Pressure Groups Flashcards
What is amicus curiae?
Friends of the court who provide evidence in cases
Example: American Psychological Association argued in favour of same sex through scientific evidence in Obergerfell vs Hodges
How can pressure groups use legal challenges?
Especially in the Supreme Court in issues such as civil rights
Examples: NAACP, Brown vs Topeka
What is the revolving door?
People going from corporations to lobbying groups to federal gov
Government employees gain 1200% pay rise in lobbying firms
How much was spent on lobbying in 2019 by pressure groups?
Chamber of commerce: $77 mil
Facebook: $17 mil
How much does big tech spend on campaigns in 2021?
Facebook $20 mil
Amazon $19 mil
What is an example of a pressure group using public pressure?
AFL-CIO publishes congress representatives’ voting record so their constituents can vote in favour of pro-union legislators
How much was spent on lobbying in 2010?
$3.51 billion
Mostly from pharma companies opposed to medical reforms under Affordable Care Act
What are some examples of judicial attempts at regulation?
Lobbying Disclosure Act 1995
Honest Leadership and Open Government Act 2007
How has use of amicus briefs changed over time?
1950s only one brief
2019-20 there were 16
Obergerfell there were 148 submitted due to high profile nature
Which act aimed at reducing the financial influence of pressure groups?
Federal Election Campaign Act 1974 stopped PAC from giving >$5000
What is the ratio of business:trade union PACs?
5:1
In 1997 labour contributed only 57% of the total contributed by business PACs
Which act ensured lobbyists were clearly identified?
Lobbying Disclosure Act 1995
Number of registered lobbyists jumped by 37% in a year
What was spending on lobbying worth in 1998? What what was it in 2020?
$1.42bn in 1998
$3.53bn in 2020
What are the newly developed - though limited - access points in the UK?
Devolved governments
Westminster still has control over them so they are less effective than american state legislatures
What is one factor which increasingly reduces the ability of legislators to scrutinise?
Complex and substantial laws make it difficult to know each piece of legislation fully
Eg: Wall Street Reform act had 380k word
What is the average cost of a Reps seat since 1986?
$780,000 in 1986 to $1.6m in 2012
How does increasing campaign costs influence pressure groups?
Politicians need to raise more money
Wealthy corporations and donors can use their money to gain meetings and policy influence
Why is the role of pressure groups less in the UK?
Parties are stronger and push the mandate
Party whips control policy so american influence of local elections factors in more
How does diversity factor into the role of pressure groups?
Religious groups hold influence
13.2% black, 17% Hispanic
Economic inequality and broad range of industry means there are various pressure groups
What is the wealth gap in the US?
1% holds 40% if wealth
80% hold 7%
What are the American values which promote informal pressure group participation?
Individualism
American dream
Liberty
Pluralism
How many lobbyists worked in government?
54% used to work in congress
26% worked in executive
- lobbyists.info
Why aren’t MPs lobbied as much as congressmen?
Government introduces bills
Few private member bills succeed
Executive uses whip to demote unfavourable bills
How does the American legislative process increase lobbying points compared to the UK?
Standing committees are used earlier than UK public bill committee
Small standing committees are small which means lobbying can be focused
Why might legislators seek lobbyists during the legislative process?
Gaining help and expertise in the bill
May be used for polling/electioneering
Who were the biggest PAC donors in 2012?
Single issue groups - 68m
Labour groups - 60m
How do lobbyists directly influence votes in congress?
Provide voting cues which direct congressmen according to what pressure groups seek to support
Example: NRA publicly grades how members vote according to gun rights
How are federal agencies an access point?
Agency first has to propose a regulation to the public
Pressure groups can appeal regulation through judicial review
How did banks lobby agencies reduce the impact of Dodd-Frank Wall Street reform act?
Only half of regulations required were written by 2014
JPM and Goldman Sachs met with agencies 356 times in 2 years
Evidence of increasing pressure group using amicus curiae
Brown v Topeka had only 6 briefs in 1950s; 23% of cases had one
Moore v harper had 69 in 2022; 96% of cases had one
How does nomination of justices increase access points?
