Pressure groups

Question 1

Describe the philosophy of political pluralism in the US.

Answer 1

Political pluralism emphasizes the benefits of different groups influencing decision-making, allowing the government to consider views from across society, many of which are represented by pressure groups (PGs).

Question 2

How does the Great Seal of the US reflect the concept of political pluralism?

Answer 2

The Great Seal of the US, with the phrase ‘out of many, one’, illustrates the challenge of forging a united nation and coherent government from a diverse society.

Question 3

Define the role of pressure groups in the US political system.

Answer 3

Pressure groups aim to influence those in power rather than seeking to win power themselves, representing various ideas and interests within society.

Question 4

Explain the significance of the First Amendment in relation to pressure groups.

Answer 4

The First Amendment guarantees freedom of association, providing pressure groups with the constitutional right to exist and operate within the political system.

Question 5

How do pressure groups contribute to public debate in a democracy?

Answer 5

Pluralists believe that disagreement among pressure groups is healthy for democracy, as it fosters proper public debate and leads to more informed decisions.

Question 6

Identify an example of conflicting pressure groups in the US.

Answer 6

Americans United for Life (pro-life) and Planned Parenthood (pro-choice) represent opposing interests in the debate over abortion.

Question 7

What is the elitist theory’s critique of pressure groups?

Answer 7

Proponents of elitist theory argue that wealthy pressure groups have more influence due to their resources, such as funding for ads and lobbying, leading to a government run by a powerful elite.

Question 8

Describe the impact of pressure groups on significant societal developments in the US.

Answer 8

Many significant developments, such as racial desegregation and abortion legislation, would not have occurred without the influence of pressure groups.

Question 9

What distinguishes insider groups from outsider groups?

Answer 9

Insider groups have close ties to the government or major political parties and are typically well-funded, while outsider groups seek to influence politicians through public pressure and often adopt anti-establishment stances.

Question 10

Provide an example of an outsider group and its actions.

Answer 10

Climate Direct Action is an example of an outsider group that organized valve turner protests in 2016, where members turned off valves on a significant portion of US crude oil imports.

Question 11

What motivates promotional groups in the context of pressure groups?

Answer 11

Promotional groups are driven by altruism and aim to promote particular causes they believe will benefit society, rather than pursuing self-interest.

Question 12

How do well-funded pressure groups affect public opinion on issues like gun control?

Answer 12

Well-funded groups, such as the NRA, can prevent changes that the majority of the public supports, like gun control, despite significant public backing for such measures.

Question 13

Describe the role of Greenpeace USA.

Answer 13

Greenpeace USA is an interest group focused on environmental issues, advocating for policies and actions to protect the environment.

Question 14

Define interest groups and their purpose.

Answer 14

Interest groups exist primarily to defend or advance specific interests of their members, influencing public policy and decision-making.

Question 15

How do unions like AFL-CIO contribute to their members’ welfare?

Answer 15

Unions like AFL-CIO focus on improving the rights, pay, and working conditions of their members through collective bargaining and advocacy.

Question 16

Identify the function of business/trade groups such as the US Chamber of Commerce.

Answer 16

Business/trade groups like the US Chamber of Commerce represent the interests of businesses, advocating for policies that benefit the business community.

Question 17

Explain the significance of professional organizations like the American Bar Association.

Answer 17

Professional organizations like the American Bar Association support the interests of their members, provide resources, and set standards for professional practice.

Question 18

What social group does the NAACP represent?

Answer 18

The NAACP represents the interests of black people, advocating for civil rights and social justice.

Question 19

Describe the role of religious groups in advocacy.

Answer 19

Religious groups, such as the Christian Coalition of America, advocate for policies and issues aligned with their religious beliefs and values.

Question 20

How can large corporations be considered interest groups?

Answer 20

Large corporations can be considered interest groups if they engage in lobbying government or funding political campaigns to influence policy.

Question 21

What are traditional social movements, and when did they begin?

Answer 21

Traditional social movements began in the 19th century and campaigned for social and economic change, achieving significant gains in the 20th century.

Question 22

Identify examples of new social movements that emerged from the 1960s.

Answer 22

Examples of new social movements include the environmental movement and the anti-nuclear movement.

Question 23

How has social media impacted social movements in the 21st century?

Answer 23

Social media has proliferated social movements, allowing activists to organize, recruit, and mobilize large numbers quickly, often through hashtags.

Question 24

What is the significance of the #MeToo movement?

Answer 24

The #MeToo movement is a social movement that addresses sexual harassment and assault, empowering individuals to share their experiences and seek justice.

Question 25

Explain the electoral campaigning tactics used by interest groups.

Answer 25

Interest groups endorse candidates and encourage members and the public to vote for them, often donating money to political action committees (PACs) and Super PACs.

Question 26

What was the outcome of EMILY’s List endorsement of Clinton in 2016?

Answer 26

EMILY’s List endorsed Clinton in 2016, but she did not achieve the position of female president.

Question 27

What is the purpose of scorecards released by organizations for voters?

