Demo & Particip - Interest groups

Question 1

Significance of interest groups

Answer 1

• Elections and Super PAC donations give groups big influence
• Parties are weak and fractricous, targetable by single issue interest groups, flexible policy
• Apathy towards main and boost towards 3rd parties show shift to issue-based voting
• Constitution protects interest groups and SC can challenge infractions
• Federal nature means change can be local and easier than national government (Weed legal state)
• Large number of access points to influence change

Question 2

Factors affecting significance 3

Answer 2

• Group finances - Run ADs, donate to campaigns, hire lobbyists, NRA 220M spent 2021. Ad against Manchin following gun control amendment
• Group membership - More members can vote for congress people who support their views, More chance to organise direct action, membership fees - ACLU 1.6M Members
• Expertise - Good experience can be useful in reports to congress - NRA has Institute for Legislative action ILA, educated congress about gun ownership

Question 3

Lobbying

How its protected, examples of it

Answer 3

• 1st Amendment protects lobbying “Petition government for a redress of grievance
• 3.7 B Spent in 2021, 12K registered lobbyists
• John Boehner - House Speaker resigned and joined lobbying group that spent 19M annually, Reynolds American big tobacco joined for benefits
• In 2016 NRA Lobbied congress on 190 bills pertaining to gun control

Question 4

Other methods of influence

Answer 4

• Legal methods - Bringing case to court or writing Amicus Brief as ACLU did in Snyder v Phelps 2011
• Congressional Report Cards - NRA Rating can influence funding or support
• Publicity and Media - Run ads sending message or instructing contacting congress, NRA Obama’s kids armed protection so should americans
• Protests and Demonstrations - Organised rally or petitions - Womens march against NRA 2017

Question 5

Types of interest groups

Answer 5

Policy groups
- Tires to exert influence over a whole policy area - UniDosUS Immigration, education and health on behalf of latinos - Labelled obama Deporter In Chief - AYA Student debt

Professional Groups
- Similar to unions, represents member interests in working area. National Association of Broadcasters - Large lobbying spender to counter trump fake news

Single issue groups

• Small specific area of policy. NRA as example lobby congress/run ads, even if not directly related
• League of Conservation Voters - protested Keystone. Obama stopped it, trump restarted, were 124 groups protesting it

Question 6

Interest groups and democracy

Types of democracy

Answer 6

• Liberal - Emphasis on rights, limited gov and free/fair elections
• Representative - Emphasis on representation by elected officials
• Pluralist - Emphasis on wide dispersal of power
• Constitutional - Emphasis on systems and processes being laid out in written constitution

Question 7

Interest group impact - Scrutinising government +/-

Answer 7

• Groups watch gov actions closely and protest in own interest
• Success results in a liberal democracy with pluralist powersharing
  However,
• Changing the views of those elected for a certain view damages representative democracy
• Buying access via lobbying damages free and fair elections

Question 8

Interest group impact - Increasing representation

Answer 8

• Social makeup of congress is off, groups make up for this and represent underrepresented groups
  However,
• This undermines representative democracy which elects those to have power
• Overrepresentation encourages tyranny of minority

Question 9

Interest group impact - Encouraging participation

Answer 9

• Allow the apathetic to get involved in specific areas of interest, counters the constitutional democracy of two party system
  However,
• Protesting can be illegal and undermines democracy
• Cit Uni v FEC 2010 made electioneering funds more powerful, damaging free and fair elections

Question 10

Interest groups and influence

Influential or not - Yes but no

Court, congress

Answer 10

• Groups can submit reports to congress or give evidence if asked - NRA 190 Gun control bills However for and against can give evidence or reports, null effect possible
• Groups can bring cases to SC - NAACP Sponsored Brown v Board of Edu 1954 However the SC Ultimately decides itself
• Groups can donate to the limitless Super PACs However direct contributions are limited
• Groups can put forward Amicus Briefs - ACLU Snyder v Phelps 2011 However the verdict must be based off the constitution
• Groups can rate congresspeople, launching campaigns for/against However Incumbency benefits (Recognition, achievement, pork)
• Many access points at local, state and national level However at a national level CnB make it less effective
• Some groups have connections with current or former congress, giving insider access However this number is limited
• Groups can provide congress with expertise - NRA ILA 190 bills However This is only a factor in decision making

Question 11

Influence by Branch

Congress

Answer 11

• Lobbying members of congress
• Giving evidence to committees
• Proposing legislation with a congressman
• Electioneering

Question 12

Influence by Branch

Presidency

Answer 12

Presidency

• Lobbying of Pres, Exop
• Electioneering
• Iron triangles - Shared goals between congressional committees, executive departments and PGs