interest groups, PACs, Lobbying, Think Tanks Flashcards
policy groups with example
groups that try to influence a policy area
- AIPAC
professional group with example
represent the interests of their members
- AMA (American Medical Association)
single interest groups with example
groups which advocate for a single, specific issue
- NRA, NARLA
4 reasons for IGs success
- membership
- money
- contacts
- expertise
what has NAACP helped to do
worked to abolish the death penalty in Illinois, New Mexico, Maryland and Connecticut
what does NARAL stand for and what has it achieved
- National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League
- defeated at least one SC nominee –> Robert Bork, their reports on him led to the Senate defeating him in hearings in 1987
- occupied office of Chuck Grassley in Iowa
- organised protests against Kavanaugh, but he was still confirmed
what does AIPAC stand for and what has it achieved
- American Israel Public Affairs Committee
- actively promotes issues affecting Israel
- Israel has been the largest recipient of US foreign aid since WW2 –> $3billion per year
- lobbying
what does the NRA campaign on
- despite 90% of public approving gun control measures after Sandy Hook in 2012, they lobby against strict gun control measures
- successfully lobbied against the Manchin-Toomey amendment to restrict gun ownership
how much did the NRA spend on supporting and opposing candidates in the 2016 election
- spent $14.4million on supporting 44 candidates who won
- spent $34.9million on opposing 19 candidates who lost
what are 5 methods used by IGs
- lobbying
- report cards
- grassroots activity
- legal methods
- campaign finance
explain how IGs can use legal systems as a tactic with an example
- with enough money they can take a case to court –> citizens united vs FEC 2010
- can submit amicus curiae briefs –> Center for Family and Human Rights sent an AC brief to Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health case arguing abortion was not a right under international law
- can influence SC nominations –> NARAL - Robert Bork, their reports on him led to the Senate defeating him in hearings in 1987, but failed with Brett Kavanaugh
- American Bar association also rates candidates for judicial appointments
explain lobbying
groups with access to government to influence them to act or not act un a certain way
- often previous legislative workers will work in the lobbying industry afterwards
- could be just meeting with a congress member and convincing them or even drafting legislation and finding a congress member to introduce it
explain electioneering
offering outwards signs to voters that a candidate is in support of their issue
- NARAL foe example has a list of candidates that it endorses on their website so voters can easily see who to vote for is single issue voting
explain how IGs can use report cards
- they annually rank politicians on how well their voting record aligns with supporting their cause
- due to the short election cycle this is effective as voters focus on constituents views + issues over party
give an example of report card findings
in 2022 NARAL gave Marco Rubio, senator for Florida 0% based on his voting record AND gave 42/53 Californian representatives 100%