Answer 27

Scorecards show voters how candidates score on key policies, including analysis of voting records and comparisons with other candidates.

Question 28

Define the role of the US Chamber of Commerce’s scorecard.

Answer 28

The US Chamber of Commerce releases a ‘How they Voted’ scorecard for each member of Congress to allow voters to analyze records in advancing pro-business policies.

Question 29

What grading system does the NRA use for candidates regarding gun rights?

Answer 29

The NRA allocates each candidate a grade from A to F based on their voting record on gun rights.

Question 30

What is the ‘dirty dozen’ list released by the League of Conservation Voters?

Answer 30

The ‘dirty dozen’ list includes politicians with the worst environmental records; 5 out of 12 candidates on the federal list were defeated in 2020.

Question 31

How do interest groups (PGs) attempt to influence government officials?

Answer 31

PGs try to influence members of the executive or legislature by meeting with them, sharing knowledge of their policy area, and convincing them to adopt favorable policies.

Question 32

What constitutional right protects lobbying activities?

Answer 32

The right to lobby is protected by the Constitution; the First Amendment guarantees the right to ‘petition the government for a redress of grievances.’

Question 33

How do PGs establish insider contacts in Washington, D.C.?

Answer 33

Many PGs have offices in D.C. to access the federal government and Congress, developing relationships with individuals who can support their legislation.

Question 34

What was the significance of the meetings held by representatives from J.P. Morgan and Goldman Sachs between 2010-2012?

Answer 34

Representatives from J.P. Morgan and Goldman Sachs had over 350 meetings with federal agencies as they were rewriting regulations for banking in response to the crisis.

Question 35

What is the K-Street corridor known for?

Answer 35

The K-Street corridor in D.C. is known for being the location of many professional lobbying firms.

Question 36

How much was spent on federal lobbying in 2019?

Answer 36

Over $3.47 billion was spent on federal lobbying in 2019, with spending concentrated on political issues of the day.

Question 37

What lobbying efforts were made by companies/business PGs in 2019?

Answer 37

In 2019, companies and business PGs lobbied the government regarding Trump’s trade deal with Mexico and Canada.

Question 38

What was notable about lobbying spending in 2010?

Answer 38

2010 was the highest-value lobbying year on record, with much of the $3.51 billion spent by healthcare companies/groups to influence the format of the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

Question 39

Describe the impact of lobbying spending by US corporate groups.

Answer 39

Lobbying spending by US corporate groups is estimated to have led to $90 million in subsidies for businesses.

Question 40

Define revolving door syndrome in the context of lobbying.

Answer 40

Revolving door syndrome refers to the practice where firms hire lobbyists who previously worked in the executive branch or Congress to leverage their established contacts.

Question 41

How did Eugene Scalia’s career illustrate the revolving door syndrome?

Answer 41

Eugene Scalia worked for G.W. Bush’s administration before becoming the Secretary of Labor in 2019 and lobbying on behalf of the US Chamber of Commerce.

Question 42

What are some regulations Congress has implemented to control lobbying?

Answer 42

Congress has implemented regulations such as the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 and the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007, which require disclosure of lobbying activities and impose restrictions on gifts to members of Congress.

Question 43

Discuss the criticism faced by industries regarding lobbying practices.

Answer 43

Industries are often criticized for being anti-democratic and elitist, particularly those with deep pockets that can buy influence, such as the US Chamber of Commerce.

Question 44

How did the US Chamber of Commerce influence the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement?

Answer 44

The US Chamber of Commerce successfully convinced Congress to pass the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement after meeting with 36 members.

Question 45

What was Trump’s approach to lobbyists during his presidency?

Answer 45

Despite his campaign promise to ‘drain the swamp’ of lobbyists, Trump hired 281 lobbyists to work in his government after two years in office.

Question 46

Who is Brian Ballard and what is his significance in lobbying?

Answer 46

Brian Ballard, founder of Ballard Partners, was named the most powerful lobbyist in Trump’s Washington by Politico and lobbied for The Trump Organization.

Question 47

What financial success did Ballard Partners achieve after Trump’s election?

Answer 47

Ballard Partners gained 100 clients in less than two years after Trump’s election, earning more than $28 million.

Question 48

Explain the mission of EMILY’s List.

Answer 48

EMILY’s List aims to elect Democratic pro-choice women to office by recruiting and training candidates, providing campaign contributions, and running programs to persuade voters.

Question 49

What was the financial impact of EMILY’s List in the 2018 election cycle?

Answer 49

EMILY’s List spent $37 million in the 2018 election cycle, leading to record numbers of female members of Congress.

Question 50

How did EMILY’s List support Kamala Harris’s campaign?

Answer 50

In 2020, EMILY’s List spent $5.5 million on digital advertising to support Kamala Harris, who became the first female Vice President.

Question 51

What achievements did EMILY’s List have in the 2022 election cycle?

Answer 51

In the 2022 election cycle, EMILY’s List helped elect nearly 500 candidates to local, state, federal, and gubernatorial offices, including Jasmine Crockett.