US Pressure Groups Flashcards
what is a pressure group?
An organised interest group in which members hold similar beliefs and actively pursue ways to influence government
what is pluralism?
A theory that political power does not rest simply with the electorate or the government, but is distributed among groups representing widely different interests
what is elitism?
a theory that political power rests with a small group who gain power through, wealth, family status or intellectual superiority
what are sectional groups?
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.
what are causal pressure groups?
causal pressure groups campaign for a particular cause or issue, such as single-interest groups or think-tanks
what are professional groups?
A pressure group organised to promote the interest pf a profession or business
what are single-interest groups or policy groups?
a pressure group created in response to a specific issue in order to promote policies that the group desires concerning that issue
what are some examples of sectional pressure groups?
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
what are some examples of causal pressure groups?
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
what are the functions of pressure groups?
Representation, citizen participation, public education, Agenda building, Programme monitoring
what methods are used by pressure groups?
Electioneering and endorsement, lobbying, organising grassroots activities
what are examples of pressure groups using electioneering and endorsement?
- 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)
what is the ‘K street corridor’
the presence of lobbyists in Washing DC, named after the street in the capital on which the offices of many lobbyists are located
how are voting cues and scorecards used by pressure groups and what are examples of this happening?
- 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
what did the total federal lobbying revenue in 2016 amount to?
$3.1 billion
what issues have pressure groups had power in?
- 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)
how have pressure groups influenced Congress?
- Lobbying members of Congress
- Lobbying Congressional Committees
- Organising constituents
- Publicising voting records and endorsing candidates
what is an example of pressure group activity in Congress?
Committee: Senate Judiciary Committee
Hearing: Protecting older Americans from Financial Exploitation, 29 June 2016
Pressure group witness: Joseph Marquart, Member, AARP Iowa Executive Council
what is an example of pressure groups organising constituents?
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
how have pressure groups impacted the executive?
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.
how have pressure groups impacted the judiciary?
- 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)
what is an example of pressure groups being interested on the nominations the president makes to the courts?
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
what are some examples of pressure group activities in the courts?
- 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
arguments for pressure groups (US)
- 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
what are arguments against pressure groups? (US)
- Revolving door syndrome
- Iron-triangle syndrome
- Inequality of groups
- concentration on special interest rather than public interest
- over-influence of money
- Using direct action
