Democracy & Participation: Interest Groups Flashcards
What is the impact of interest groups on US politics?
- Seek to influence decision makers.
- More impactful than the UK as they have more access points.
- Nature of US government means different methods and means can be used to achieve.
- The codified constitution means rights, such as freedom of speech (1st), is protected.
- Federalism means groups can target districts, states and federal governments.
What are the three types of interest groups in the US?
- Single Issue
- Professional
- Policy
What are single issue interest groups?
- Gain influence over narrow issues.
- Can be multiple campaigns in single areas.
- Example includes the NRA.
What are professional interest groups?
- Groups who seek to represent the interests of a group of workers or professionals.
What are policy interest groups?
- Involved in an entire policy area.
- Members might not be direct beneficiaries of success but have a shared ideology.
What are resources of interest groups?
- Money: Contributions to election campaigns, have expensive lobbyists, organising grassroot campaigns successfully etc,.
- Membership: Groups that can mobilise large groups are most successful. Also more beneficial due to short election cycle. Experienced campaigners can also help promote appeal, along with big donors, lawyers, or professionals.
- Access: Having valuable information and access to politicians.
What are some tactics of interest groups?
- Lobbying
- Report cards
- Campaign finance
- Electioneering
- Grassroots Activity
- Legal methods
What does pluralism mean?
Political power is distributed among groups representing widely different interests.
What does elitism mean?
Political power rests with a small group who gain power through wealth, family, status , or intellectual superiority.
What are the impacts of interest groups on democracy?
- Representation
- Citizen participation
- Agenda building
- Programme monitoring
- Can influence congress
What does it mean to say that interest groups monitor programming?
- They scrutinise and hold the government to account in the implementation of policies.
- Try to ensure promises of fulfilled policies are delivered, and regulations are enforced.
- May ask the judiciary to monitor the effects of legislation.
What are the influences of interest groups on congress?
- They lobby members of congress and congressional committees, mobilising voters.
- Most of the work of legislative lobbyists is directed at committees.
In 2022, how much was worth of airline tickets, hotels, and meals paid for by interest groups did members of congress accept?
more than $6.6 million worth
What can lobbying provide?
- Access to a politician.
- Information that is useful to interest groups. ‘Strategic advisors’
- Lobbying appointments can provide information to congress either in favour or against an appointment.
- Top governments are often a target either to get their support or to remove them from office.
What’s an example of where lobbying provided information to congress against an appointment?
NAACP gave evidence against Trump’s controversial appointment of Jeff Sessions as Attorney General in 2017.