Participation Flashcards
(50 cards)
What are the 3 types of interest groups?
Single-issue
Professional
Policy
What are some single-issue interest groups?
National Rifle Association (NRA)
- fight for gun ownership rights
⤷ funded the SC case District of Columbia v Heller 2008
⤷ court ruled that individuals could keep and bear arms for self defence within the home
American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
What is amicus curiae?
‘Friends of the court’
Groups who can put forward a case in support in court
What are some professional interest groups?
American Farm Bureau Federation
- campaigned on immigration, tax, energy
American Family Association
- supports Christian values
- opposes LGBTQ, abortion
- currently 3-4 million members
American Medical Association
- 270,000 members (2022)
- varied donations to parties
⤷ 1996 - 75?% to rep
⤷ 2008 - 55% to dem
AFL-CIO
- largest federation of unions in the US
- more than 12million active retired workers
American Association of Retired Persons (AARP)
- issues affecting those 50+
- 2018 - 38million members
What are some policy interest groups?
Environment America
- champions concerns over global warming and wildlife reservation
League of Conservation Voters
- environmental protection group
- specialises in affecting electoral outcomes
- hold politicians to account
- campaigned to protect Clean Air Act and Endangered Species Act
Why do people join interest groups?
- Material reasons - what’s in it for them
⤷ e.g. information - NRA members get magazines
⤷ e.. AARP offers health insurance - Purposive - what’s in it for others
⤷ e.g. Amnesty International - puts pressure on govt to improve how they treat people
⤷ usually for the more wealthy - Solidarity - interacting with like-minded people
⤷ e.g. National Audubon Society for bird watchers
How do PACs contribute to elections?
2010 - National Association of Realtors PAC gave $3.8m to candidates (biggest)
EV: No proven link between PAC money and how congressmen vote
⤷ direct lobbying has more of a proven impact
How can publicity be used to campaign by interest groups?
- Can change public opinion
- Influence actual voting behaviour
⤷ i.e. contacting potential voters - Publicity stunts
⤷ e.g. NRA used adverts to stop Obama introducing gun controls after the Sandyhook murders 2012
Who have interest groups endorsed as candidates?
2008 - AARP put questions to all candidates on their website
⤷ Kissel answered all questions which favoured AARP and won the House seat from incumbent Hayes
2012 - National Right to Life endorsed Mitt Romney
2020 - Focus on Family endorsed Trump
How are interest groups successful with their lobbying?
K Street corridor - area of Washington where all the HQs are
- many have members who are ex-executive branch members
⤷ e.g. The Ashcroft group was set up by W Bush’s attorney general
- More serious groups are looked to by parties
⤷ e.g. Democrats look to the NAACP and AFL-CIO for voting cues
⤷ e.g. Republicans look to US Chamber of Commerce
What is a ‘grassroot’ activity?
Activities used by movements to create change on a local/regional/national level
What grassroots activities do groups use?
- Groups aimed at legislators
⤷ e.g. postal ‘blitz’ on Congress - Marches and demonstrations
⤷ when lobbying is inappropriate
⤷ usually for controversial issues - i.e. abortion or gun control - violence
⤷ Oklahoma 1995 - bombing of a federal building by the far right
⤷ murder of Tiller (doctor who vocally performed abortions)
What makes interest groups successful?
- Effective organisation
- Wealth
⤷ worth $3.5bn in 2010
⤷ 2024 election cycle cost interest groups $14.7bn - Large membership
- Status
- Achievability of goals
How have interest groups been impactful to women’s rights?
- NOW campaigns helped introduce Equal Rights Act in 70s and 80s
⤷ still campaigning for equality in workplace - harassment and pay - pro-life and pro-choice groups
⤷ pro-choice - Roe v Wade 1973, Clinton’s refusal to ban partial abortions + SC’s refusal to let states ban them 2000
⤷ pro choice - Planned Parenthood v Casey
⤷ pro-life - Bush’s partial birth abortion ban law allowed by SC in 2007, Dobbs v Jackson 2022
How have interest groups been impactful to the economy?
- Occupy Wall Street movement
⤷ ‘We are the 99%’ captured political debates
⤷ demanded $15min wage after the financial crash 2008
⤷ heavily supported by the Service Employees International Union (SEIO)
⤷33 cities have increased minimum wage to $15 since
⤷ unheard of by 2009
How have interest groups been impactful to marijuana?
Marijuana Policy Project (MPP)
- Arizona - MPP got over 150,000 signatures to get marijuana legalisation on the ballot in Nov 2016
- Initial success
- Defeated 51% to 48%
How have interest groups been impactful to gun control?
- NRA
⤷ helped District of Columbia v Heller 2008
What is the iron triangle?
A relationship which develops between congressional committees, the federal bureaucracy, and interest groups during policy creation
What is the relationship between Congress and Bureaucracy in this triangle?
- Congress gives funding and political support
- Bureaucracy gives policy choices in return
What is the relationship between Congress and Interest Groups?
- IGs provide electoral support
- Congress gives friendly legislation in return
What is the relationship between IGs and Bureaucracy?
- Bureaucracy gives low regulation and special favours
- IGs give congressional support in return
How do IGs impact the president?
- Lobbies to bring legislative change
- Campaign for/against their election
⤷ Super-PACs raise funds
⤷PACs make direct donations
How do IGs impact Congress?
- Lobby leaders/ committees
- Propose/ introduce legislation through a congressman
How do IGs impact the SC?
- Litigate by taking cases to SC
- Lobbies
- Influence senate about SC nominations
