Examine:Analyse The Differences In The Effectiveness Of Interest Groups At Protecting Civil Rights In The USA and UK.

Paragraph Focus

• para 1 = Access Points

• para 2 = Influence and Resources

Para 1 = US Interest Groups

• eg. BLM movement has was unsuccessful at influencing national legislative changes such as the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act but has had more success at local/state level such as California’s Assembly Bill 392

• this shows that interest groups are more successful at change through different access points

• this is due to the federal structure of the US govt with multiple layers and frequent elections which offer numerous access points

Para 1 = UK Pressure Groups

• eg. the failure of Stonewall to get legislation passed to ban trans conversion therapy in the UK, despite consistent lobbying and significant public support, due to the fact that the Conservative government failed to pass legislation to do so

• pressure groups less effective in protecting rights and liberties due to the fact that power over legislation and policy is far more centralised in the hand of the commons and the pm

Comparative theory

• This difference can be explained by a structural approach,

• in the US the significant number of access points is the consequence of the federal system,

• in the UK the dependence on getting government support to pass legislation that protects rights is the consequence of parliamentary sovereignty and the unitary nature of the UK political system

Para 2 = Interest Groups

• eg. The National Rifle Association (NRA) ran a significant advertising campaign during the 2016 Presidential Election, supporting Donald Trump and spent more than $30 million on the 2016 presidential race

• this shows interest groups possess significant resources, both financially and in terms of public support, which they leverage to influence the political process

• They can use these resources to pursue their priorities and protect rights through the electoral process, by financially backing candidates who are likely to support their policy aims

Para 2 = Pressure Groups

• Pressure groups in the UK have less significant resources and their causes are less high profile in society and politics.

• This leaves many pressure groups such as the Howard League for Penal Reform less able to achieve their goals, as they have limited means to influence the political process through money and their cause of promoting prisoners’ rights isn’t a popular one.

Comparative Theory

• this can be explained by the cultural theory

• ths us has strong protections of free speech through 1st Amendment as seen in Citizens United vs FEC leading to money playing a pivotal role in US elections

• in the UK,has more effective limits on parties spending in campaigns