/Tory.
Define the role of direct action in political movements.
Direct action is seen as a tactic of last resort that can alienate the government, but it may successfully generate media attention and change public opinion.
Explain the impact of the BLM protests in June 2020 in the US and UK.
The BLM protests highlighted systemic racism and inequality, placing these issues on the political agenda in both societies.
Describe a situation where insider groups resorted to direct action.
In 2016, the British Medical Association (BMA) called a junior doctors’ strike as a form of direct action when they could not convince the government to agree with them.
How does the First Amendment affect political groups in the US compared to the UK?
In the US, political groups are protected by the First Amendment and can spend unlimited amounts in elections, while in the UK, charities are not allowed to be political and election funding is highly restricted.
Discuss the criticism of elitism in the political cultures of the UK and US.
Both cultures have been criticized for elitism due to the outsized role played by wealthy political groups, which is more pronounced in the US where PGs spend millions in each election cycle.
Explain the financial disparity between the Conservative Party and Labour Party in the 2019 UK election.
In the 2019 election, the Conservative Party, traditionally supported by big business, received nearly four times as much money in registered donations as the Labour Party.
Describe the tradition of political protest in both the US and UK.
Both cultures share a tradition of political protest that includes marches, demonstrations, and direct action, often used by marginalized groups to win civil rights.
Campaigning for or against judicial appointments, such as Brett Kavanaugh, is a significant aspect of US politics. How does this differ in the UK?
In the UK, campaigning for or against judicial appointments is not a common practice, as the appointment process is more formal and less influenced by public opinion.
