Pressure Groups Flashcards
What are pressure groups and how are they different to political parties?
Parties seek to return officials to elected office and have policy focus on many different elements whereas pressure groups have one specific focus which they have a depth of knowledge on.
What functions do pressure groups preform in America?
- Pressure groups represent minority issues and groups that are not large enough to be represented through national electoral recognition.
- They hold the govt to account
- Engage in adjenda building
How do many pressure groups deal with the idea of ‘Free Riders’?
- Free Rider= when a interested party doesn’t participate in a movement and instead lets others work on their behalf
- offer incentives to join
How can pressure groups be defined by their aims
- Sectional Groups: represents their members
- Promotional grous- promotes their message
What different types of sectional & interest groups are there in USA?
Buisness- Alliance of automobile manufacturers
Professional- American Medical association
Labour Groups- United Auto Workers
Agricultural groups- NFU
What are umbrella groups?
A pressure group representing lots of different specific issues. The US chamber of commerce includes many different sub groups for their respective industries.
What different types of cause/ promotional groups are there?
Single issue- NRA
Ideological- Civil Liberties Union
How can pressure groups be classified by their status?
Insider- Has the ear of the govt
Outside- Exists on the political fringe in a grassroots capacity driven by its members
What are social movements? How are they different to pressure groups?
While pressure groups have a clear strong structure and leadership and memebrship social movements have loose coalitions of people and organisations
How does the US constitution protect the work of pressure groups?
Institution- 1st amendment upholds the freedom of speech and also the bill of rights means that many pressure group activities are legally protected.
NAACPV- Used first amendment rights to protect itself and members
Why are there so many access points in America?
Def: places where pressure can be applied- clear separation of powers,
How does constitutional systems of checks and balances help pressure groups?
The separation of powers means that there are three distinct groups that can be lobbied by pressure groups. A president may not by sympathetic to a cause but congress might and the judiciary might.
How has the expansion of federal government help pressure groups?
Each state government represents an access point
Why is the spiralling cost of us elections an opportunity for us pressure groups?
Larger groups can donate to candidates which allows the candidates which are more sympathetic to a groups issues to have more influence.
Why are US parties weak and how is this an opening for pressure groups?
Primaries meant that party memers choose candidate- NRA raking primary candidates takes power away from the party.
Why does USA’s diversity result in huge numbers of pressure groups
Lots of minority groups all competing for executive attention such that pressure groups exist to bridge the two and bring minority interests to state attention
Economic diversity- Large amount of natural resources that can be exploited
How does USA culture encourage pressure group activity?
Hugely unequal country
allows pressure groups to represent all country’s diversity.
What is a professional lobbyist? Where are main lobbying firms base?
A lobbyist is a person who attempts to make a change to how a politician makes a decision. Many of these larger lobbying firms are based on Washington’s K Street.
What past experience do many lobbyists have? Why does this greatly help their work?
Many lobbyists have either past experience of working as a member of the executive or as a a congress person. This is because they either understand how the system works- revolving door…
What are standing committees and subcommittees?
permanent standing committees decide on if a bill goes onto the floor. this topic specific committee acts as a bottleneck for legislation. These larger topic specific committee has sub committees on even more specific topics.
Why do lobbyists target committees?
As the bottleneck for legislation legislation can clearly be stopped. Less people to influence. Clearly more efficient.
How do both lobbyists and members of congress benefit from a strong working relationship?
Congress people gain knowledge around what their constituency wants and the topic of that bill.
Lobbyists gain the influence that the need.
What is electioneering?
lobbyists funning funds to an opponent of an incumbent which they would like to take down and funnelling funding to a candidate that supports them. This compounds the support of those that supports them and disencorages support of those than dont. NRA.
Why do pressure groups spend so much money to support incumbents?
Pressure Groups prefer incumbents as they are known quantities, they have a track record of delivering.
What are voting queues and scorecards and why are these an affective way of targeting congress?
When a pressure group issues a scorecard on the level of support a candidate gives to an issue. NRA does this.
How does the aim of a pressure group affect the change of success for a pressure group?
More Simple aims are more easy to support. Complex aims with different levels support will need more complex bases.
LGBTQ+ movements can be repealed at federal levels.
How does the organisational structure help or hinder a pressure group?
OCCUPY WALL STREET
‘we are the 99%’ which links to the wealthy 1% who profited from Wall Street.
This group attempted to used democracy to self organise which resulted in the vary broad range of views conflicting and resulted in the collapse of a group.
How does the wealth of a pressure group help a pressure group?
millions spent on PAC’s, hired lobbyists, exploited the revolving door, broad agreement can buy access. Fund candiadtes.
How does the human resource and expertise help a pressure group?
Numbers with expertise or simply mass membership. Clear knowledge for groups allows for more expert leadership.Mass membership- NRA with 5 million members- allows for mandate through membership.
How does the staus of a pressure group affect its success
In the US Some groups are high status like the NRA which gives them more soft power.
Insider groups can lobby congress and interest groups can spread their interest further.
How does the opposition or lack of affect a pressure group?
Strength of opposition can harm achievements. BRADY- NRA reduces the impact of BRADY due to its significant power.
Opposion can be the establishment or constitution- passing constitutional change is near impossible.
What are grassroots pressure groups
Groups funded by concerned citizens with no significant financial resources.
