Pressure Group Proliferation in the USA: A Study of Pluralism vs. Elitism

1. starter activity Drawing on your studies at AS and using the extract provided, identify why there is so much pressure group activity in the USA?  Do they benefit or suffer from theories of party renewal or decline? Read Bennett p.151-3 and supplement your notes

2. Benefits of pressure groups Increase representation - different groups in USA Increase political participation Public education – e.g. environment & gun control Agenda building – set legislation in motion & bring interests together, e.g. business & politicians Programme monitoring - put pressure on all 3 branches of government (exec, judiciary & legislature)

3. Key words: pluralism elitism political party v. pressure group Why does the US have so many pressure groups?  Learning objectives TBAT evaluate the strength of theories of pluralism v elitism TBAT describe the difference between institutional & membership PGs

4.  Your task • Read p.149 on ‘pluralism’ and make a note of the following. • Evidence that the US is a country founded on elitism • Evidence that the US is a country founded on pluralism

5. Elitism James Madison, 1751-1836 James Madison – pluralism a ‘threat to a stable & secure democracy’ Madison (Founding Father) preferred a Republican government hedged by ‘checks and balances’ C.Wright Mills, ‘The Power Elite’ (1956) – US governed by a small elite

6. Pluralism David Truman, ‘The Governmental Process’ (1951) – politics was all about how different groups interacted with each other Robert Dahl, ‘Who Governs?’ – power based on pluralism, e.g. political nominations, urban redevelopment & public education; democracy was all about compromise

7. Which theory best describes the US today? What about the UK?

8.  Extension task • Read the extract on pluralism and note down evidence to support the view the US is a pluralist society. Create a spider diagram and record & explain the 5 key characteristics of a pluralistic society.

9.  Your task  What are some potential pitfalls with Robert McKeever’s model? Study Bennett p.150-1 and the extract from the student workbook and try to categories the different pressure groups accordingly.

10.  Your task Find a comparable PG in the UK and assess whether it fulfils the 5 functions as well as its US counterpart • Produce a short ppt (5 sides max, 20 words max per slide) + 1 A4 handout on one of the pressure groups on the next slide. • You must try to explain how they fulfil each of the 5 key functions of PGs: • Representation • Citizen participation • Public education • Agenda building • Programme monitoring

11.  Homework • Complete your presentation for homework. • Complete the reading extension task No pressure!

12. Key words: pluralism elitism political party v. pressure group Why does the US have so many pressure groups?  Learning objectives TBAT evaluate the strength of theories of pluralism v elitism TBAT describe the difference between institutional & membership PGs  Plenary