President can be lobbied: GW Bush was lobbied by 70 groups for John Roberts
How did liberal groups use public opinion against Robert Bork’s nomination?
Planned Parenthood full page newspaper ad
People for the American Way said Bork defended poll tax in tv ads
Example of outsider pressure groups using public opinion
Mothers Against Drunk Drivers use media to gain public emotional appeal
600,000 donors and volunteers by 1985
Alcohol fatalities reduced by 40% by 2000
729 state laws about drink driving
Minimum drinking age act 1984
Direct action example
Civil rights movement
1963 March on Washington gained 250,000 people
Montgomery Bus Boycott 1955
Examples of anti abortion group using confrontational direct action
Operation Rescue issue wanted posters for abortion staff
bombing of abortion clinics
Devolved state initiatives example
Colorado proposition 105
Vote on labelling GMO foods
How can pressure groups remove congress people?
Recall elections allow removing and re-electing member
Example of colorado gun rights organisations recalling democrat
What are three reasons a pressure group should be regulated?
Transparency in their intentions
Accountability
Elitism and the revolving door syndrome
Corruption in exchange of money for legislation
What was the first law intending to regulate lobbyists?
Federal Regulation of Lobbying Act 1946
Had to register with SoS and clerk of house of reps
Had to declare income and interests
How did the Supreme Court reduce regulation in 1954?
Only applied law to those directly discussing with congressmen
Contact with staff of the member was unregulated
Which scandal led to reform of lobbing?
Wedtech Scandal
Small business gained relatively massive defence contracts
Bribery and lobbying shown
Which law was a response to the wedtech scandal?
Lobbying Disclosure Act 1995
Defined lobbyists as spending 20% of their time lobbying
Large firms had to give information about any client over $5,000
Example of corruption & revolving door
2003
Aldridge approved $3bn on F-22 jets
3 months later got job at Lockheed Martin
Example of revolving door regarding banking
Paulson worked in Goldman sachs
2006 Paulson came Secretary of the treasury
2008 oversaw TARP in bailing out banks
Gave $13bn to GS
Legislation which reduces the impact of the revolving door
Ethics in government act 1978 meant executive employees had to wait a year before becoming lobbyists
Ethics Reform Act 1989 expanded to congress and staff
Example of a professional lobbyist scandal
Jack Abramoff
Charged Native American groups $85mn to lobby for them
Used the money to give donations to politicians and sometimes went against the NA interests
Response to jack Abramoff
Honest Leadership and Open Government Act 2007
Increased wait period to two years
Increased disclosure: lobbyists show files every 3 months and fines worth $200,000
Semi annual reports on spending in PACs and candidates
Banned free air travel and gifts to candidates
What are AstroTurf group?
Lobbyists hide their intentions and act like grassroots group
Eg national smokers alliance lobbied against anti smoking laws but was created by a PR firm for Phillip Morris (tobacco firm)
Overall, do pressure groups positively or negatively influence participation in the US?
Reduces tyranny of majority
Promotes pluralist society to increase participation in such a diverse context
but it may be argued pressure groups allow elitism through different resources and imbalance in opportunity
How might participación in pressure groups not really increase participation?
Sometimes limited
Eg AARP has 40 million members and lobbies on issues for elderly Americans
Some may have joined due to discounted travel rather than politics
How may direct action be undemocratic?
They are forcing the hand of elected representatives but are a small group
In 2012 how much of funding came from the top 1%?
68% of super PACs
$828mn total
How might pressure groups not accurately inform government?
One sided information if one side can’t fund their side
Issues such as astroturf groups do not accurately paint a picture of the situation to government
How do pressure groups play a role in scrutiny?
Rating legislators according to their voting record
;
Politicians rely on financial support and incumbents often gain more spending if they are friendly to lobbyists
Revolving door means legislators are less likely to act in favour of people
How do pressure groups set the debate and drive agenda?
Examples such as civil rights and MADD provided national conversation
;
Many are a small group who want specific change (eg gun rights minorities spending)
