Effectiveness of interest groups in the protection of rights in the US 4.6

Question 1

Brown v Board of Education of Topeka (1954)

Answer 1

• Brought to court by the NAACP’s legal defense and education fund.
• Example of Supreme Court civil rights cases involving interest group sponsorship.

Question 2

Interest Groups Protecting Rights

Answer 2

Examples include:

• Citizens United
• National Federation of Independent Business
• Parents Involved in Community Schools

Question 3

Amicus Curiae Briefs

Answer 3

• Meaning “friend of the court.”
• Groups or individuals not party to a case offer insights, expertise, or information to influence court decisions.

Question 4

Influence of Amicus Curiae Briefs

Answer 4

• Used in landmark decisions on issues like abortion, gun control, and affirmative action.
• Example: Gratz v Bollinger and Grutter v Bollinger (2003).

Question 5

American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)

Answer 5

• Formed in the 1920s, with 1.8 million members and 300 attorneys by 2018.
• Involved in landmark cases like Brown v Board of Education and Roe v Wade.

Question 6

Controversial Defenses by the ACLU

Answer 6

• Defended rights of unpopular groups like the American Nazis, Ku Klux Klan, and Nation of Islam.
• Advocates for free expression and assembly for all.

Question 7

ACLU on Policing Reforms

Answer 7

• Advocates against excessive force by police, especially impacting people of color.
• Supports law enforcement treating all communities with dignity.

Question 8

ACLU on Capitol Building Protest (January 2021)

Answer 8

• Described it as a violent insurrection, not a protest.
• Supports the right of peaceful protest but not violent actions.