Pressure Groups

Question 1

what is the existence of PGs protected by?

Answer 1

the constitution

Question 2

how is the existence of PGs protected by the constitution?

Answer 2

1st amendment - right to free speech

Question 3

what do some PGs have enshrined in the constitution?

Answer 3

their aims - e.g. NRA

Question 4

what are PGs able to do against political parties?

Answer 4

PGs are able to launch uses in the SC against laws passed by political parties in Congress - if they believe they are unconstitutional

Question 5

what power do the SC have?

Answer 5

power of judicial review so are able to declare acts or actions unconstitutional, and thus null and void

Question 6

what tactics do PGs often use in the court?

Answer 6

filing amicus briefs to the court

Question 7

in what recent case did PGs file amicus briefs?

Answer 7

Citizens Untied v FEC (2012)

Question 8

which PGs filed amicus briefs against which law?

Answer 8

• citizens united and American civil liberties union (ACLU)

- against Bipartisan election reform act - passed by Congress in 2002

Question 9

what did the 2012 bipartisan election reform act do?

Answer 9

act prevented non-profit organisations, corporations and PGs from political advertising and campaigning 60 days before election

Question 10

what did SC rule in citizens united?

Answer 10

ruled act was unconstitutional as it went against the 1st amendment

Question 11

what did the citizens united show?

Answer 11

power of PGs as they overturned legislation passed by parties

Question 12

what technique do PGs use in congress?

Answer 12

lobbying congressional committees to influence legislative process

Question 13

in the 2016 cycle, how much did NRA spend on house committees?

Answer 13

$1,029,200 on 19 US house committees

Question 14

in the 2016 cycle, how much did NRA spend on senate committees?

Answer 14

$518,650 on 17 Senate committees

Question 15

what are committees the starting place for?

Answer 15

legislation

Question 16

why do PGs use lobbying?

Answer 16

to influence policy makers and to draft bills that are favourable to their cause

Question 17

how much did NRA give Reps and Dems in 2016 cycle?

Answer 17

• Rep received $821,850

- Dem received $10,500

Question 18

why do political parties need support from PGs

Answer 18

in order to support candidates, money allows them to spend on media coverage and advertising

Question 19

what crucial power do parties have?

Answer 19

power to pass legislation and pass bills

Question 20

what has increased in Congress in recent years?

Answer 20

partisanship

Question 21

which bills specifically are voted on party lines?

Answer 21

crucial bills

Question 22

how has party unity votes increased over time?

Answer 22

• 47% in 111th Congress
• 69% in 112th Congress
• 87% in 113th Congress

Question 23

in 2015 how did unity figures increase?

Answer 23

• 92% for dems and reps in house

- 91% for dems and 89% for reps in senate

Question 24

what are members of congress becoming more aligned with?

Answer 24

party ideologies and values

Question 25

how much did NRA spend on lobbying in 2017?

Answer 25

over $5m lobbying bills in Congress

Question 26

in 2013, which amendment did NRA lobby against?

Answer 26

Manchin -Toomey amendment

Question 27

what was the Manchin -Toomey amendment?

Answer 27

- introduced due to Sandyhook shooting, 26 killed, 20 children - required background checks on people wanting to purchase guns and introduce registration of firearms

Question 28

what happened to the Manchin -Toomey amendment?

Answer 28

billed failed to gain 60 required votes in senate due to lobbying from NRA

Question 29

what has happened to Congress under Trump and 115th congress?

Answer 29

partisanship has become more prominent due to his controversial policies and statements

Question 30

what have controversial polices caused?

Answer 30

backlash from a strong and united democratic opposition

Question 31

in what areas have trump controversial policies been?

Answer 31

immigration, healthcare and tax

Question 32

why did govt go into shutdown in jan 2018?

Answer 32

federal budget proposed failed to gain 60 votes in senate on jan 20th, the deadline for the spending bill to pass

Question 33

what did Democrats want to preserve in the shutdown?

Answer 33

- wanting to preserve provision and funding for the DACA programme - protecting child migrants from deportation, as part of the federal budget

Question 34

what was the result of senate vote?

Answer 34

- 50-48 | - only 5 democrats voting in favour and 6 reps against

Question 35

how do reps and dems differ on their views on abortion?

Answer 35

- Rep traditionally have conservative social policies, -opposing abortion - Dem have more liberal social values, supporting the pro-choice

Question 36

what act was passed in Reps in October 2017? why was it able to succeed?

Answer 36

- pain-capable unborn child protection act | - republican majority in house - 236 reps

Question 37

what did the pain-capable unborn child protection act do?

Answer 37

made abortion illegal after 20 weeks of pregnancy as opposed to 24 weeks

Question 38

how did the house vote for pain-capable unborn child protection act?

Answer 38

- 234 reps and 3 dems for | - 187 dems and 21 reps against