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Types / functions and methods of Pressure Groups in the USA. Types of Pressure Groups. Functions of Pressure Groups. Representation – citizens views heard Participation – increase opportunities for Public Education
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Functions of Pressure Groups • Representation – citizens views heard • Participation – increase opportunities for • Public Education • Agenda building – attempt to influence agendas of political parties, legislators and bureaucrats. • Programme monitoring – scrutinising.
Examples • http://www.nra.org/ • http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/index.html
What are the methods used by Pressure groups? • Lobbying • Publicity • Organising grass roots activities • Litigation • Electioneering
Lobbying: Provision of accurate, detailed information to legislators and bureaucrats. ‘K’ street corridor – Washington DC. Publicity: TV – issue advertising Eg. Insurance companies in Health care reforms US Term limits – defeat long term members; eg Tom Foley 1994 (House speaker) Organising grassroots activities; Postal ‘blitz’ on congress. Marches / demos Extreme methods – setting fire to and bombing abortion clinics. Litigation in the courts: 1954 - case of Brown vs Board of Education was brought to court by NAACP / ACLU 1967 – ACLU successfully argued against state bans on interracial marriage 1973 – Roe vs Wade Methods used;
Electioneering; A result of 1970s campaign finance reforms; limited pressure group donation. PAC is an organisation whose purpose is to raise and then give campaign funds to candidates for political office. 2002 – mid terms; incumbent House members : $176 million, challengers: $29 million Senate: $43 million to incumbents and $15 million to challengers. National Association of Realtors – gave $3.8million American Federation of Teachers – gave $4million Methods used;
Examples of influence: 1954 - case of Brown vs Board of Education was brought to court by NAACP / ACLU 1967 – ACLU successfully argued against state bans on interracial marriage 1973 – Roe vs Wade 2001 - NARAL Pro Choice America spent $3.4 million on advertising in 2006 – AIPAC secured foreign aid to Israel $2.5 bn. Guarenteed loans until 2011 2006 – AARP had $1bn revenue. Spent $23million on lobbying. 2003 – AARP influenced US congress passage of Medicare Prescription Drug and Modernization Ac. 2007 – Divided we fail. Largest political campaign. Brownback / McCain / Huckerbee in national TV debate.