topic 5.3 pressure groups Flashcards
what did the founding fathers think of interest groups?
interest groups are another form of faction and they were worried about their power
why does the US politics system make interest groups so effective?
- multiple layers of governemnt, repreesntative and state legislature means there are far more accsess point
- codified nature of constituion means that rights can be protected better especially when cases are taken to the supreme court
- loose party control means that indiivdual cna determine own policy ideology and therfore can be supported by interst group financially who will then advance their interests in congress
- elections are numerous nad frequent so there is a song opporunity to use donations to influence electoal outcomes (super PACS)
how can money influence interest groups’s influence on policy?
stong fiannce means they cna run fore effective public campaigns and spend more money on lobbying and ogranise grassroots campaing more effectivley
IE can pay people to vote on behalf of interest groups like the NRA
how can accsess effect interest groups influence on policy
revolving door in politics menas that many retired congressmen will work for interst gorups
in 2018 340 formed congressional staff worked for lobbying firms
how can expertise help influence policy
establishing expertise in a area help to appeal to the public with authoirty
for example rights groups need constitutional lawyers to help them take cases to court
why are the NRA’s power decreasing
in recent years they have been accused of acting illegally
the new york state attourney riled a lawsuit agains thtem for fraud and abse
ex the funds form the NRA have been used to fund la perrier’s lavish lifestyle
even money being taken from the more charitable side of the nRA which is supposed to teach gun stafetey to fund lavish lifestyle
becoming less reputable
what is lobbying
lobbying is a multimillion dollar profession where groups of indursty professionals provide politicnas iwth infromation that can play in the intersts groups favour in legisation
example of lobbying
ex. citigroup influences proposed bill in 2013 to roll back part of the dodo frank financial act that would allow businesses to to use savers money to trade in stocks (which caused the crahs) although didnt pass shows influence as working was almost exactly what the lobbyists said
why is lobbying so effective?
evidently change change politicans opijions and get laws passed in favour (like NRA)
but effectivness comes from the multiple layers of govenment to accsess
example of report cards
the league of conservation voters who are a environmental rights group produce a ‘dirty dozen’ each year which is the 12 more dangerous politicals to the enviroment based on their voting records
in 2011 11 out of 12 were defeated
limits to effectivness of report cards
it depend s on their istict and the views of their constituents.
for example if a district doesnt really care about entirmetnal polisy they are unlikely to vote them out based on dirty dozen
example of campaign finance/ electioneering
electionerring or ‘offering endoresemnt’ is effective
NARAL has a list of candidates on their website who they support. voters can see these people and potentially vote accordingly
limits to capmiagn finance/electioneering
- after the FEC court case direct donations of large abouts of money are limited
- electioneering only helps voters on one speciifc issue and cant directly change policies of law makers
how is electioneering effectice
can help guide first time or un-partisan voters who to vote for to portect their values
example of grassroots action:
ca be direct protests or direct action
NRA published a number of direct action videos attacking joe manchin about his bakc anf forth view on 3nd amdenment claiming that ‘jow manchin is the problem’
