Pressure Groups - P1

Question 1

Define a pressure group

Answer 1

An organised interest group in which members hold similar beliefs and actively pursue ways to influence government.

Question 2

How are pressure groups usually classified?

Answer 2

1. aims

2. status

Question 3

Name 9 different types of pressure groups.

Answer 3

1. Business
2. Agriculture
3. Unions
4. Professional
5. Single issue
6. Ideological
7. Group rights
8. Public interest
9. Umbrella groups

Question 4

Give an example of a business pressure group.

Answer 4

American Business Conference

Question 5

Give an example of a union pressure group

Answer 5

United Auto Workers (UAW)

Question 6

Give an example of a professional pressure group

Answer 6

American Medical Association

Question 7

Give an example of a single issue pressure group

Answer 7

Mothers Against Drink Driving (MADD)

Question 8

What are the 5 functions of pressure groups?

Answer 8

1. Representation
2. Citizen participation
3. Public education
4. Agenda building
5. Programme monitoring

Question 9

Explain the function : representation

Answer 9

• organisation of people with similar views

Question 10

Explain the function : citizen participation

Answer 10

• increase opportunity to participate in between elections

- different access point to increase pressure

Question 11

Explain the function : public education

Answer 11

• attempt to educate public opinion

- used to warn people of dangers if issues are not addressed

Question 12

Explain the function : agenda building

Answer 12

• influence the agendas of political parties, legislators and bureaucracies to give prominence and priority to their interests
• uniting of different sectors of society (business groups/ religious groups/ professional organisations) to achieve a common interest

Question 13

What are the 4 principal methods used by pressure groups?

Answer 13

1. Electioneering and endorsement
2. Lobbying
3. Publicity
4. Organising grassroots activities

Question 14

Define lobbying

Answer 14

An attempt to exert influence on the policy making, legislative or judicial process by individuals or organised groups

Question 15

Give an example of an umbrella pressure group

Answer 15

US Chamber of Commerce

• 300,00 businesses as members
• spent more than $301 million on lobbying in 2009-2010

Question 16

Give an example of a sectional pressure group

Answer 16

• AARP
  (american association of retired people)
• 4 million membership

Question 17

Give an example of a promotional pressure group

Answer 17

• NRA

national rifle association

Question 18

Name 4 methods pressure groups use to carry out their function.

Answer 18

1. Electioneering and endorsement
2. Lobbying
3. Publicity
4. Organising grassroots activities

Question 19

Give 3 reasons why pressure groups are politically significant in America.

Answer 19

1. The USA is a diverse society
2. The US political system has a large amount of access points
3. The weakness of political parties means that citizens turn to pressure groups

Question 20

How do pressure groups carry out their function through

Electioneering and endorsement

Answer 20

P = pressure groups endorse or oppose candidates for political office based on the candidate’s position on the policy areas of concern to them
E =
- endorsement = publishing voter guides to utilise large membership = eg. AARP
- electioneering = make PACs to fund campaign = eg. United Auto Workers gave over 5 million to support candidates directly or through PACs in the 2016 election

Question 21

How do pressure groups carry out their function through

Lobbying

Answer 21

P = lobbyists provide policy-makers with information and voting cues. These can be given in the interests of a PG. 
E = many PGs have offices on the 'K Street corridor which means they are close proximity to congressmen 
Eg = United Auto Workers spent almost 2 million on lobbying in 2016

Question 22

How do pressure groups carry out their function through

Publicity

Answer 22

P = lobbying firms launch public relations campaigns to influence the policy-making process by rallying popular support 
E = waged in a range of mediums such as television advertisements/ journal advertising/ badges 
Eg = Americans for Prosperity (AFP) ran a ferocious series of TV ads against Obamacare

Question 23

How do pressure groups carry out their function through

Organising grass-roots activities

Answer 23

P = demonstrate popular support for cause 
E = this includes postal blitzes/ marches + demonstration
Eg. = annual 'March for Life' in Washington DC on the anniversary of Roe v. Wade by anti-abortion pressure groups

Question 24

How do House Representatives affect legislation?

Answer 24

• Veto the bill

- Appropriate funding if the bill has been passed in both the house and the senate

Question 25

How do Senators affect legislation?

Answer 25

a) Refusal to ratify treaties is a method for groups with international aims a) Confirming presidential appointments a) Filibuster

Question 26

Give an example of senators ; Refusing to ratify treaties is a method for PGs with international aims

Answer 26

- AIPAC – American Israel Public Affairs Committee lobbied senators for the support of the US-Israel Strategic Partnership Bill.

