!!!Pressure Groups Flashcards
Reasons why pressure groups are so prevalent in the USA
- Lack of representation by political parties
- Nature of US Government
- The expansion of the US Government
- The Constitution
- Historical suspicion of Govt.
How is Lack of representation by political parties a reason why pressure groups are so prevalent in the USA
- Parties seek to represent so many people
- Unable to take decisive action or have clearly defined policies on many issue
How is the Nature of US Government a reason why pressure groups are so prevalent in the USA
- The US Govt. is separated
- This creates a huge no. of ‘access points’
Congress has ___ chambers, dozens of committees, and at least ____ sub-committees to each committee
2 chambers
Dozens of committees
At least 4 sub-committees
How is the expansion of the US Government a reason why pressure groups are so prevalent in the USA
US Govt. has gained more power
The more your life is affected by public policy, the more likely you are to seek to influence this policy
How is the constitution a reason why pressure groups are so prevalent in the USA
- Provides a legal framework for PGs to operate
- 1st amendment secures free speech and association
- Also secures right to petition the Govt. for redress of grievance
How is historical suspicion of Govt. a reason why pressure groups are so prevalent in the USA
- Ever since its creation US society has held a suspicion of Govt., and so people seek to scrutinise the work of Govt.
- Has also caused a demand for public deliberations, which increases the level of access people have to policy makers
Ways that Pressure groups fulfil the role of representation
- PGs balance the tyranny of the majority
- US - many different cultures that need representing
- Huge number of interests
- Power and influence fairly distributed between competing groups
Ways that Pressure Groups hinder representation
- Elitist - Power is still concentrated in the hands of few
- PGs have vastly differing human and financial resources
- Small pressure groups can gain so much influence over the govt., their interests are put before the rest of the country. E.g. Iron Triangles
Example of small pressure groups having so much influence over the govt., their interests are put before the rest of the country
Though US has a huge debt, it has been hard to make defence budget cuts as all key decision makers benefit from increases in this budget
Functions of Pressure Groups
Representation Participation Public education Scrutiny Agenda building
Ways Pressure Groups are good through participation
Turnout remains low
FPTP and gerrymandering leads to wasted votes and fewer competitive vote races
- Thus PGs give opportunities for those in these areas whose vote does not have much impact to influence political decisions outside elections
Direct action has brought about significant change in the US - i.e Civil rights movement
Ways Pressure Groups are bad through participation
- Questionable how meaningful members’ membership is
- Reason for joining
- Use of undemocratic methods
- Representative democracy - Key decisions should be left to officials, not swayed
- Not all PGs have resources to participate to take advantage of revolving door in Washington
Example of it being questionable how meaningful members’ membership is
AARP (40m members) - but few are politically active
How is ‘Reason for joining’ a potential reason why participation is bad
Reason for joining - To receive scorecards to pressurise their Congressman? Or to receive large membership benefits (discounts)?
Ways pressure groups are good through Public Education
- Insiders educate govt.
- Insiders educate the public
- Outsiders can attract media and public attention
How do pressure groups educate the govt.
- Insiders offer expertise to Congress and the exec.
How do pressure groups educate the Supreme Court
Amicus Briefs
Evaluation of ways pressure groups are good for public education
- PGs focus on their own interests rather than broader public interest
- Accuracy and balance of information provision
- Lobbyists only give evidence that supports their clients
- Elitism means competing PG may not be able to provide law-makers with evidence
Ways Pressure Groups are good: Scrutiny
- PGs do scrutinise the govt. and hold them accountable
- Helps them make more informed decisions at election time
- Many PGs produce cue cards for politicians to follow and then scorecards for their members to rate them on their performance
Evaluation for scrutiny meaning that pressure groups are good
- Insiders more keen to support incumbents
- Business groups donate huge sums to incumbents
- If incumbents are defeated, PGs have to build new relationships to get access
- PGs are keener to preserve mutually beneficial relationships excluding others
- Questionable scrutiny of the PGs themselves
HLOG 2007
Govt. act to regulate PGs - filing reports and slowing down the revolving door syndrome
Ways pressure groups are good: Agenda building
- PGs build broad agendas and set tone of debate
Example of PGs building broad agendas
MADD (drink driving) - Built national movements for change that the govt. was unwilling or uninterested in making
Evaluation of Agenda building being a reason PGs are good
Many PGs represent only a small section of the public and their change not benefiting the broad spread of US public interest
Example of Many PGs representing only a small section of the public and their change not benefiting the broad spread of US public interest
Senators and Congressmen consistently oppose background checks in guns because of pressure from vocal minority (NRA)
Criticisms of PGs
Revolving door syndrome Iron triangles Buying political influence Inequality of groups Special interests v. public interest Using direct action
