Pressure Groups - Scriven

Question 1

Pluralism

Answer 1

Political power does not rest simply with the electorate or governing elite - but is distributed among groups representing widely different interests

Question 2

Elitism

Answer 2

Political power rests with a small group who gain wealth, family status or intellectual superiority

Question 3

Representation function

Answer 3

Important link between public + politicians where US public can have views represented
Channel of easy access for ordinary citizens to voice their opinions
Representatives have a much wider role but in pressure groups women, African Americans, gun owners, business owners ext can be represented to 3 branches of govt

Question 4

Citizen participation function

Answer 4

Increase opportunity for citizens participation between elections - in us participation is seen as a virtue (cultural)
They have more elections but only 1 day a year
Opportunity to participate in a particular specific policy

Question 5

Public education function

Answer 5

Pressure groups seek to educate public opinion - warning of possible views
Berry+wilcox “with their advocacy efforts, publications, ad campaigns pressure groups can make people better aware of both policy problems and solutions

Question 6

Agenda building function

Answer 6

Seeks to influence the agendas of parties to prioritise member’s interests
Attempt to bring out different parts of us society to achieve a common interest
E.g china and fake illegal duplicates

Question 7

Programme monierting function

Answer 7

Scrutinise and hold govt account so they ensure promsies are fulfilled
NRA often being cases to federal courts asking the judicial branch to monitor the effects of legislation
American civil liberties union did similar - they challenged trump’s executive order Muslim travel ban

Question 8

Structural comparative dimension

Answer 8

-access points
-federalism
-uk groups focus more on Westminster
-uk parliament more party discipline = less chance of mps being swayed
-role of USSC/UKSC

Question 9

Rational comparative dimensions

Answer 9

Much depends in both countries which party is in power
In both insider groups tend to prevail

Question 10

Cultural comparative dimension

Answer 10

-first amendment rights
-numerous groups in us
-loose v more centralised parties
-greater ‘participatory’ culture in USA
-unionisation/Labour Party origins