US Democracy and Participation - Topic 5.3 Flashcards
Interest groups in the US
Where do single-interest groups try to gain influence?
These groups campaign in a very small area within government policy over a specific issue.
For example, the National Rifle Association fights for the rights of gun owners in the US. The NRA is the largest interest group in Congress, sending millions of dollars a year in lobbying funds.
Where do professional groups try to gain influence?
They seek to represent the interests of a group of workers or professionals, or of an industry as a whole, in government legislation. They may cover a wide array of areas within a field relevant to their industry. Professional groups can be seen as being similar to unions in the UK.
The American Farm Bureau Federation represent farmers across the US. Some of the issues they consider to be relevant are agricultural policy, immigration reform, tax and energy.
Where do policy groups try to gain influence?
Similar to single-interest, these groups cover a greater breadth over the issues they care about. Rather than a single, small issue, these groups are interested in an entire policy area and in exercising influence over it. These groups are likely to represent issues such as the environment or foreign policy.
Environment America seek influence over the whole government policy concerning the environment, from renewable energy and global warming, to wildlife conservation and clean air and water.
What resources do interest groups have at their disposal?
- Money: A group with large amounts of money is able to contribute to election campaigns, hire expensive lobbyists and organsie grassroots campaigns more effectively. This money may be from a few big donors or from a vast membership, but without money, it can be difficult to sustain influence
- Membership: The larger the group is, the more likely it is to have an influence due to the short election cycle. This means a grop that can mobilise many voters can pose a significant threat to a member of Congress up for re-election
- Access: A group that has either access to, or the support of, a politician is more likely to be heard. This may come from a retired member of Congress or it may be that former congressional staff members move into these groups. This tends to be more relevant to professional groups and lobbying groups
How does lobbying ensure that an interest group is heard?
Lobbying could be arranging a meeting with a member of Congress to try to convince them of the arguments. Or it could be something significant as drafting legislation and trying to win a congressional sponsor to introduce the legislation into Congress.
Lobbying can also provde info to Congress to try to get it to change or create favourable legislation or appointments. Cabinet appointments are a frequent target for groups as these will be the top government officials that determine policy in the areas relevant to them.
Groups might try to influence the appointment or rejection of a candidate, or try to build a rapport with them, thereby giving them greater influence
How do report cards ensure that an interest group is heard?
Members of Congress are ranked on how well they have supported an issue in their voting record and this is publicised to the membership of an interest group and the media more widely. While these have no direct effect, the hope is that for constituents who place a high value on specific issues, if their politicians are getting poor grades, it will cost them votes.
How do campaign finance and electioneering ensure than a group is heard?
Gaining influence in elections is often done through donations to the campaign. Direct donations are limited by campaign finance legislation and therefore these sums are far smaller than the amounts many groups spend on lobbying. Wall Street reportedly spent nearly $3bn on lobbying during the 2020 Election.
Interest groups can offer their ‘endorsement’ to candidates. This electioneering offers an outward sign to voters that a candidate is supportive of their issue.
How do grassroots activity ensure that a interest group is heard?
Organised protests are one of the simplest and visually most effective forms of interest group action. A large number of people turning up in one location to voice their opinion not only gains media attention, it also demonstrates to politicians the depth of support among the public. This can also be achieved through opinion.
How do legal methods ensure that an interest group is heard?
If they have money, and a legal reason, interest groups can launch court cases to try to advance their cause. The most significant examples are from groups that have fought their case in the Supreme Court. This requires a significant amount of funding as well as a constitutional challenge if it’s to be heard by the Supreme Court. If groups don’t bring the cases themselves, they can submit amicus curiae briefs to the Court on cases that are relevent to them.
Example of a single-issue interest group:
On the issue of abortion
NARAL, a pro-choice interest group, organised mass protests through its website against the appointment of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court in 2018, as well as organising online campaigns under the banner #StopKavanaugh. It also occupied the state office of Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), and stormed the Senate and packed the offices of Senators Donnelly, Murkowski, Corker and Grassley to lodge its objections to Kavanaugh.
Example of a professional group:
On the issue of pharmceuticals
This industry is one of the biggest collective spenders in lobby
Example of a policy group:
On the issue of the environment
The League of Conservation Voters (LCV) opposed the Keystone XL Pipelin, an oil pipeline that would run thousands of miles from Alberta, Canada, to Houston, Texas. It spent millions of dollars on adverts advocating for and against candidates in the 2010 Election cycle and thousands of dollars directly lobbying Congress on the issue. It passed Congress and was stopped in 2015 by presidential veto. In 2017, Trump allowed the pipeline to advance, before Biden signed an executive order to revoke the permit. The project has now been adandonded.
What is the impact of interest groups on government?
It would be unlikely for any member of one of the branches of government to overtly state that the reason for their vote, decision or legislation was a result of pressure from one group. This could appear undemocratic or unrepresentative, and it could also lead to tensions with conflicting groups. However, interest groups do have a number of methods and access points they could use to try and influence the government.
How can an interest group access and influence Congress?
- Lobbying
- Proposing legislation
- Giving evidence in Congress
- Record cards
- Campaign donations
- Attack/endorsement adverts
- Organising grassroots activism
- Protesting
How can an interest group access and influence the president?
- Lobbying
- Campaign donations
- Attack/endorsement adverts
- Protesting
