Pressure Groups (US)

Question 2

Political pluralism:

Answer 2

A political philosophy that emphasises the benefits of groups influencing the decision making process.

Question 3

Which amendment allows pressure groups to exist?

Answer 3

1st Amendment gives pressure groups their constitutional rights to exist.

Question 4

Why are pressure groups good for pluralism?

Answer 4

They allow for an alternative form of political participation.

Question 5

What is an insider group?

Answer 5

A pressure group that has close ties with the government or the two main political parties.

They are typically well funded and spend heavily on lobbying and election campaigns.

Question 6

Examples of insider groups in the US?

Answer 6

The American Medical Association .

The US Chamber of Commerce

The NRA - potentially not anymore - loosing influence.

Question 7

What are outsider groups?

Answer 7

Pressure groups who do not have links to political establishments so create influence through public pressure.

Question 8

Example of an outsider group in the US:

Answer 8

Climate Direct Action - 2016, turned off the valves on 15% of crude oil imports for nearly a day.

Question 9

What are promotional groups?

Answer 9

Pressure groups that promote a course they believe will benefit society and not driven by altruism.,

Question 10

Examples of promotion groups in the US:

Answer 10

Greenpeace USA.
The American Civil Liberties Union.

Question 11

What are interest groups?

Answer 11

Pressure groups that exist to defend and advance the interest of its members.

Question 12

Examples of interest groups in the US:

Answer 12

The American Bar Association.

The National Assosciation for the Advancement of Coloured People.

Question 13

What is the difference between a Pressure Group and a Social Movement?

Answer 13

• PGs are structured organisations with a hierarchy and formal membership.
• Social movements are less formal and structured.

Question 14

Examples of social movements:

Answer 14

Women’s and Civil rights movements.
MeToo and BLM.

Question 15

How much did the League of Conservative voters spend on electoral campaigning in 2018?

Answer 15

$85 million - nearly 60 of their congressional candidates were elected.

Question 16

Example of a pressure group that allocates a voting score card:

Answer 16

NRA - allocates a rating A to F based on voting on gun rights.

League of Conservative Voters - releases a Dirty Dozens List of the politicians with the worst environmental records. 5/12 candidates on the list were defeated in 2020.

Question 17

What is the aim of EMILY’s List?

Answer 17

Wants to promote change by getting ‘pro-choice’ women to run for office.

They recruit candidates and support their campaign.

Question 18

Example of EMILY’s list endorsing a candidate?

Answer 18

• Hilary Clinton 2016.
• 2020, EMILY’s list spent $5.5 million on digital advertising for Kamala Harris.

Question 19

Under which amendment is lobbying protected?

Answer 19

Under the 1st amendment.

Question 20

Example of a pressure group using insider contacts?

Answer 20

J.P Morgan and Goldman Sachs had over 350 meetings with federal agencies 2010-12.

Congress was writing regulations for the banking sector in response to the financial crash.

Question 21

How much was spent on federal lobbying in 2019?

Answer 21

$3.47 billion.

Question 22

When was the highest lobbying year on record?

Answer 22

2010, $3.51 billion spent, mainly from healthcare complies trying to influence Obama’s Affordable Care Act.

Question 23

Example of an individual from the revolving door?

Answer 23

Eugene Scalia.

Secretary of Labour in 2019.

Had first worked for the Bush administration and then lobbied on behalf of the US Chamber of Commerce, Facebook and Goldman Sachs.

Question 24

Legislation passed by Congress to regulate lobbying:

Answer 24

• Lobby Disclosure Act (1995)
• Honest Leadership and Open Government Act (2007): States that lobbying must be disclosed and a regulation of ‘gifts’.

Question 25

Example of lobbying being ineffective:

Answer 25

US Chamber of Commerce spent $77 million on lobbying in 2019. - Didn't convince Trump to reverse tariffs on goods from China and the EU despite it having a negative impact on business.

Question 26

How many lobbyists did Trump have in Government?

Answer 26

281 4 times more than Obama.

Question 27

Who did the Washington Post libel the most powerful lobbyists in Trump's Washington?

Answer 27

Ballad Partners - when Trump became president they gained 200 clients in less than 2 years.

Question 28

Examples of pressure groups achieving their aims through legal challenges:

Answer 28

NAACP funded Brown v Topek (1954) - court found the separate but equal clause was unconstitutional. The ACLU brought the case Obergefell v Hodges (2015) - the court ruling legalised same sex marriage across the US.

Question 29

Example of pressure groups holding the executive to account by challenging its action in the courts:

Answer 29

- ACLU mounted 56 legal challenges against Trump 2017-18.

Question 30

What are Amicus Curiea briefs?

Answer 30

- set out specific evidence or research that PG hope will influence judges. - Amicus Curiea briefs from PGs are called green briefs.

Question 31

How many Amicus Curiea briefs did the Supreme Court receive in the 1950s compared to 2019?

Answer 31

1950's on average one a year. In 2019, an average of 16 briefs were submitted per case.

Question 32

How many Amicus Curiea briefs were submitted for Obergefell v Hodges (2015) ?

Answer 32

148

Question 33

What percentage of briefs were mentioned by justices 2019-20?

