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2854703
Are Pressure Groups good or bad for democracy?
Description
Sophie MADE THIS
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sophei is a lad
politics
first year
Mind Map by
Hugh Summers
, updated more than 1 year ago
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Created by
Hugh Summers
almost 9 years ago
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Resource summary
Are Pressure Groups good or bad for democracy?
Good
Participation
Channel of opinion between elections
Allows involvement on more local issues
Single issues which cannot be covered by 'catch all' parties
Low turnout of 33.8% Midterms shows disengagement with political process
Bring cases to the courts
Amicus Curaie Briefings
Plaintiff v Clapper
Amnersty v Clapper (2013)
Education
Awareness of key issues
Improve knowledge of the electorate
Provide specialist knowledge for the government
"Education from pressure groups makes people better aware of policy problems and proposed solutions"
Pressure group Branches of government educates on the federalist system
Agenda building
Set the agenda in the legislative/executive
Propose ideas/influence policy
Influence of Cue cards
Democrats often adhere to voting cards from ACLU
Program Monitoring
Scrutinice the work of the government
Hold government to account
Protection of rights/group interests
Bring cases to the courts - District of Columbia v Heller
NOW - Weeks v Southern Bell
Representation
Minorities - NAACP/NOW
Represent the diverse views - heterogonous nature of US electorate
Keep politicians in touch with the needs of the people
Bad
Domination of special interest groups
Power lies with the few 'elitist' groups - "The US is governed by a small elite"
Mills theory
The largest cooperations hold the most power
Most influential sector is "Finance, insurance and real estate" with an expenditure of over 46 million in the last 12 year
Multiple access points allow pressure groups access to all levels of government
Honest Leadership and Open government Act, 2007 has led to some regulation although limited in the long term
Since the two year 'cooling off' period lobbying is now stronger than ever
The energy industry spent more than $721 million on lobbying in the recent midterms
Iron traingles
Relates to the "iron" - cosy relationship that exists between agencies, congressional committees and pressure groups
AIPAC, the defence department and the foreign relations committee
Military complex
No concept of national interest but rather the focus on larger defence expenditures
Agricultural groups dominate despite makes up 2% of Americans
Interests with such insider relations have constant access to the decision making process unreachable by most pressure groups
Undemocratic methods
Direct action
Civil disobedience
John Crow sit ins
Occupy Wall street movement
Million man march
Attempt to shut down abortion clinics
Lobbying
K Street Corridor
Duberstein Group
Raegan's ex Chief of Staff
Allows pressure groups to gain access to key Congressmen/Committees which could potentially provide insider influence into the decision making process
Ex-Senator Chriss Dodd is now in Motion Picture Association of America
Ex Senator Abraham
Revolving Door syndrome
The idea that ex-Pentagon members leave the political arena and venture into the lobbying industry with significant connections
Aldridge confirmed the propsal of 20 new Lockheed Martin planes before leaving for the Lockheed Martin board under Bush
Clientelism
Power is vested in Washington Elite
Corruption
Jonothan Rauch describes the lobbying industry as 'parasitical'
Wealthy pressure groups spend excessive amounts on professional lobbyists
NRA spent $4.4 million lobbying Congress in 2012
Fuel industry spent $500 million on lobbying in the 2014 midterms
Money
Money yields victory as opposed to the cause
Raises the image o the pressure group
Campaign
AARO mounted a TV campaign against Bush's proposals on social Security
America for Prosperity ran ads against Obamacare in 2014
Advertisements
Endorsements
NARAL (pro choice) annual budget of 1.1 million
National RIght to Life
Annual budget of over 9 million
Lack of countervailing groups makes pressure groups undemocratic
Interest groups are unfairly represented
NRA annual budget of 250 million
NRA v Handgun Control - 4.3 million v 28,000
Allows groups led by money to dominate
Deregulation of soft money since the Citizens United ruling/Speech NOW v FEC has made pressure groups ever more prominent
Pressure groups can donate on behalf of candidates
2012 - $547 million was spent on PACs, 78% spent opposing candidates
80% of donations goes to incumbunts who have 90% chance of re-election
National Association of Realtors donated 3.8 million to federal candidates
20% of PAC donations go to chairpersons
David Camp - Pac receipt of 3 million, successful re-elected Congressman
Endorsements/Donations
NRA endorsed Mitt Romney
Bill Burton and Sean Sweeney spent $66 million on ads against Romney in 2012
NAARAL endorsed Obama in 2012
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