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What do professional groups focus on?
Interests of professional group America Medical Association
What do policy groups focus on?
Whole policy area such as foreign policy Center for international policy
What do single interest gorups focus on?
Specific or limited issues NRA
Why are interest groups important?
Access gov in many different points- separation of powers
Federalism- can target states/ legislatures
Can choose an institution that will be most receptive - if one doesn’t work doesn’t mean all will fail
Politicians are open to persuasion- weak discipline
May be keen to gain reelection
Politicians could champion a cause
Why are elections significant to interest group
Elections re frequent
Money plays a major role in elections - Citzens united v FEC inc spending
Candiadates may rely on interest groups for campaigns
High range of elected officials at fed/ state level
Why are rights protection signficiant for interest groups?
US has entrenches consitution
Some group campaign on rights enshriend
1st amendment is freedom
What determines interest group sucess?
Money
Membership
Expertise
Contacts
How does money effect interest group sucess?
More money means more for campaign suport candidates and lobbying
How much money was spent on federal Lobbying in 2016
$3.1 billion
How does membership effect interest group sucess?
Large and more active makes more influence
Grassroots pressure has a big impact on outcome
Opposition to a candidate
Mobilising the vote in swing area
How do expertise affect sucess?
PArticular area of interest
to fight cases- lawyers NCCAP
How do contacts affect sucess?
Professional lobbyists give more influence
‘revolving doors’
‘Iron triangle’
What is revovling door?
Former congressional member take a job in a lobbying firm and have contact and knowledge
How many of those leaving congress 2017-2019 joined lobbying firms?
60%
Both AOC and Cruz spoke against this (unncommon opposite ends)
What is the iron triangle?
A strong relationship between pressure groups- congressional committees - federal department or angency very strong link
What are tactics used by interest groups?
Courts/ legal methods
Lobbying
Grassroots activity/ direct action
Publicicty
Example of interest groups using courts
Brown v Board of Education (1954) - NAACP
DC v Heller - NRA
Influence supreme court nominations - Americans for prosperity pushed for Amy Coney Barret
How do interest groups lobby?
Contact and persuad those in power
Use people with professional lobbysists and have many points of acess
Increased sucess due to lack of party discipline (AIC) over obama iran deal
How do interest groups use grassroots?
Members take action themselves encourage members to contract congress and what to say
How do interest groups use publicicty?
Advertisisng - print media or digital ads on social media
NRA attack ads on Obama in 2012
How are interests groups positive for democracy
Participation - grass root activism awareness adress damage from 2 party system
Checks on Government - Check government and raise awareness on activity shine a light on corrucption and self interest
Represenatation - Represent variet on minority groups that may not otherwise be heard (pluralism )
How are interests groups negative for democracy
Violence and illegal - Capitol jan 6th insurection
Restriction off election government- stop elected gov acted to block Obama ACA block trump saying what he wanted to do when elected
Inequality of representation- Promotes elitism as the big/rich likely to only make impact
What does NRA focus on
Gun saftey orginially but noe gun rights
How can we see NRA as influential?
Strong ties with repiblucans say it ‘owns’ them
Well funded
Well organised in the past
Rally against those that are anti gun
Why is NRA not influenctial
MAjor scandals around leadership Wayne Lapierre (involved in corrutipn)
Sued by New York attorney- general Letita Jame
How many members does the IRA have in 2022?
6 million
When was NRA formed
1871
Key NRA sucess?
2016 spent $30 million for Trump to defeat Clinton
$20 million in 2000 to help Bush defeat gore
in 2014 top 10 most inlfuential pressure group in America in Fortune Magazine
Attack ads on Obama in 2012 as he opposed arm guards in schools
Supported Cruz, Josh HAwley
Providided amicus breifs for DC v Heller
