Pressure Groups

Question 1

Define pressure groups

Answer 1

A group, which provides participation for the populace between elections

Question 2

Define sectional group

Answer 2

A group which protects the interests of its constituents.

Question 3

Define cause/single issue group

Answer 3

A group that campaigns on a single issue or set of issues.

Question 4

Examples of sectional groups

Answer 4

American Medical Association
American Bar Association
Trade unions

Question 5

Examples of cause groups

Answer 5

National Rifle Association
Americans for Responsible Solutions
National Abortion Rights Action League

Question 6

Examples of groups that are both cause and sectional groups

Answer 6

NAACP

National Organisation for Women

Question 7

Define Political Action Committees

Answer 7

Fundraising arm of pressure groups and parties, which have the aim to raise electoral finance to support or oppose candidates at elections, both presidential and congressional.

Question 8

What gave PACs more power?

Answer 8

Citizens United vs FEC

Feingold-McCain Act

Question 9

Alternatives to PACs

Answer 9

527s- tax exempt organisations

Individual based raising of funds- John Ansderson and Bernie Sanders

Question 10

Is there a correlation between money spent on a Congressman and how he votes?

Answer 10

No

Question 11

Is negative campaigning good?

Answer 11

No, turns off voters

Question 12

Define lobbying

Answer 12

Lobbying is an attempt to influence a policy-making, legislative or judicial process

Question 13

Define iron triangles

Answer 13

Term used to describe the relationship between the legislative branch, bureaucracy and interest groups. Is considered to be a ‘symbiotic relationship’ where all three work together to further each other’s needs.

Question 14

Examples of iron triangles

Answer 14

Military Industrial Complex

Agricultural Industry Complex

Question 15

Explain pluralism in the USA

Answer 15

Where there are multiple access points
The ability to petition all levels of govt
Tradition of open government
All groups are equal

Question 16

Explain elitism in the USA

Answer 16

Where only certain privileged groups have the ability to apply pressure to the government

Question 17

Key pluralist theorist

Answer 17

Dahl

Question 18

Dahlist theoretical utopia

Answer 18

Effective participation
Voting equality
Enlightened understanding
Control of agenda
Inclusiveness

Question 19

2015 Open Secrets number of staffers going to lobbying firms

Answer 19

7,505

Question 20

Chief Staffer to Paul Ryan

Answer 20

David Hoppe- was a lobbyist

Question 21

Percentage of Americans with pressure group connections

Answer 21

80%

Question 22

How does funding affect success?

Answer 22

Needs funds to campaign effectively- flyers, banners and other paraphernalia, so they can spread their message

Question 23

Membership of NRA

Answer 23

5 million

Question 24

Membership of ARS

Answer 24

670,000

Question 25

Differences in groups

Answer 25

NRA > ARS

Big Oil > environmental groups

Question 26

Instances with similar groups

Answer 26

Abortion

Immigration

Question 27

Evaluation against lobbying

Answer 27

ENRON Scandal 2000

Question 28

Methods of pressure groups

Answer 28

Electioneering
Lobbying
Direct Action

Question 29

Case of Tom Foley

Answer 29

Washington Representative
Speaker
Supported Brady Bill (increased gun control)
Opposed by NRA
Loses seat in 1994 after campaigning from NRA

Question 30

Case of Kelly Ayotte

Answer 30

New Hampshire Senator
Gun Rights Advocate
Not re-elected in 2016
$2.6million spent by Americans for Responsible Solutions against her