Pressure groups Flashcards

Question

How do PGs influence Congress

Answer 1

They help members of Congress do their job as they might need information and analysis which lobbyists provide. Many members of Congress seek out lobbyists as they have much to gain from each other

Answer 2

insider groups work to make sure certain people sympathetic to their cause are elected and other who oppose their aims are defeated

Answer 3

Banned corporations and banks from donating to election candidates

Answer 4

Extended the ban on banks and corporations to trade unions

Answer 5

Political committees that raise funds for political campaigns for candidates. They can make direct hard money fr candidates but limited to $5k per donation, per yr

Answer 6

$5,000 - under the FEC Act

Answer 7

The courts rules that corporations, unions etc have the 1st amendment right to spend unlimited money on campaigns. Struck down campaign finance laws that had limited spending and led to the rise os Super PACs, which can spend and raise unlimited amounts from individual - PGs gained far more freedom to spend. - money equals free speech

Answer 8

A special type of political committee that can raise unlimited donations from individuals , corporations and unions but can’t give the money directly to candidates and have to spend on TV ads & radio ads

Answer 9

Lobbyists providing cues to members of Congress, informing them of how their client would like them to vote on a particular issue

Answer 10

’Friend of the court’ - a written argument that tries to influence a courts decision

Answer 11

148 were presented to the Courts

Answer 12

Its gives a voice to rage of societal groups in legal decision as it’s easily accessible.

Answer 13

While they support pluralism in theory, they may reflect elitism, as those with resources and expertise have an advantage of getting heard by the SC

Answer 14

Bork was nominated by Reagan but had criticised the Civil Rights Act, Right to privacy. Bunch of women’s and civil rights groups lobbied against him in newspapers and TV ads. In the end, Bork was rejected in a 58-42 vote in the senate

Answer 15

Grass root campaigning Direct Action Boycotts

Answer 16

MADD was formed when a woman’s daughter was hit and killed by a drunk driver. MADD marched, collected signatures, wrote letters & interviews Were eventually 320 chapters of MADD across the US & 600k volunteers Reagan then signed the National immunity drinking age Act & later became 729 new state laws related to drunk driving s

Answer 17

Where groups take action or make changes they wish to see themselves rather than rely on elected officials to do it for them

Answer 18

Non violent direct action is strikes, sit-ins, boycotts. Violent direct action is assault, sabotage and destruction.

Answer 19

the Civil Rights movement - 1963 March on Washington led by M.L King ‘I have a dream’

Answer 20

Montgomery Bus Boycott - after Rosa Parks was arrested after refusing to give up her seat for a white passenger, civil rights groups agreed to stop using the buses which cased a financial burden on bus companies

Answer 21

Non violent protest that intentionally break laws that are considered to be unjust

Answer 22

The Greensboro sit in - 4 black uni students refused to leave a whites-only lunch counter More and more students began to join in which attracted media attention and financial constraint on the business and eventually stoped discrimination

Answer 23

Operation rescue - some have blocked women from entering health clinics for abortion, some have used harassment and intimidation or pressuring staff to quit Created wanted posters of abortion providers and listed their home addresses

Answer 24

Defined a lobbyist as someone who is paid to make more than one lobbying contact & spends 20% of their time lobbying

Answer 25

The movement of individuals in and out of jobs from the public sector and private sector. A retired govt official taking a high paid job in a private organisation to lobby their former colleague in office. Or the govt hiring industry professionals for their expertise

Answer 26

passed the Ethics in Government Act 1978 - the executive branch employees had to wait a yr before they could be hired as lobbyist

Answer 27

Was hired by Native Americans to lobby and promote their casinos. He hugely overcharged his clients, taking around $85mill and often lobbied against their interests instead of for; Using the money they paid him, he bought politicians meals, took them ion trips etc In 2006, he pleaded guilty for fraud, tax evasion and bribe

Answer 28

Slowed down the revolving door and increased the period to two yrs before Senators and senior executive officials could lobby. Lobbyists also had to file reports every 3 months, rather than every 6 as before Also increased fines from 50k to 200k

Answer 29

In 2023, 50% os retired Senators became lobbyists and 32% of retried Reps became lobbyists

Answer 30

Lobbyists that do not directly contact officials on behalf of clients but instead they give strategic advice on how clients can best present their message to govt and the public

Answer 31

The close relationship between three key participants in the policy-making process : - Interest groups - Congress - Executive branch The theory is that they are bound together and mutually benefit from each other

Answer 32

The relationship between the Dpt of defence, defence contractors and Congressional armed services. - These groups collaborate closely, with defence contractors, lobbying for contracts, the DoD receiving patents technology

Answer 33

Money given to parties os PACs rather than specific candidates - there are no limits on soft money

Answer 34

Money given directly to candidates and are strictly regulated and limited by the Federal Electoral Commission

Answer 35

in the 2016 election, the NRA spent $30million promoting Trumps campaign. However, after the 2018 high school shooting , the president accused a Republican senator of not including an age limit n his bill for background checks on guns because he was afraid of the NRA In march 2019, NRA said they were ‘disappointed that trumps administration had introduced a national ban on bump stocks

Answer 36

- US has far more access points than the UK - US has 50 state legislatures & 49 are bicameral - so there are 50 state govts that can be lobbied as opposed to 3 devolved bodies in the UK than can be lobbied - Direct democracy in the US provides more access points for pressure groups. Ballot initiatives and referendums are held often in states. UK referendums are held less often.

Answer 37

- US PGs have the right to spend unlimited money on electioneering & donate via PACs and Super PACs. Whereas tight restriction on finance in the UK. - In the UK, nay non party campaigners who spend more than £20k must be registered w/ Electoral commissions - In the US, PGs spend way more on elections. In 2020 Super PACs spent $1.8b on elections

Answer 38

- More access points in the USA - Separation of powers so Congress can be independent - Unlimited US election spending versus restrictive UK campaign finance - More powerful SC as constitution is sovereign

Answer 39

- Congress are more likely to be influenced by lobbying as they hope for support from PG during elections - Tighter UK election finance and strong party whip system, MPs are les likely to be influenced by lobbying - Direct action is seen as the last resort in both countries Insider groups who can’t convince the govt result to direct action : BMA strike

Answer 40

In the US, PGs are protected by the 1st amendment and can spend unlimited amounts in elections - UK & US PGs have both been criticised for elitism, because of the outsize role players by wealthy PGs

Pressure groups Flashcards

(65 cards)