Interest groups Flashcards
Who do interest groups seek to influence?
All three branches of the federal and local state government
What are the three types of interest groups?
single issue interest groups
professional interest groups
policy groups
What are single issue interest groups?
These groups seek to influence change over a very narrow policy area
Give an example of a single issue interest group
the NRA (national rifle association) - fights for the rights of gun owners
What are professional interest groups?
They represent interests of a group of workers/ professionals e.g. lawyers, doctors etc
What are policy groups?
Interest groups wanting to influence an entire policy areas e.g. environment, foreign policy etc
They typically have an ideological belief in their goals
Give an example of a policy group
The Sierra club is an environmental interest group which develops policy in a wide range of areas affecting the environment
Give an example of a professional interest group
The American Farm Bureau federation represents farmers across America (agricultural policies)
What are factors that can influence IG’s?
funds - to hire expensive lobbyists & organise grassroots campaigns more effectively
membership - a group that can mobilise may voters = threat to member of congress up for re-election, experts big donors & lawyers
access - access/support of politicians - IG’s can also use access points due to federalist system of government that provides multiple e.g. the White House to attract attention
the NRA (single issue) was able to spend $___ million on lobbying in 201_
5 million
2017
How much did the NRA contribute to electoral campaigns in 2017?
$700,000
What are the functions of interest groups?
representation - an important link between the public & politicians, for many the most effect channel of rep
citizen participation - allows citizens to ppt in decision making and political activism
public education - groups educate and inform public opinion
What are the tactics of interest groups?
lobbying
electioneering & endorsements
organising grassroots activities
How do IG’s use lobbying to achieve their aims?
- Professional lobbyists e.g. previous White House staffers & congress members who provide groups with access to politicians/ info that makes a group useful to politicians
- could mean drafting legislation and trying to win a congressional sponsor to introduce the legislation into congress
Give an example of lobbying
340 former congressional staff worked for pharmaceutical groups - their lobbying firms offering valuable info on legislative process & gave access to people they used to work with
How do IG’s use electioneering and endorsements to achieve their aims?
- campaign funding reforms in the 1970’s limited how much any interest group can give to a candidate in a federal election (led to PAC’s & super PAC’s)
- groups can choose to support candidates based on favourable policies for them
How do IG’s use organising grassroots activities to achieve their aims?
- social media or phone blitzes on congress are arranged
- marches and demonstrations can raise the profile of an interest group - often aimed at access points
- civil disobedience can also raise the profile of an interest group e.g. laying down in the street causing traffic
Name 3 policy areas in which IG’s have been influential?
women’s rights
abortion rights
gun control
racial inequality
How have IG’s been influential in the policy area abortion rights?
pro life & pro choice lobbies have been active for the past 40 - 50yrs they try to be influential not only in the abortion debate but also SC nominations & appointments e.g. Brett Kavanaugh who pro choice NARAL lobbied against due to sexual assault allegations
How have IG’s been influential in the policy area gun control?
The NRA is one of the most powerful Interest groups and it seeks to protect the 2nd amendment -e.g the NRA endorsed around 50 democrats and was successful in having 4 of them oppose Obama’s gun control measures - has found itself on the defensive following the deaths of 17 people in a Florida high school shooting (2018)
How have IG’s been influential in the policy area racial inequality?
The BLM movement reached it’s peak following the killing of George Floyd in 2020 by police officers - these protests occurred throughout the country & were mostly peaceful - accumulated a large amount of support - led to prioritisation of police reform
identify two ways in which IG’s try to impact congress
- Directly lobbying members of congress, attempting to influence legislation and the way they cast their votes
- Lobbying congressional committee’s especially those related to their interests
- Organising constituents via social media, the internet etc threatening their chances of re-election
- Endorsing or opposing candidates who have vouched for policies that align with their beliefs
identify two ways in which IG’s try to influence the exec branch
They seek to..
- Maintain strong ties with relevant exec departments, agencies & bureaus
- influence the drawing up and enactment of policy within their area of interest
identify two ways in which IG’s try to influence the judiciary
- Take a lively interest in the nomination & confirmation of judges to the SC
- Try to influence court hearings through amicus curiae briefings read before oral arguments e.g GLAAD had more success in the case of the submission of amicus curiae briefs in Obergfell v Hodges (2015)
What evidence is there that we need interest groups?
- They provide legislators and bureaucrats with useful information and act as a sounding board in policy creation
- They broaden the opportunities for participation in democracy
- Can increase levels of accountability for congress, the executive and the SC
- They enhance freedom of speech = democratic value
What evidence is there that we don’t need interest groups?
- Allows/nurtures revolving door syndrome (the practice by which former congressional members take up well paid lobbying jobs in Washington using their contacts) = politicians eventually disregard constituents for financial gain / corrupt political motivations diminish democracy
- Iron triangle syndrome (perpetuates a cosy relationship between IG’s and the relevant dept or agency) = depts of govt can be corrupted by IG’s and decide policies based on financial/personal gain
- Inequality of groups e.g. funds, membership etc
- Allegations of buying influence e.g. pharmaceutical
companies
