US Pressure Groups

Question 1

what is a pressure group?

Answer 1

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

Question 2

what is pluralism?

Answer 2

A theory that political power does not rest simply with the electorate or the government, but is distributed among groups representing widely different interests

Question 3

what is elitism?

Answer 3

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

Question 4

what are sectional groups?

Answer 4

sectional pressure groups seek to represent their own section or group within society, such as business or trade groups, or groups that represent individuals with a common gender, ethnic, religious or social characteristic.

Question 5

what are causal pressure groups?

Answer 5

causal pressure groups campaign for a particular cause or issue, such as single-interest groups or think-tanks

Question 6

what are professional groups?

Answer 6

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

Question 7

what are single-interest groups or policy groups?

Answer 7

a pressure group created in response to a specific issue in order to promote policies that the group desires concerning that issue

Question 8

what are some examples of sectional pressure groups?

Answer 8

business and trade groups: American Business Conference, National Association of Manufacturers, National Automobile Dealers Association, US Chamber of Commerce, United Auto Workers, American Farm Bureau Federation

represents characteristic: National Organisation for women, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Christian Coalition of America

professional groups: American Medical Association, National Education Association, American Bar Association

Question 9

what are some examples of causal pressure groups?

Answer 9

single issue groups: National Rifle Association (NRA), Mothers against drunk driving (MADD), National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League (NARAL)

ideological group: American Conservative Union, American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)

Think-tanks: Institute for Policy Studies, Brookings Institute, Heritage Foundation, American Enterprise Institute

Question 10

what are the functions of pressure groups?

Answer 10

Representation, citizen participation, public education, Agenda building, Programme monitoring

Question 11

what methods are used by pressure groups?

Answer 11

Electioneering and endorsement, lobbying, organising grassroots activities

Question 12

what are examples of pressure groups using electioneering and endorsement?

Answer 12

• In 2016, the pro-life group the National Right to Life endorsed Donald Trump while the pro-choice group NARAL endorsed Hillary Clinton
• Every two years the League of Conservation Voters publishes it’s ‘dirty dozen’ list - the 12 candidates with what they regard as the worst record on environmental conservation (only three being defeated in 2016)

Question 13

what is the ‘K street corridor’

Answer 13

the presence of lobbyists in Washing DC, named after the street in the capital on which the offices of many lobbyists are located

Question 14

how are voting cues and scorecards used by pressure groups and what are examples of this happening?

Answer 14

• Liberal Democrats look to such groups as the AFL-CIO, the NAACP and ADA to provide reassurance that they are taking the right stand on a particular issue whereas conservative republicans find the ACU, ACA and US Chamber of Commerce helpful.
• the AFL-CIO publishes a Senate Scorecard where they rank each senator on how the vote on what they regard as key votes

Question 15

what did the total federal lobbying revenue in 2016 amount to?

Answer 15

$3.1 billion

Question 16

what issues have pressure groups had power in?

Answer 16

• Environmental protection (Sierra Club, Wilderness Society ect.)
• Women’s rights (League of Women Voters pushed unsuccessfully for the passagew of an Equal Rights Amendment to the Constitution during the 1970s and 1980s)
• Abortion Rights
• Gun Control (NRA 3 million membership - opposed Brady Bill and assault weapons ban, played significant role in District of Columbia v Heller)
• Economic Inequality (Occupy movement - protests, in early weeks of protests drove a good deal of substance of public and political debate, Obama administration showed some interest, less significant than Tea Party)

Question 17

how have pressure groups influenced Congress?

Answer 17

• Lobbying members of Congress
• Lobbying Congressional Committees
• Organising constituents
• Publicising voting records and endorsing candidates

Question 18

what is an example of pressure group activity in Congress?

Answer 18

Committee: Senate Judiciary Committee
Hearing: Protecting older Americans from Financial Exploitation, 29 June 2016
Pressure group witness: Joseph Marquart, Member, AARP Iowa Executive Council

Question 19

what is an example of pressure groups organising constituents?

Answer 19

In January 2016, a united cross-sector set of over 1500 pressure groups representing, among others, organised labour and environmental groups, organised a joint letter-writing campaign urging congress to oppose the Trans-Pacific Partnership

Question 20

how have pressure groups impacted the executive?

Answer 20

pressure groups have strong ties with relevant executive departments, agencies and regulatory commissions, especially when it comes to the regulatory work of the federal government - regulations regarding health and safety, business, transport, communications industries, the environment ect.

Question 21

how have pressure groups impacted the judiciary?

Answer 21

• take a lively interest in nominations to the federal courts
• can influence courts by offering amicus curiae briefings (pressure groups gave an opportunity to present their views to the court in writing before oral arguments are heard)

Question 22

what is an example of pressure groups being interested on the nominations the president makes to the courts?

Answer 22

the American Bar Association evaluates the professional qualifications of nominees and their evaluation can play a significant role in the confirmation process conducted by the senate

Question 23

what are some examples of pressure group activities in the courts?

Answer 23

• In 2005, the ACLU was at the Supreme Court in the case of McCreary v ACLU, in which the court ruled that a displayed the Ten Commandments in a Kentucky courthouse was unconstitutional
• In 2012, it was the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) that brought the landmark legal challenge to President Obamas healthcare reform - the case making it all the way to the Supreme court

Question 24

arguments for pressure groups (US)

Answer 24

• provide legislators and bureaucrats with useful information and act as a sounding board for legislators at the policy formulation stage in the legislative process
• bring some order, priorities and aggregation to the public policy debate
• broaden opportunities for participation in a democracy
• increase levels of accountability
• increase opportunities for representation in between elections and offers opportunities for minority groups to be represented
• enhance two fundamental rights of freedom of speech and freedom of association

Question 25

what are arguments against pressure groups? (US)

Answer 25

• Revolving door syndrome
• Iron-triangle syndrome
• Inequality of groups
• concentration on special interest rather than public interest
• over-influence of money
• Using direct action