Democracy & Participation: Interest Groups

Question 1

What is the impact of interest groups on US politics?

Answer 1

• 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.

Question 2

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

Answer 2

• Single Issue
• Professional
• Policy

Question 3

What are single issue interest groups?

Answer 3

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

Question 4

What are professional interest groups?

Answer 4

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

Question 5

What are policy interest groups?

Answer 5

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

Question 6

What are resources of interest groups?

Answer 6

• 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.

Question 7

What are some tactics of interest groups?

Answer 7

• Lobbying
• Report cards
• Campaign finance
• Electioneering
• Grassroots Activity
• Legal methods

Question 8

What does pluralism mean?

Answer 8

Political power is distributed among groups representing widely different interests.

Question 9

What does elitism mean?

Answer 9

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

Question 10

What are the impacts of interest groups on democracy?

Answer 10

• Representation
• Citizen participation
• Agenda building
• Programme monitoring
• Can influence congress

Question 11

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

Answer 11

• 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.

Question 12

What are the influences of interest groups on congress?

Answer 12

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

Question 13

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

Answer 13

more than $6.6 million worth

Question 14

What can lobbying provide?

Answer 14

• 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.

Question 15

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

Answer 15

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

Question 16

What is the role of a report card?

Answer 16

• 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.

Question 17

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

Answer 17

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’.

Question 18

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

Answer 18

Pro-choice group NARAL

Question 19

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

Answer 19

• 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.

Question 20

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

Answer 20

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

Question 21

What can interest groups submit to the court?

Answer 21

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.)

Question 22

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

Answer 22

• 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

Question 23

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

Answer 23

$2 billion

Question 24

What type of interest group are pharmaceuticals?

Answer 24

Professional

Question 25

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

Answer 25

American Bar Association

Question 26

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

Answer 26

National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) v Sebelius 2012