Pressure Group Important Stuff

Question 1

Name the factors affecting pressure group success

Answer 1

1. Effective organisation and leadership. Eg NRA compared to Occupy
2. Wealth
3. Membership size - larger the membership, the more successful group is likely to be.
4. Status and effectiveness of opposition - NRA compared to Brady’s Campaign.
5. Achievability of the group’s goal - E.g how realistic their aim is. This may vary with time and perseverance.

Question 2

Are Pressure groups democratic? No

Answer 2

1. Interested in their own members rather than society/”national” interest. E.g NAACP.
2. Groups with high level of influence use lobbyists who through the REVOLVING DOOR have an unfair advantage that other groups don’t have. Undemocratic.
3. Money dominates lobbying whereby political influence can be bought. Edward Kennedy said “America has finest congress that money can buy”
4. Iron triangle enhances elitism.
5. Unequal in terms of size, membership and financing. Thus unequal competition between PGs - elitism.
6. They tend to be elitist and unaccountable.
7. Political inequality as some groups enjoy disproportionate influence
8. Hyperpluralism - too many groups and activity which weakens government.
9. Elite pluralism - some groups have more power than others
10. Direct action is considered as inappropriate.

Question 3

Are pressure groups democratic/good? Yes

Answer 3

1. Enhance political participation. Especially between elections on specific issues.
2. They educate the public and politicians.
3. Represent views of various groups which would otherwise not be heard. E.g Sierra Club, National Organisation for Women.
4. Good policy formulators who give valuable advice to committees and government departments.
5. Enhance pluralism.

Question 4

What is pluralism?

Answer 4

A theory that states the important of power being dispersed amongst the people in a democracy. Groups are necessary to allow this dispersal of power and be the link between individuals and the government.

Robert Dhal 1978

Question 5

What is elite pluralism?

Answer 5

Theory that agrees with pluralists in the sense that there is a plurality of power but this plurality is not “pure” since some groups are more powerful than others.

Question 6

What is elitism?

Answer 6

Theory that postulates that power is concentrated in the hands of a relatively small group of individuals or institutions.

Dispersal of power is an illusion of the government.

Number of groups is irrelevant when only some groups hold most of the power.

Question 7

What is hyperpluralism?

Answer 7

There are too many competing groups and these groups are so strong that government is weakened.

Iron triangles result in too strong a relationship between groups and government leading to policy paralysis.

E.g Obamacare which took so long to pass.

Question 8

Examples of Pressure group endorsement

Answer 8

NARAL endorsed Obama 2012

NRA gave Ted Cruz an A grade rating aswell as funding.

Question 9

Examples of pressure group grassroots campaign

Answer 9

Nebraskans for Peace encouraged members and followers to direct lobby congressman and senators over Keystone pipeline.

Question 10

Examples of amicus curiae briefs

Answer 10

AARP and Chamber of Commerce submitted in NFIB vs Sebelius.

Question 11

Why are pressure groups important?

Answer 11

1. Separated government means many access points
2. Representation and participation as an alternative to parties
3. 1st amendment rights
4. Huge influence due to FEC vs Citizens United
5. Provide expertise to politicians
6. Provide expertise to judiciary
7. Policy monitoring and holding govt to account
8. Race and religion as a representative factor