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US Government And Poltics > Pressure Groups > Flashcards

Pressure Groups Flashcards

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1
Q

What is a pressure group?

A

An organised interest group in which members hold similar beliefs and actively pursue ways to influence government.

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2
Q

What is pluralism?

A

Theory that political power does not rest simply with the electorate or the governing elite, but is distributed among groups representing widely different interests

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3
Q

What is K street?

A

The street around which todays lobbying firms congregate

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4
Q

What is elitism?

A

A theory that political power rests with a small group who gain power through wealth, family status or intellectual superiority

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5
Q

What do pressure groups seek to do?

A

They seek to influence those who have control of the government

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6
Q

What are sectional groups?

A

They seek to represent their own section or group within society.

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7
Q

What are examples of sectional groups?

A

The American Business conference, NFU, NAACP

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8
Q

What are professional groups?

A

A pressure group organised to promote the interest of a profession or business

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9
Q

What are intergovernmental pressure groups?

A

Those that lobby one level of government on half of another, such as the national governors conference

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10
Q

What are causal groups?

A

Campaign for a particular cause or issue

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11
Q

What are single interest groups?

A

A pressure group created in response to. Specific issue in order to promote policies that the group desires concerning that issue.

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12
Q

What are examples if single interest groups?

A

NRA and the NARAL

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13
Q

What are think tanks and what are some examples of some?

A

Think tanks conduct research, write reports, write articles for publication in leading broadsheet newspapers, organise conferences and give evidence to congressional committees. E.g. Heritage foundation

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14
Q

What are the five basic functions of pressure groups?

A 
Representation 
Citizen participation 
Public education 
Agenda building
Programme monitoring
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15
Q

What methods are used by pressure groups?

A
  • electioneering and endorsement
  • lobbying
  • organising grassroots activities
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16
Q

In 2016 what group endorsed clinton?

A

NARAL

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17
Q

What does the ADA do?

A

They publish regular ratings on legislators, showing how often - or how rarely a particular legislator has supported policy positions in line with the views of that particular group

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18
Q

What was the total federal lobbying revenue in 2016?

A

$3.1Bn

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19
Q

What does EMILYs list do?

A

They try and increase the number of women being elected to congress - supporting female candidates early in the election process

20
Q

What pressure group had significant impact on the Heller vs District of Columbia 2008?

A

NRA

21
Q

What impact do pressure groups have on congress?

A
  • they lobby members of congress
  • they lobby congressional committees
  • they organise constituents
22
Q

Why is it easy to influence congressional committees?

A

Because they contain smaller numbers on congressmen

23
Q

What is an example f pressure group activity in congress?

A

Senate judiciary committee - protecting older Americans from financial exploitation (2016) - AARP was a witness of the hearing

24
Q

What do pressure groups try to do in terms of organising constituents?

A

They try and make them telephone, email or visit their member of congress to either express support or opposition to a certain policy

25
Q

What does the American Bar association do?

A

They evaluate the professional qualifications of nominees and their evaluation can play a significant role in the confirmation process conducted by the senate

26
Q

What is one of the most active pressure groups in the courts?

A

The American civil liberties Union

27
Q

What are the arguments for pressure groups?

A
  • they provide useful information
  • they bring some kind of order to the policy debate
  • they broaden the opportunities for participation between elections
  • they can increase levels of accountability
  • enhance the two fundamental rights of freedom of speech and association
28
Q

What is the revolving door syndrome?

A
  • the practice by which former members of congress take up well paid jobs with Washington based lobbying firms, using their expertise and contacts to lobby their previous institution
29
Q

What is the iron triangle?

A

A strong relationship between pressure groups, the relevant congressional committees and the relevant government department which attempts to achieve mutually beneficial policy outcomes

30
Q

What are the arguments against pressure groups?

A
  • iron and revolving door syndrome
  • inequality of groups
  • special interests vs public interest
  • buying influence
  • using direct action
31
Q

Why is special interests vs public interests bad?

A

The NAACP or American Jewish congress it interests for their members above the good of society as a whole leading to a splintering society

32
Q

Why do elections in the US make pressure groups more powerful compared to the UK?

A

In the US there are more elective posts, in the USA both houses are elected - meaning they have far more opportunities for influence

33
Q

How many labour MPs in 2015 had links with the union Unite?

A

Over 50%

34
Q

What was the fall in trade union membership in the UK from 1979 to 2000?

A

Fell from 13million to over 7million

35
Q

What % of British people were members of trade unions compared to the US in 2000?

A
  • 29% in the UK

- 13 % in the US

36
Q

How could structural theory be used to compare pressure groups influence in congress in the UK and US?

A
  • UK legislature is more organised to fit with party guidelines and the executive where as in the US there is no direct executive control over congress
37
Q

What is the difference between lobbying the judiciary in the UK and US?

A

As the US has the power of judicial review it makes it more powerful as they determine the outcome of key legislative issues such as abortion etc.

38
Q

What determines success in UK and US pressure groups?

A
  • size of membership
  • amount of money available
  • groups position in the political system
  • ability to access the media
39
Q

What % of lobbyists used to work in congress?

A

54%

40
Q

What are standing committees?

A

Permanent committees with responsibility for considering bills in a particular policy area.

41
Q

Why do lobbyists target committees?

A

Committees need information for legislation, wants to know how to keep constituents/donors happy so they can get re elected

42
Q

What is electioneering?

A

Where people who align with their cause are elected therefore they donate and PACs

43
Q

What did citizen vs FEC establish?

A

That corporations have 1st amendment rights and they have the right to form super PACS were candidates can receive unlimited donations form individuals, corporations and unions, but not directly but in the form of ads etc.

44
Q

In 2012 what % of incumbent senators were re elected?

A

91.3%

45
Q

Why do pressure groups support incumbents?

A

Because building a relationship with a congress person is expensive and incumbents are the most likely to be re elected.

US Government And Poltics (7 decks)

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