Answer 33

10%

Question 34

Example of a justice quoting an amicus brief:

Answer 34

In the America Legion v American Humanist Associaiton (2019) Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg quoted from a brief by Jewish war veterans to support her dissent.

Question 35

Argument that the use of Amicus Curiea briefs is elitist:

Answer 35

- More likely to be cited by a justice if written by a legal expert. - Writing an a brief is expensive.

Question 36

Argument that direct action is effective:

Answer 36

- It generates publicity.

Question 37

Argument that direct action is not effective:

Answer 37

BLM, outbreaks of violence during the protests alienated public opinion - Trump threatened to send the military to the riots. - Failed mob insurrection of the Capitol in Jan 2021 was indeed to prevent congress from certifying the 2020 electoral college results.

Question 38

Example of a pressure groups holding the funding a candidates election campaign:

Answer 38

2018, pro-life Democrat Dan Lipinski received funding from the pro-life group the SBA list. They spent $100,000 on his primary race.

Question 39

Why are the NRA so influential?

Answer 39

- 5 million members. - Republican candidates received 98% of their funding from the NRA in their 2016 congressional campaign. - Arguably lost influence - its revenue has decreased 40% since 2016.

Question 40

Evidence of incumbency advantage in the USA:

Answer 40

Pressure groups tend to support Washington insiders - reinforces incumbency advantage. 90% of members of congress are typically returned.

Question 41

What are Iron Triangles?

Answer 41

A relationship between an interest group, congress and the executive.

Question 42

What role do interest groups have in Iron Triangles?

Answer 42

Influence congress through donations. Can use their influence over congress to put pressure on the executive.

Question 43

What role does congress have in Iron Triangles?

Answer 43

Funds executive departments. Congress may influence interest groups by passing legislation that affects them.

Question 44

What role does the executive have in Iron Triangles?

Answer 44

Creates the restrictions that interest groups must follow. The executive influences congress by setting the policy agenda.

Question 45

Why is the defence iron triangle so strong?

Answer 45

The defence industry is dominated by a few companies with operation in different states.

Question 46

How much does Lockhead Martin spend a year on professional lobbyists?

Answer 46

$14 million.

Question 47

Evidence of the revolving door in the military industrial complex:

Answer 47

Patrick Shahan, acting defence secretary 2019 - previously Boeings senior VP. He oversaw 20 contracts for Boeing worth $13.7 billion.

Question 48

Argument that pressure groups are more powerful than political parties:

Answer 48

- Iron triangles allow influential interest groups and corporation to influence the executive and congress. - Lobbyists and campaign donations allow PGs to influence the executive and congress. - The revolving door means that PGs maintain a close relationship with congress and the executive.

Question 49

Argument that political parties are more powerful than pressure groups:

Answer 49

- Formulate policy for all areas of government - not just a specific sector. - They select and support electoral candidates for congress and the presidency. - Wiled legislative power in congress. - Can determine federal government policy when their party holds the presidency.

Question 50

What are PACs (Political Action Committees) ?

Answer 50

- They raise money for the direct purpose of electing or defeating candidates or for supporting political campaigns for legislation. - Make hard money contributions. - Limited to $5000 donations a year.

Question 51

What is a Super PAC?

Answer 51

A PAC that only deals with independent expenditure. Can raise and spend unlimited money for political campaigns.

Question 52

What court ruling allows for Super PACs to make unlimited donations?

Answer 52

Citizens United v Federal Election Committee (2010).

Question 53

How much did Super PACs spend on Hillary Clintons presidential campaign compared to Trumps?

Answer 53

Clinton - $215 million. Trump - $82.5 million.

Question 54

Argument that Super PACs have too much influence in US elections:

Answer 54

- Right to spend an unlimited amount through Super PACs allows for PG to bypass campaign finance restrictions. - PACs and Super PACs are funded by less than 1% of Americans. - Wealthy individuals can make huge donations - Sheldon Andleson and his wife donated over $100 million to Super PACs in 2020. - Legislatures may vote in the interest of their financial backers.

Question 55

Argument that Super PACs do NOT have too much influence in US elections:

Answer 55

- The US being a pluralist society means that PGs should be able to fully participate in campaigns. - Large donations don't guarantee victory (look at Clinton v Trump). - The public holds members of congress to account during elections.

Question 56

In 2020 what percentage of Americans supported a constitutional amendment to reverse Citizens United?

Answer 56

75%

Question 57

Argument that pressure groups are too powerful:

Answer 57

- PGs are elitist - well funded groups have greater influence and can afford professional lobbyists. - Revolving door gives interest groups and obeying firms excessive influence. - Iron-triangles can lead to congress and the executive making decisions that benefit interest groups. - Submitting of Amicus Curiea briefs favoured by wealthy interest groups. - PGs election campaigning reinforces incumbency. - PGs undermined the role of political parties.

Question 58

Argument that pressure groups are NOT too powerful:

Answer 58

- PGs are essential to a pluralist society. - Social movements are cheap and effective. - The right to lobby is protected under the 1st amendment and is regulated. - Access doesn't guarantee influence. - Legislatures are accountable to votes. - PGs provide information like voting cards. - PGs support the party that best reflects their interests - contributes to the system of 'big tent' parties.