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US Pressure Groups (Why are pressure groups significant? What factors…
US Pressure Groups
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IMPACT
IMPACT ON CONGRESS :pen:
- Can lobby Congress (members and committees) on their issue
- Organise constituents to express their support of the group to the Government
- Can either endorse or reject a Candidate by publicising voting records to the media
IMPACT ON THE EXECUTIVE :flag-us:
- Aim to maintain good relations with executive departments and agencies to exert their influence
IMPACT ON THE JUDICIARY :female-judge:
- Pressure groups are often vocal surrounding nominated candidates to federal courts, especially those to the Supreme Court.
- Try to influence the courts by offering amicus curiae breifings (offering their views to the court in writing before oral agreements are heard), was used lots in the past in such areas as civil rights and abortion.
US VS UK COMPARED
METHODS
:check: SIMILARITIES: :check:
- Both use lobbying, protests and media attention to gather support
- Both aim to get previous or current legislators to act as patrons for their group
:red_cross: DIFFERENCES: :red_cross:
- US groups are more involved in elections than UK groups
- More common for groups to help fund elections in US than UK
- Groups more likely to target the judiciary in the US than UK thanks to more power
INFLUENCE
:check: SIMILARITIES: :check:
- Both give evidence to committees
- Groups in both use courts to exert power
- Groups in both have more influence if they have more influence and more members
:red_cross: DIFFERENCES :red_cross:
- Groups in USA can appeal to the Supreme Court, in the UK can appeal higher to the ECHR
- The government can ignore judicial rulings in the UK
- More access points in the USA means a greater chance of achieving influence
POWER
:check: SIMILARITIES: :check:
- Groups in both countries can access members of the executive through lobbying
- Groups in both can use stunts to gain media attention
:red_cross: DIFFERENCES: :red_cross:
- Court cases are more commonly brought by interest groups in the USA and supported by them in the UK
- Mass protests are more complex in the USA than UK because of size
INFLUENCE
:check: ARE INFLUENTIAL: :check:
- Groups can access various members of branches, eg Judiciary, Congress
- Groups can donate money to campaigns for almost limitless involvement
- Can access points at local, state and national level
- Some groups have close relationships with current or former politicians
- Can provide congress with expert information
:red_cross: ARE NOT INFLUENTIAL: :red_cross:
- Allocating influence is difficult based on the saturation of groups per issue
- Supreme Court decides if they want to hear cases, not up to groups
- Campaign contributions are limited and groups can only support limited candidates
- Supreme Court can only make decisions based off the Constitution regardless of groups influence
- Groups influence are of little importance when an incumbent is running
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