US Pressure Groups Flashcards
Who were the 6th biggest spenders on congress in 2016
The NRA
Case where the NRA showed their power over congress
Take down of Tom Foley as speaker of the house
How many members does the NRA have
5 million
Who are AARP + why are they significant
US biggest pressure group -37 million members
Offers discounts to its members
How much money has big pharma spent on influencing legislation
152 million
How do pressure groups try to achieve their aims in the USA + example
They use the courts
NAACP funded brown v board (1954)
What is the iron triangle
The relationship between interest group, congress and the executive
—> support each other’s interests - leads to decisions not in the publics interests
Define ‘military industrial complex’
Eisenhowers idea that corporations have a negative effect on government
Example of facebook lobbying
Lobbied to gain ‘platform’ status
What are PACs
PACs are the legal way of contributing (regulated by FEC)
What percentage of funding in congressional races do PACs equate to
25%
How many lobbying firms are registered on the USA
20,000
What is the revolving door concept
Where political figures can become lobbyists after working in gov
What Gov act aimed to prevent revolving Door syndrome
‘Honest leadership and open government act’ (2007)
Name a scandal that shows the corruption of politicians by lobbyists
Abramoff scandal
