5.3 Interest Groups in the USA Flashcards
(21 cards)
interest groups
why are interest groups significant?
- rising cost of elections
- growth in popular sovereignty
- and the increasing diversityh of the US population
BUT: significant does not equal influence. A female protestor during brett kavanaugh’s hearing shouted ‘i do not consent. i do not consent. Where is my representation? but Kavanaugh’s vote resumed and was confirmed.
types of interest groups
how does the US political system facilitate the influence of interest groups?
- vast array of access points
- federal nature of the USA means interest groups can target districts, states, and federal government in trying to achieve change
types of interest groups
what are the types of interest groups
- single-issue
- professional
- policy
single issue interest groups
define single issue interest groups
- they try to gain influence over a specific issue that is narrow in scope
- very small area within governmnet policy
single issue interest groups
Example: NRA
2008
- National Rifle Association fights for the rights of gun owners in the USA
- 2008: District of Columbia v Heller fought over storage of weapons
single issue interest groups
Example: NRA
2017
- mass shotting in Las Vegas in which 58 people died
- national discussion moved to the regulation of ‘bump stocks’ which can achieve a far higher rate of fire from semi-automatic weapons
single issue interest groups
Example: NRA
2022
- the NRA complained on twitter that Biden’s executive order banning ‘ghost guns’ (untraceable guns from a kit) would ‘burden law-abiding gun owners’
professional interest groups
what is the role of professional interest groups?
- representing the interests of a group of workers or professionals, or of an industry in government legislation
professional interest groups
Example: American Farm Bureau Federation
- campaign for the protection of farmers across the USA
- though, they consider immigration reform, tax and energy, and other areas too, as the infrastructure needed to make the industry successful is more than just agricultural policy.
Policy interest groups
what do policy interest groups represent?
- interested in an entire policy area rather than just a single, small issue
- these groups are interested in an entire policy area and in exercising influence over it
- members may not be direct beneficiaries, but share an ideological belief
Policy interest groups
Example of a policy interest group?
- Environment America
Policy interest groups
groups that seem to fit all 3 categories?
AIPAC
- American Israel Public Affairs Committee
- promotes the relationship between the USA and Israel, while also campaigning on other middle eastern concerns
resources of interest groups
resources of interest groups: what are they?
- money
- membership
- access
resources of interest groups
MONEY
NRA<
- money means you can contribute more to election campaigns, hiring lobbyists, etc.
- Eg. NRA spent $4.2m supporting Trump in 2020, and $12.2m opposing Biden
resources of interest groups
MEMBERSHIP
- larger = more influence
- with the short election cycle, groups can mobilise many voters who can pose a significant threat to a congress member for re-election.
- WHO is also important, as those with expertise can help shape campaigns
resources of interest groups
ACCESS
2022
- access to or support of a politician means groups are more likely to be heard. This can be from a retired member or a former congressmember that moves to the group
- Eg. 2022 453 former members of Congress worked as lobbyists or senior advisors, offering these groups valuable information + bringing them access to people they used to work with
Tactics of Interest groups
what are they?
theres 5
- Lobbying
- report cards
- campaign finance and electioneering
- grassroots activity
- legal methods
Tactics of Interest groups: lobbying
what is lobbying in the US?
- seeking the ear of government
- it’s a multi-million-dollar professional industry
- arranging to meet a member of congress, or drafting legislation and trying to win a congressional sponsor to introduce it
Tactics of Interest groups: lobbying
2013 Dodd-Frank Act
- allowed banks to use savers money to trade in riskier things such as stocks
- language was almost identical to langauge suggested by lobbyists for Citigroup
Tactics of Interest groups: lobbying
2016 Scott Tipton
- introduced a bill to allow drilling in an environmnetally sensitive area
- language of the bill appeared to have been written by oil company SG interests which was also one of his top donors
Tactics of Interest groups: lobbying
what is frequently targetted for groups?
- cabinet appointments as they will be top government officials
