Pressure Groups

Question 1

Link to structural theory?

Answer 1

Access’s points
-Federalims
-UK groups at Westminster
Uk parliaments more party discipline, less chance of MPs being swayed, congressional committee
-Role of US sc vs UKSC

Question 2

Rational theory?

Answer 2

Much depends in both countries on which party in power
In both insider groups tend to prevail

Question 3

Cultural theory?

Answer 3

-1st amendment right
-Numerous factions/groups in USA
-Loose v more centralised parties
-Unionisation and also Labour Party origins
-Greater participator culture in USA (Civil rights)

Question 4

What is pluralism?

Answer 4

Political power does not rest simply with the electorate or the governing elite, but is distributed among groups representing widely different interest groups

Question 5

What is elitism?

Answer 5

Political power rests with a small group who gain wealth, family status or intellectual superiority

Question 6

Who created elitism?

Answer 6

C Wright Mills in the book the power if elites believing US was ruled by a small governing of wealthy and powerful individuals

Question 7

Who created positivism?

Answer 7

Robert Dahl in ‘Who Goverens’

Question 8

What are the different functions of pressure groups?

Answer 8

Representation
Citizen participation
Public education
Agenda building
Programme monetering

Question 9

Functions- Representation?

Answer 9

-US citizens can have views represented
-Channel of easy access’s for ordinary citizens to voice opinions as this is the most important way in which their strongest held views are represented
-Representatives have wider role, in women, African Americans, gun owners, business owners environmentalists, Christina’s farmers or retired people can have their views represented to 3 branches of govt

Question 10

Functions- citizen participations?

Answer 10

-Increase opportunity’s for ordinary citizens to participate in decision along process between election, political participations seen as virtue (Cultural)
-More elections in US but only held one day a year
-Americans seek greater participations in the democratic process, offer opportunity to participate in a specific policy area- pro areas, anti abortion etc

Question 11

Functions- Public education?

Answer 11

-Seek to educate public opinion, warnings and dangers if issues aren’t arrested as well as the likely effects of fecisions made by the govt
-Berry and Wilcox, with there advocacy efforts, publications and publicity campaigns, pressure groups and make people better aware of both policy problems and proposed solutions

Question 12

Functions- agenda building?

Answer 12

-Seek to influence agenda of political parties, legislators and bureaucrates to give priority to their members interests
-Attempt to bring about different parts of US society e/g/ mandafactures and distributors of CD’s and DVD’s and computers software working to get government pay attention to piracy of such goods causing China to close down factories that were illegally duplicated American goods

Question 13

Functions- programme monitoring?

Answer 13

This is to scrutinise and hold govt to account in the implemention of policies, to try ensure that promises are fulfilled, policies delivered and regulation enforced
-NRA bring cases to state and federal courts asking the judicial branch to monitor effects of legislation
-ACLU legally challenged Trumps exec order placing a 90 day ban on entering US from Muslim countries

Question 14

Example of corrupt pressure group/iron triangle?

Answer 14

Military industrial complex

Question 15

Pressure group- Military industrial complex relationship?

Answer 15

Large military contractors lobby appropriations and armed forces committees who then give the budget to department of defence

Question 16

Pressure group- Military industrial complex development 1950 v 60’s?

Answer 16

1950- total budget: $40 billion and $12 bill on military expenditure
1960- total budget $92 billion and $60 bill on military expenditure
Eisenhower was president during time and was scared by numbers driven by iron triangles

Question 17

Pressure group- Military industrial complex development, Eisenhower?

Answer 17

-In his farewell address E warned dangers of emerging military industrial complex and threat posing to democracy in the USA
-Military major companies and US politicians in congress had vested interest in stoking the Cold War and lobbying the US govt to pursue an agressive foreign policy

Question 18

Pressure group- Military industrial complex company’s developed through spending?

Answer 18

Lockheed Martin
Boeing IBM

Question 19

How does the military industrial complex relate to George W Bush?

Answer 19

-Bushes choice to invade Iraq was due to influence from present day miliatary industrial complex
-Since 2000 Lockheed Martin, Boeing and Bell helicopter donated large amounts of money to republicans
-Firms are among similar firms who received $40 billion in contracts to supply military equipment to the US armed forces
-32 members of Bushes EXPO had direct links with companies who won contratcs

Question 20

By country what do America spend on military expenditure?

Answer 20

721.8

Question 21

American medical association aims?

Answer 21

The AMA advocate for the interest of physicians and medical professionals, focusing on healthcare reform, medical ethics and public interest

Question 22

American medical association methods?

Answer 22

Lobbying, public advocacy, providing expert testimony and issuing party statement

Question 23

American medical association successes?

Answer 23

Played crucial role in the passage of medicare and aid in 1960’s and influenced affordable care act

Question 24

American medical association controversies?

Answer 24

Slow to embrace healthcare reform and accused prioritizing the interests of physicians over patent access to care

Question 25

Aims of NARAL (pro choice group)?

Answer 25

Advocacy group that fights for abortion rights abd reproductive freedom seeking to protect and effective legal abortion

Question 26

NARAL methods?

Answer 26

Lobbying, grassroots organisations, legal action and public education campaigns

Question 27

NARAL functions?

Answer 27

Plays a role in on going debate over reproductive rights advocating for policies protecting woman’s health and choice

Question 28

NARAL successes?

Answer 28

Blocked attempts to restrict abortion access and in securing legislative victories like the affordable care acts coverage of reproductive health service

Question 29

NARAL controversies?

Answer 29

Criticism from anti abortion groups who argue that it promotes the normalisation of abortion
Pro choice groups that believe its been to accommodating with moderate position

Question 30

NAACP aims?

Answer 30

Eliminates racial discrimination and ensures civil rights for African Americans and other marganilised groups

Question 31

NAACP methods?

Answer 31

Legal challenges, public advocacy, lobbying and grass root organising

Question 32

NAACP functions in US democracy?

Answer 32

Oldest most prominent civil rights organisations in US, focusing on voting rights, criminal justice refom education equality and anti discrimination efforts

Question 33

NAACP successes?

Answer 33

Played key role in civil rights legislation
(Civil rights act of 1964) and voting rights act of 1965

Question 34

NAACP controversies?

Answer 34

Faced criticism from some African American leaders who argue it doesn’t adequately represent all black Americans especially for criminal justice refom

Question 35

Emilys list aims?

Answer 35

Emilys list is a PAC that supports pro choice democratic women candidates for elected office
It’s goal is to increase the number of women in politics

Question 36

Emilys list methods?

Answer 36

Fundraising for female candidates
Endorsement and strategic support for campaigns of pro choice women candidates
Organizing political mobilization efforts around women’s issues

Question 37

Emilys list notable campaigners?

Answer 37

Focuses on electing democratic women to congress, the senate and state offices
Working with elect figures like Nancy Pelosi, Elizabeth Warren and others aligned with its value

Question 38

Emilys list success?

Answer 38

Helped elect more than 1000vpro choice women to office since its founding in 1985
Played a pivotal role in the 2018 year of the women where many women elected to congress

Question 39

Emily list failures?

Answer 39

-Limited success in getting women elected in deeply conservative districts where pro choice is less popular
-Struggled to gain traction in some state and local races against well established males candidates