7 - Pressure Groups Flashcards
(18 cards)
Types of Pressure Groups?
1) Insiders
2) Outsiders
3) Causal
4) Interest
Pressure Group Methods?
1) Electoral Campaigning (e.g. Emily’s List)
2) Lobbying (e.g. 59% of former members)
3) Using SCOTUS (e.g. NAACP funded Brown v Board 1954)
4) Direct Action (e.g. March on Washington 1963)
What are amicus curiae briefs?
- Set out specific evidence and research by pressure groups to judges in order to influence outcomes
- 6 in Brown v Board
- 148 in Obergefell
- Expensive
Factors impacting success?
1) Resources (e.g. NRA 5.5 mil members)
2) Status (e.g. NRA when Reps in office)
3) Links to govt (e.g. NRA + Ted Cruz)
4) Celebrity endorsements (e.g. Ariana Grande + BLM)
Case Study: NRA
- 5 million members
- Republicans received 98% of $52.5m campaign spending in 2016
- Lost against Trump bump stock ban
- Blue Dog PAC returned donation in 2018
Details around election funding?
- Individual PAC donations limited to £5,000
- SuperPAC donations unlimited
- SuperPACs forbidden from direct donations
- Can be crucial (e.g. SBA List crucial for Dan Lipinski victory)
- Citizens United v FEC 2010 significant
How do PACs/ super PACs have too much influence?
1) Unlimited finance
2) Funded by minority (e.g. 1% provided 2/3 funding)
3) Pressure groups reduce importance of political parties
How do PACs/ super PACs not have too much influence?
1) 1st Amendment Right
2) Pressure groups represent a range of views
3) Do not guarantee victory (e.g. +$129m spent on Clinton 2016)
What are iron triangles?
- Relationship binding the interests of interest groups, Congress and the executive
- Favour corporate interest
-e.g. “Big Pharma” ties to FDA and Agriculture Committees
How are pressure groups too powerful?
1) Well funded + elitist
2) Revolving door syndrome (59% former members)
3) Iron Triangles
How are pressure groups not too powerful?
1) Protected by 1st Amendment
2) Brought successful challenges to govt
3) Provide representation
How do US pressure groups have more influence than UK PGs?
1) More access points from more elections
2) Weak party discipline
3) Use of Supreme Court sovereignty
How do UK pressure groups have more influence than US PGs?
1) Ties to majority govts
2) Uncodified const. allows sweeping reform
3) Tighter finance laws gives more power to smaller PGs
Areas of similarity between US and UK?
1) Similar methods
2) Opportunity for political participation
3) Revolving door syndrome
Areas of difference between US and UK?
1) More US access points
2) More finance in US
3) More effective US lobbying from lack of discipline
How does structural theory affect Pressure Groups?
- More access points
- Separation of powers allows more Congress lobbying
- SCOTUS sovereign
- Unlimited finance
How does rational theory affect Pressure Groups?
- Revolving door syndrome from lobbying firms seeking experts
- Focus on individuals in US
- Preference for discrete lobbying
How does cultural theory affect Pressure Groups?
- US 1st Amendment
- Tradition of political protest
- Elitism
