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Flashcards in US Pressure Groups Deck (25)
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1
Q

what is a pressure group?

A

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

2
Q

what is pluralism?

A

A theory that political power does not rest simply with the electorate or the government, but is distributed among groups representing widely different interests

3
Q

what is elitism?

A

a theory that political power rests with a small group who gain power through, wealth, family status or intellectual superiority

4
Q

what are sectional groups?

A

sectional pressure groups seek to represent their own section or group within society, such as business or trade groups, or groups that represent individuals with a common gender, ethnic, religious or social characteristic.

5
Q

what are causal pressure groups?

A

causal pressure groups campaign for a particular cause or issue, such as single-interest groups or think-tanks

6
Q

what are professional groups?

A

A pressure group organised to promote the interest pf a profession or business

7
Q

what are single-interest groups or policy groups?

A

a pressure group created in response to a specific issue in order to promote policies that the group desires concerning that issue

8
Q

what are some examples of sectional pressure groups?

A

business and trade groups: American Business Conference, National Association of Manufacturers, National Automobile Dealers Association, US Chamber of Commerce, United Auto Workers, American Farm Bureau Federation

represents characteristic: National Organisation for women, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Christian Coalition of America

professional groups: American Medical Association, National Education Association, American Bar Association

9
Q

what are some examples of causal pressure groups?

A

single issue groups: National Rifle Association (NRA), Mothers against drunk driving (MADD), National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League (NARAL)

ideological group: American Conservative Union, American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)

Think-tanks: Institute for Policy Studies, Brookings Institute, Heritage Foundation, American Enterprise Institute

10
Q

what are the functions of pressure groups?

A

Representation, citizen participation, public education, Agenda building, Programme monitoring

11
Q

what methods are used by pressure groups?

A

Electioneering and endorsement, lobbying, organising grassroots activities

12
Q

what are examples of pressure groups using electioneering and endorsement?

A
  • In 2016, the pro-life group the National Right to Life endorsed Donald Trump while the pro-choice group NARAL endorsed Hillary Clinton
  • Every two years the League of Conservation Voters publishes it’s ‘dirty dozen’ list - the 12 candidates with what they regard as the worst record on environmental conservation (only three being defeated in 2016)
13
Q

what is the ‘K street corridor’

A

the presence of lobbyists in Washing DC, named after the street in the capital on which the offices of many lobbyists are located

14
Q

how are voting cues and scorecards used by pressure groups and what are examples of this happening?

A
  • Liberal Democrats look to such groups as the AFL-CIO, the NAACP and ADA to provide reassurance that they are taking the right stand on a particular issue whereas conservative republicans find the ACU, ACA and US Chamber of Commerce helpful.
  • the AFL-CIO publishes a Senate Scorecard where they rank each senator on how the vote on what they regard as key votes
15
Q

what did the total federal lobbying revenue in 2016 amount to?

A

$3.1 billion

16
Q

what issues have pressure groups had power in?

A
  • Environmental protection (Sierra Club, Wilderness Society ect.)
  • Women’s rights (League of Women Voters pushed unsuccessfully for the passagew of an Equal Rights Amendment to the Constitution during the 1970s and 1980s)
  • Abortion Rights
  • Gun Control (NRA 3 million membership - opposed Brady Bill and assault weapons ban, played significant role in District of Columbia v Heller)
  • Economic Inequality (Occupy movement - protests, in early weeks of protests drove a good deal of substance of public and political debate, Obama administration showed some interest, less significant than Tea Party)
17
Q

how have pressure groups influenced Congress?

A
  • Lobbying members of Congress
  • Lobbying Congressional Committees
  • Organising constituents
  • Publicising voting records and endorsing candidates
18
Q

what is an example of pressure group activity in Congress?

A

Committee: Senate Judiciary Committee
Hearing: Protecting older Americans from Financial Exploitation, 29 June 2016
Pressure group witness: Joseph Marquart, Member, AARP Iowa Executive Council

19
Q

what is an example of pressure groups organising constituents?

A

In January 2016, a united cross-sector set of over 1500 pressure groups representing, among others, organised labour and environmental groups, organised a joint letter-writing campaign urging congress to oppose the Trans-Pacific Partnership

20
Q

how have pressure groups impacted the executive?

A

pressure groups have strong ties with relevant executive departments, agencies and regulatory commissions, especially when it comes to the regulatory work of the federal government - regulations regarding health and safety, business, transport, communications industries, the environment ect.

21
Q

how have pressure groups impacted the judiciary?

A
  • take a lively interest in nominations to the federal courts
  • can influence courts by offering amicus curiae briefings (pressure groups gave an opportunity to present their views to the court in writing before oral arguments are heard)
22
Q

what is an example of pressure groups being interested on the nominations the president makes to the courts?

A

the American Bar Association evaluates the professional qualifications of nominees and their evaluation can play a significant role in the confirmation process conducted by the senate

23
Q

what are some examples of pressure group activities in the courts?

A
  • In 2005, the ACLU was at the Supreme Court in the case of McCreary v ACLU, in which the court ruled that a displayed the Ten Commandments in a Kentucky courthouse was unconstitutional
  • In 2012, it was the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) that brought the landmark legal challenge to President Obamas healthcare reform - the case making it all the way to the Supreme court
24
Q

arguments for pressure groups (US)

A
  • provide legislators and bureaucrats with useful information and act as a sounding board for legislators at the policy formulation stage in the legislative process
  • bring some order, priorities and aggregation to the public policy debate
  • broaden opportunities for participation in a democracy
  • increase levels of accountability
  • increase opportunities for representation in between elections and offers opportunities for minority groups to be represented
  • enhance two fundamental rights of freedom of speech and freedom of association
25
Q

what are arguments against pressure groups? (US)

A
  • Revolving door syndrome
  • Iron-triangle syndrome
  • Inequality of groups
  • concentration on special interest rather than public interest
  • over-influence of money
  • Using direct action