Interest group influence on gov branches

To what extent do interest groups have influence on the judiciary, the executive and the congressional branch?

Interest groups have the least influence on the judiciary, a moderate influence on the executive and a substantial influence on the congressional branch

How do interest groups have a substantial influence on the congressional branch?

Lobbying congressional committees: interest groups make contact with relevant congressional committees.

As Congress does most of its work in committees, it is no surprise that legislative lobbyists direct their energies towards these.

Membership of congressional committees is relatively small and also fairly constant, so lobbyists find it easy to build a close working relationship with the members of the particular policy-specific committees in which they are interested.

How does the NRA influence Congress?

National Rifle Association - promotes gun rights. Succeeded in blocking federal gun control reforms by aggressively lobbying against them after the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in 2012.

They donated millions through PACs to pro-gun candidates - mostly Republicans in Congress.

How has the interest group Susan B Anthony List influenced Congress?

SBA List was founded as a response to the pro-choice interest group EMILY’s List. Works predominantly to get pro-life candidates, especially women, elected both to Congress and state-wide office.

In 2020, the SBA List website expressed satisfaction that a record number of pro-life women, some 16 Republican candidates, has been elected to Congress

How does the pluralist nature of the US system damage the influence of interest groups? Give an example.

The pluralist nature of the US system means that competing interest groups frequently cancel each other out.

E.G. While the NRA successfully lobbies against gun control, groups like Everytown for Gun Safety also invest heavily in lobbying for stricter firearm laws, creating a policy deadlock rather than clear influence.

How does party polarisation limit interest groups influence? Give an example.

Party polarisation often reduces the effectiveness of interest group lobbying - if a bill doesn’t align with the ideological stance of a party, no amount of pressure or donations will sway a majority.

E.G. Environmental groups like the Sierra Club have consistently failed to push comprehensive climate legislation through a divided Congress, despite massive public support and persistent lobbying.

How can public opinion and the media override interest group agendas?

During the 2008 financial crisis, the banking lobby pushed to avoid regulation, yet Congress still passed the Dodd-Frank Act due to intense public backlash.

How do interest groups have an underwhelming influence on the judiciary?

The judicial branch remains largely insulated from direct interest group influence due to its unique structure and principles of independence.

Federal judges, including those on the Supreme Court, are appointed - not elected - and serve life terms, meaning they do not rely on campaign donations or public approval to maintain their positions.

This severely limits the typical lobbying tactics used by interest groups.

What specific methods can be used by interest groups to attempt to influence the judiciary?

Groups like ACLU, Planned Parenthood or the Heritage Foundation may attempt to influence judicial outcomes through amicus curiae briefs, this is an indirect method and does not guarantee impact on judicial reasoning or rulings.

Give examples of a failed amicus curiae brief by an interest group.

Dobbs v Jackson 2022 - numerous briefs were submitted on both sides, but the Court’s conservative majority ruled based on constitutional interpretation and precedent shifts, not public or group pressure.

____ and ____ discourage judges from engaging with lobbying efforts.

ETHICAL RULES and a long-standing NORM OF IMPARTIALITY discourage judges from engaging with lobbying efforts.

Interest groups can influence the courts by bringing relevant…? Give an example.

Interest groups can bring relevant cases before the courts to be reviewed.

One of the most active pressure groups in the courts is the American Civil Liberties Union, which among other issues heavily supports the separation of church and state: In 2017, ACLU was back at the Supreme Court fighting a gender discrimination case concerning transgender student rights in Virginia.

How can interest groups play a role in the nomination process of SC judges?

The SBA list strongly supported the appointment in 2020 of Amy Coney Barret to the Supreme Court . They lobbied for her nomination and appointment, saying she has the ‘perfect combination’ of attributes for the post.

How did interest groups influence the Obergefell v. Hodges 2015 ruling?

Amicus curiae briefs, which can shape judicial reasoning by providing legal arguments, data, or policy implications. For example, in Obergefell v. Hodges (2015), LGBTQ+ advocacy groups like the Human Rights Campaign filed briefs that helped highlight the real-world impact of denying same-sex marriage rights.

How do interest groups have reasonable influence on the executive branch?

Unlike Congress, where laws are debated openly, much of the executive’s power lies in implementing and enforcing legislation through federal agencies - making it a prime target for interest groups seeking to shape regulations in their favour.

Give me examples of interest groups that attempt to influence the executive.

• Groups like Big Pharma and the Oil & Gas lobby have mastered this game, lobbying agencies such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to craft policies that benefit their industries. 

How do interest groups cultivate close relationships with executive officials through revolving door practices?

Revolving door phenomenon - former lobbyists become regulators and vice versa, ensuring their interests remain prioritised.

It is a conflict of interest as those who used to work in government then take up jobs in corporation or firms, undertaking the role of influencing the government for the favour of the company.

How are revolving door practices beneficial to interest groups?

• Insider knowledge: through the information given to them by ex-politicians, they build up a database of exactly how to craft persuasive arguments the government will be influenced by, who to approach and how to time their influence just right.

• Access to power players: a former senator still has contacts. A former agency head still has connections. This network gives interest groups VIP access to policymakers.

• Credibility boost: Having someone with government experience legitimises pressure groups

Give me an example of an interest group involved in revolving door practices.

Michael Taylor. He was a top lawyer and lobbyist for Monsanto (the big agrochemical giant), then he got appointed as the Deputy Commissioner for Foods at the FDA during the Obama administration. That meant he went from lobbying the agency to literally regulating the very industry he once worked for— major insider influence.

Despite intense lobbying by Big Pharma and insurance companies, the rollout of the …?

Despite intense lobbying by Big Pharma and insurance companies, the rollout of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) faced significant regulatory hurdles and political pushback, showing that interest groups don’t always get their way.

While interest groups do target the executive branch, their influence is often overstated and limited by…?

Interest groups’ influence on the executive branch is limited by strict legal frameworks and bureaucratic complexity.

Federal agencies operate under rigorous rules and procedures designed to ensure transparency and prevent undue influence, such as the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) which limits lobbying access to decision makers.

How has the ‘revolving door’ phenomenon been dealt with?

Honest Leadership and Open Government Act 2007 introduced a ‘cooling off period’ before former members of congress can begin to lobby Congress + requires lobbyists to report any contributions they make to federal candidates, PACs and committees.

In a general sense, how is interest group influence on the executive diminished?

Elected officials in the executive branch must balance competing interests and public opinion, meaning interest groups are just one of many voices in a complex power arena.