Democracy & Participation: Interest Groups Flashcards

1
Q

What is the impact of interest groups on US politics?

A
  • 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.
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2
Q

What are the three types of interest groups in the US?

A
  • Single Issue
  • Professional
  • Policy
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3
Q

What are single issue interest groups?

A
  • Gain influence over narrow issues.
  • Can be multiple campaigns in single areas.
  • Example includes the NRA.
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4
Q

What are professional interest groups?

A
  • Groups who seek to represent the interests of a group of workers or professionals.
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5
Q

What are policy interest groups?

A
  • Involved in an entire policy area.
  • Members might not be direct beneficiaries of success but have a shared ideology.
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6
Q

What are resources of interest groups?

A
  • 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.
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7
Q

What are some tactics of interest groups?

A
  • Lobbying
  • Report cards
  • Campaign finance
  • Electioneering
  • Grassroots Activity
  • Legal methods
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8
Q

What does pluralism mean?

A

Political power is distributed among groups representing widely different interests.

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9
Q

What does elitism mean?

A

Political power rests with a small group who gain power through wealth, family, status , or intellectual superiority.

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10
Q

What are the impacts of interest groups on democracy?

A
  • Representation
  • Citizen participation
  • Agenda building
  • Programme monitoring
  • Can influence congress
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11
Q

What does it mean to say that interest groups monitor programming?

A
  • 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.
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12
Q

What are the influences of interest groups on congress?

A
  • They lobby members of congress and congressional committees, mobilising voters.
  • Most of the work of legislative lobbyists is directed at committees.
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13
Q

In 2022, how much was worth of airline tickets, hotels, and meals paid for by interest groups did members of congress accept?

A

more than $6.6 million worth

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14
Q

What can lobbying provide?

A
  • 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.
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15
Q

What’s an example of where lobbying provided information to congress against an appointment?

A

NAACP gave evidence against Trump’s controversial appointment of Jeff Sessions as Attorney General in 2017.

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16
Q

What is the role of a report card?

A
  • Interest groups try to place pressure on politicians by issuing annual report cards on them.
  • Members of congress are ranked on how well they have supported an issue.
  • This is widely publicised in hope that voters are influenced by them.
17
Q

What’s an example for when report cards was used on a member of congress?

A

The NRA graded Joe Manchin a D on his stance of gun control. The republican candidate Morrisey from West Virginia called him ‘lying Liberal Joe’.

18
Q

What interest group has a list of candidates it endorses on its website?

A

Pro-choice group NARAL

19
Q

What is an example of the NRA using grassroot activity against a candidate?

A
  • The NRA released a series of videos directly attacking Democrat Joe Manchin for his stance on gun control.
  • In 2013, a video asked people to email and write to him to stand by the 2nd Amendment.
  • Challenged his 2010 pledge to stand by the 2nd amendment as he supported background checks.
20
Q

What are examples of legal methods being used by interest groups?

A
  • Citizens United v FEC (Campaign finance law)
  • Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action v Michigan State (ban on affirmative action)
  • DC v Heller (NRA supported)
21
Q

What can interest groups submit to the court?

A

Amicus curiae briefs (when an interest group assists the court by offering information, expertise, or insight that has a bearing on the issues in the case.)

22
Q

What is an example for where an interest group challenged a judicial nomination?

A
  • NARAL (pro-choice America) organised a mass protest against Brett Kavanaugh.
  • Also used #StopKavanaugh
  • They also occupied a state office in Iowa, stormed the senate to show their objection.
  • Kavanaugh was ultimately confirmed, however, by 50-48
23
Q

How much have pharmaceuticals spent in DC on lobbying in the last decade?

A

$2 billion

24
Q

What type of interest group are pharmaceuticals?

A

Professional

25
Q

What professional interest group evaluates the professional qualifications of the nominees, and can play a significant role in the confirmation process in the senate?

A

American Bar Association

26
Q

What’s an example for when an interest group challenged the executive through the supreme court?

A

National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) v Sebelius 2012