Question 27

Give an example of; PGs trying to influence presidential appointments in the senate

Answer 27

- - environmental groups lobbied against Trump’s appointment of Rex Tillerson, due to concerns he would further advance interests of big oil companies because of his oil industry background

Question 28

Give an example of senators ;

Answer 28

- E.g NRA lobbied Senators to filibuster the Safe Communities, Safe Schools Act, which aimed to widen gun control in the USA.

Question 29

Which 3 access points do PGs use to try and influence the executive?

Answer 29

1. President 2. Federal bureaucracy - executive departments 3. 1. regulatory bodies

Question 30

PG + Executive Give 2 ways in which the president can help a PG to achieve their aims.

Answer 30

1. Presidential power = set the legislative agenda | 2. Presidential power = executive orders

Question 31

PG + Executive president + legislative agenda

Answer 31

- If pressure groups can raise enough awareness to put the issue on the President’s legislative agenda, he can use his powers of persuasion to create legislation/ put the issue in his State of the Union address

Question 32

PG + Executive president + executive order

Answer 32

- Executive orders can be used to change the direction of policy - E.g the constant reversal and reinstatement of the ‘Mexico City Policy’, banning the federal funding for family planning clinics that give abortion advice, which most recently President Trump has reinstated.

Question 33

PG + Executive Explain how PGs can influence the federal bureaucracy through executive departments.

Answer 33

- Lobbyists build relationships with relevant congressional committees within departments. - This can lead to the development of ‘iron triangles’. (see section) - Civil servants often have long-term agendas as they do not have such high pressures to be re-elected, meaning they may be more open to pressure group influence.

Question 34

PG + Executive Explain how PGs can influence the federal bureaucracy through regulatory bodies

Answer 34

- PGs also aim to maintain strong ties with their relative regulatory commissions through lobbyists and ‘iron triangles’. - This can lead to ‘regulatory capture’. - Especially sought out by ‘producer groups’, which want protection, subsidies or price guarantees

Question 35

PG + Judiciary Name 3 ways in which pressure groups influence the judiciary

Answer 35

1. Litigation 2. Amicus Curiae Briefs 3. Nominations for vacancies

Question 36

PG + Judiciary Give an example of PGs using litigation.

Answer 36

- E.g. the American Foundation for Equal Rights used the courts to challenge Proposition 8, the Californian initiative banning same sex marriage.

Question 37

PG + Judiciary Give an example of PGs using amicus curiae briefs

Answer 37

- Arizona v. ITCA (2013)

Question 38

PG + Judiciary Give an example on PGs trying to influence nominations for SC vacancies

Answer 38

- E.g George W. Bush’s nomination of Harriet Miers for Supreme Court Justice. --> Conservative pressure group ‘Americans for Better Justice’ launched a nationwide campaign to oppose her nomination due to lack of records of her constitutional interpretation. Harriet Miers withdrew her application. - - E.g Earthjustice campaigned against the Trump’s appointment of Rex Tillerson for Secretary of State due to his history in oil extraction

Question 39

PG + Judiciary Explain how PGs exert influence through litigations.

Answer 39

- Funding test cases to the Supreme Court is a way in which pressure groups can secure a ruling which is favourable to their interests.

Question 40

PG + Judiciary Explain how PGs exert influence through amicus curiae.

Answer 40

- By presenting legal briefings to a court which is undertaking judicial review, a pressure group would hope to sway the court’s decision in its favour. - These briefings by over 800% since the 1940s.

Question 41

PG + Judiciary Explain how PGs exert influence through the nominations process.

Answer 41

- President selects candidate = opportunity to lobby president/ staff and can invest money in preparing or raising awareness for the application of a specific candidate - Senate confirms or rejects nomination = opportunity to lobby senators

Question 42

Give 4 arguments for PG activity helping democracy.

Answer 42

1. Information givers - educate congress/gov. departments/ courts/ electorate 2. Policy formulators - expertise is useful 3. A 'sounding board' - method to test out public opinion 4. Enhancers of political participation - especially between elections and on specific issues

Question 43

Give 4 arguments for PG activity hindering democracy.

Answer 43

1. Money becomes the ultimate deciding factor 2. PG work for special interests rather than the national interest --> can lead to inequalities of power eg. tobacco or gun control 3. Elitist and unaccountable --> their power detracts from elected congress and accountable elected officials 4. Revolving door syndrome

Question 44

Name 5 factors influencing pressure group success.

Answer 44

1. Effective organisation and leadership 2. Wealth 3. Large membership 4. Status and effectiveness of opposition 5. Achievability of aims