Pressure Groups Flashcards
Pressure group
An organised interest group
Members hold similar beliefs and actively pursue ways to influence government
Allow participation in the political process between elections
Types of pressure group
Sectional groups
Causal groups
Sectional groups
Seek to represent their own section within society
eg. profession / race / gender / social characteristic
Causal groups
Campaign for a particular cause or issue
Types of causal groups
Single-interest groups
Policy groups
Think-tanks
Functions of pressure groups
Representation
Citizen participation
Public education
Agenda building - CD, DVD and computer software companies worked together to get the government to target piracy, resulting in China closing down factories that were illegaly duplicating American goods
Scrutinise government policy - American Civil Liberties Union brought the first legal challenges to Trump’s executive order placing a 90-day ban on entry into the US from seven predominantly Muslim countries
Methods used by pressure groups to fulfil their functions
Electioneering and endorsement
Lobbying
Organising grassroots activities
Examples of sectional pressure groups
NAACP
National Organisation for Women
Example of a single-interest group
NRA
Example of a policy group
The Sierra Club
Example of a think-tank
Institute for Policy Studies
Examples of pressure group power
Total federal lobbying revenue in 2016 amounted to over $3.1 billion
NRA’s role in ‘DC v Heller’ ruling
Impact of pressure groups on Congress
Lobby congressmen - Brady Bill (1994)
Lobby congressional committees - Can submit reports to Congress on proposed bill and give evidence to a committee
Organising constituents - January 2016 letter-writing camapign opposing the TPP
Publicising voting records - League of Conservation Voters
Endorsing candidates
Impact of pressure groups on the executive
Seek to maintain strong ties with relevant executive departments and agencies - impact regulatory work
Able to play a limitless role in Presidential elections campaign through Super PACs
Iron triangles
League of Conservation of Voters - XL Keystone Pipeline
Impact of pressure groups on the judiciary
Take an interest in presidential nominations to the judiciary
Offer ‘amicus curiae’ briefings, allowing them to present their views to the court (eg. DC v Heller / Snyder v Phelps)
Can bring cases to the Supreme Court - ACLU vs travel ban EO
VS
SC decides which cases it will hear, and only make decisions on the basis of the constitution
Arguments for pressure groups
Provide politicians with useful information
Act as a sounding board for legislators at the policy formulation stage in the legislative process
Bring order to the policy debate, aggregating views and channelling the wishes of the members whom they represent
Broaden the opportunities for political participation
Increase levels of accountability of Congress and the executive branch - scrutiny
Increase opportunity for representation between elections
Enhance freedom of speech and freedom of association
Arguments against pressure groups
Revolving doors - John Boehner joining Squire Patton Boggs
Iron triangles
Inequality of groups
Special interests v the public interest - ethnic pressure groups (eg. AIPAC) accused of splintering US society
Buying political influence (‘finest Congress money can buy’ - Edward Kennedy)
Using direct action - BLM
Factors determining pressure group success
Size of membership
Finances
Strategic position in the political system
Balance of public opinion
Strength of countervailing groups
Attitude of the administration
Ability to access the media
Total federal lobbying revenue in 2016
$3.1 billion
Iron triangle example
Vietnam Veteran’s of America
Veteran’s Affairs Committees of the House and Senate
The Department of Veterans Affairs
Policy areas where pressure groups have a significant impact
Environmental protection - Sierra Club
Womens rights - EMILY’s list
Abortion rights - Lobby the Senate over presidential judicial appointments
Gun control - NRA
Do pressure groups enhance US democracy?
Scrutiny of government vs scutiny process involving money and infair access / revolving doors
Increasing representation (BLM) vs Tryanny of the majority (contrary to a pluralist democracy)
Encouraging participation (eg. Rise and Resist highlighting alleged civil liberties abuses by Trump)