What is grassroots lobbying and how is it different to professional lobbying
Lobbying the public and hence lobbying by influencing congresses electorate. Using mobilisation and direct action to influence the public. Contacting representatives in letter of phone blitz. Bill Boards.
What impact did grassroots group MADD have on drunk driving
MADD= mothers against drink driving
13 year old killed by drunk driving- their mother founded MADD. Using grassroots mobilisation and direct action to influence the public MADD gained significant media attention.
At peak they had 6000 donors or vollenteers. They submitted amicus briefs and consulting on legislation.
What is direct action? Why would groups choose to use it?
Direct action is taking actions to spur change. Takes place outside political channels. Can be non violent or Violent and can be legal or non legal. Outsider groups would choose to use this to direct attention to their cause. MADD BLM
How did the civil rights movement use non-violent actions to achieve its goals
The civil rights movement used non violent protests and marches which were well attended. This forced the message into the medias attention.
What are examples of more violent forms of direct action
The Birmingham campaign placed more resistance on police in 1963 which resulted in attests. Dogs and high pressured water attacked protesters which horrified citizens in other states which was constructive in brining about awerness of the treatment of African Americans.
How can grassroots groups use direct action to achieve their aims.
Voter registration drives were used in the mississpi summer of freedom in 1964.
Impact state and federal actions- violent response from white community. Impact state and federal actions.
What are federal regulations
Regulations used to establish how a law will be implemented in practice
How can pressure groups influence federal regulations
Pressure groups can lobby federal agencies and suggest changes on how a law is implemented. If they amendment isn’t accepted on the proposed interpretation they can instigate a judicial review.
How balanced is this lobbying of baking regulations
During the implementation of post GFS legislation JP Morgan and Goldman Sacks were consulted 356 times compared to every other institution- 114 times.
What are amicus curiae briefs? How often do SC cases attract them
Briefs submitted to a court to attempt to influence their court ruling. Meaning ‘Friends of the court’ the are legal arguments attempting to change they position of the relevant justice.
What evidence is there that amicus briefs influence the Supreme Court
Briefs are often submitted to the court. These can potentially change the courts position. They are legal arguments.
How often of pressure groups give oral/ written testimonies to influence a court nominations
75 groups provided their stance on G W Bush’s appointment of John Roberts.
How did liberal pressure groups influence the nominations of Robert Beck in 1987
Nominated by Regan and criticised for stance on Civil Rights act as well as other core legislation. Planned Parenthood purchased a 4 page newspaper ad. American Civil Liberties union went against nomination
How did conservative pressure groups inflence president George W Bush choice of nominee in 2005
Harriet Miers who was nominated but criticised for a lack of experience. Many powerful pressure groups NRA didn’t feel that her stance was clear enough on many issues.
What are the main concerns surrounding lobbying
Lack of transapracy
Reinforce elitism if money in PACs can influence legislative action
Corruption or bribery
How does the lobbying disclosure act define lobbying and how did it make lobbying efforts more transparent.
Lobbyists- Someone who paid to to make a contact to official or lobby any official.
Large firms had to disclose lobbying activities
In house lobbyists had to report spending
What is the revolving door- what are the concerns with it.
Idea that movement between people of movement from private to public sector.
Unfairly biasing decisions- for future job prospects.
How did Jack Abramoff’s lobbying lead to new lobbying laws
- one off most influenceal lobbyists
- Hired by tribes to promote casino based interests
-Overcharged clients and lobbied against their interests so they would spend more money with him - Charged with fraud
How did the HLOG act lead to new lobby laws and slow the revolving doors
Increasing cooling off period after leaving executive office.
increased disclosure requirements.
More requirements for contributions on committees
banned bundled donations which were donations given as one donation from a variety of groups
What did the HOLG ban
- Gifts to any staff within the executive
- Free air travel to exec members
What are strategic advisors and how are they different to lobbyists
- Contact groups and provide strategic advice for clients
- No regulations on grassroots lobbying or astroturf groups
What are astroturf groups? why could groups use this method
Astroturf groups are grassroots lobbyists that target the electorate and may misinform
Can include educating the public.
How do pressure groups help to balance the tyranny of the majority
Help build strong majorities for change
Major parties may have overlooked.
What is the difference between pluralism and elitism
Pluralist is the views of the many whereas elitism is the views of a narrow elite
What are Americans choosing to participate through pressure groups rather than elections
Many members do not equate to a large engagement base. Many members join for benifits.
AARP Membership includes group participation- all pressure groups participation can undermine democracy
What arguments are made for why pressure group participation can undermine democracy
Pressure groups may not go with the majority. NRA- Tyranny of a minority.
What concerns are there over the educational role of pressure groups
Lobbysists and grassroots lobbyists will only tell one side of the story.
Astroturf lobbying
How successful of pressure groups scrutinise incumbents
Scorecards are effective by NRA and AARP
PAC’s Only endorse what is in their self interest.
How transparent is pressure group activity- is this important
What is a Strategic Advisor
Attempts to make pressure groups more transparent is not neccirily effective and attempts may force those on the fringe to more actively undermine the wishes of the many.
A figure who advises on a strategy for how to effectively lobby for interest rather than lobbying directly
Why is it argued that some groups put special imputs over and above the public interest
Oil Lobbyists lobby against the public interest.
