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AQA:US Politics > US Pressure Groups > Flashcards

US Pressure Groups Flashcards

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1
Q

Political Pluralism:

A

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

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2
Q

Which amendment allows pressure groups to exist?

A

1st Amendment gives pressure groups their constitutional rights to exist

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3
Q

Why are pressure groups good for pluralism?

A

they allow for an alternative form of political participation

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4
Q

what is an insider group?

A

-a pressure group that has close ties with the government or the 2 main political parties
-they are typically well funded and spend heavily on lobbying and election campaigns

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5
Q

Examples of an insider groups in the US?

A

-the American Medical Association
-the US Chamber of Commerce
-NRA

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6
Q

What are outsider groups?

A

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

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7
Q

Example of an outsider group in the US:

A

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

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8
Q

What are promotional groups?

A

pressure groups that promote a course they believe will benefit society and not driven by altruism

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9
Q

Examples of promotion groups in the US:

A

-Greenpeace USA
-The American Civil Liberties Union

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10
Q

What are interest groups?

A

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

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11
Q

Examples of interest groups in the US:

A

-the American Bar Association
-the National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People

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12
Q

What is the difference between a pressure groups and a social movement?

A

-PGs are structured organisations with a hierarchy and formal membership
-social movements are less formal and structured

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13
Q

Examples of social movements:

A

-Women’s and Civil Rights Movements
-MeToo and BLM

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14
Q

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

A

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

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15
Q

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

A

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 in environmental records + 5/12 candidates on the list were defeated in 2020

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16
Q

What is the aim of EMILY’s List?

A

-wants to promote change by getting ‘pro-choice’ women to run for office
-they recruit candidates and support their campaign

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17
Q

Example of EMILY’s list endorsing a candidate?

A

-Hilary Clinton 2016
-2020, EMILY’s List spent $5.5 million on digital advertising for Kamala Harris

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18
Q

Under which Amendment is lobbying protected?

A

under the 1st Amendment

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19
Q

Example of a pressure group using insider contacts?

A

-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

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20
Q

How much was spent on federal lobbying in 2019?

A

$3.47 billion

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21
Q

When was the highest lobbing year on record?

A

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

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22
Q

Example of an individual from the revolving door?

A

-Eugene Scalia
-Secretary of Labour in 2019
-had first worked for the Bush administration and then lobbies on behalf of the US Chamber of Commerce (Facebook ad Goldman Sachs)

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23
Q

Legislation passed by Congress to regulate lobbying:

Study These Flashcards
A

-Lobby Disclosure Act (1995)
-Honest Leadership and Open Government Act (2007): states that lobbying must be dislocated and a regulation of ‘gifts’

24
Q

Example of lobbying being ineffective:

Study These Flashcards
A

US Chamber of Commerce spend $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

25
How many lobbyists did Trump have in Government?
-281 -4 times more than Obama
26
Who did the Washington Post libel the most powerful lobbyists in Trump's Washington?
Ballad Partners -when Trump became President they gained 200 clients in less than 2yrs
27
Examples of pressure groups achieving their aims through legal challenges:
-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
28
Example of pressure groups holding the executive to account by challenging its action in the courts:
-ACLU mounted 56 legal challenges against Trump 2017-18
29
what are Amicus Curiea briefs?
-set out specific evidence or research that PG hope will influence judges -Amicus Curiea briefs from PGs are called green briefs
30
How many Amicus Curiea briefs did the Supreme Court receive in the 1950s compared to 2019?
-1950's on average one a year -in 2019 an average of 16 briefs were submitted to cases
31
How many Amicus Curiea briefs were submitted for Obergefell v Hodges (2015)?
148
32
What percentage of briefs were mentioned by justices 2019-20?
10%
33
Example of justice quoting an amicus brief:
-in the American Legion v American Humanists Association (2019) -Justice Bader Ginsburg quoted from a brief by Jewish war veterans to support her dissent
34
Argument that the use of Amicus Curiea briefs is elitist:
-more likely to be cited by a justice if written by a legal expert -writing a brief is expensive
35
Argument that direct action is effective:
-it generates publicity
36
Argument that direct action is not effective:
-BLM: outbreaks of violence during the protests alienated public opinion + Trump threaten to send the military to the riots -failed mob insurrection of the Capitol in January 2021 was indeed to prevent congress from certifying the 2020 electoral college results
37
Example of a pressure group holding the funding a candidates election campaign:
-2018, pro-life Democrat Dan Lipinski received funding from the pro-life group the SBA list -they spent $100,000 on his primary race
38
Why are the NRA so influential?
-5 million members -Republican candidates received 98% of their funding from the NRA in their 2016 congressional campaign
39
Evidence of incumbency advantage in the USA:
-pressure groups tent to support Washington insiders + reinforces incumbency advantage -90% of members of congress are typically returned
40
What are Iron Triangles?
a relationship between an interest groups, congress and the executive
41
What role do interest groups have in iron triangles?
-influence congress through donations -can use their influence over congress to put pressure on the executive
42
What role does congress have in Iron Triangles?
-funds executive departments -congress may influence interest groups by passing legislation that affects them
43
What role does the executive have in Iron Triangles?
-creates the restrictions that interest groups must follow -the executive influences congress by setting the policy agenda
44
Why is the defence iron triangle so strong?
the defence industry is dominated by a few companies with operation in different states
45
How much does Lockhead Martin spend a year on professional lobbyists?
$14 million
46
Evidence of the revolving door in the military industrial complex:
Patrick Shahan, acting defence secretary 2019 - previously Boeings senior VP he oversaw 20 contracts for Boeing worth $13.7 billion
47
Argument that pressure groups are more powerful than political parties:
-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
48
Argument the political parties are more powerful than pressure groups:
-formulate policy for all areas of government - not just a specific sector -they select and support electoral candidates for congress and the presidency -Wilded legislative power in congress -can determine federal government policy when their party holds the presidency
49
What are PACs (Political Action Committees)?
-they raise money for the direct purpose of electing of defeating candidates or for political campaigns for legislation -make hard money contributions -limited to $5000 donations a year
50
What is a Super PAC?
-a PAC that only deals with independent expenditure -can raise and spend unlimited money for political campaigns
51
What court ruling allows for Super PACs to make unlimited donations?
Citizens United v Federal Election Committee (2010)
52
How much did Super PACs spend on Hillary Clintons presidential campaign compare to Trumps?
Clinton - $215 million Trump - $82.5 million
53
Argument that Super PACs have too much influence in US elections:
-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 -wealth individuals can make huge donations (Sheldon Anderson and his wife donated over $100 million to Super PACs in 2020) -legislatures may vote in the interstate of their financial backers
54
Argument that Super PACs do NOT have too much influence in US elections:
-the US being a pluralist society means that PGs should be able to fully participate in campaigns -large donations don't guarantee victory (Clinton v Trump) -the public holds members of congress to account during elections
55
in 2020 what percentage of Americans supported a constitutional amendment to reverse Citizens United?
75%
56
Argument that pressure groups are too powerful:
-PGs are elitist (well funded groups have greater influence and can afford professional lobbyists) -revolving door gives interest groups and lobbying 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
57
Argument that pressure groups are NOT too powerful:
-PGs are essential to a pluralists 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)

AQA:US Politics (9 decks)

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