IMPACT OF PRESSURE GROUPS Policy Areas

Case studies NAACP: Money and professional expertise have brought cases to the Supreme Court and won. It continues to be at the centre of debate on affirmative action policy. Environmental groups: impact of 20 th century policy, starting with the Sierra Club way back in the late 1800’s Women’s Rights: unsuccessful with their campaign for an Equal Rights Amendment in the 1960.s and 1970’s, but active in debates e.g. EMILY Abortion Rights: both sides have lobbied extensively since Roe v. Wade, and have tried to influence SC appointments. Gun Control: very influential- lobbying, debates, campaigns, financial power Health: during Clinton’s Health reforms television commercials by the Health Insurance Association highlighted with great impact the complexity and increased federal control of the proposals, doing considerable damage to Clinton

Impact on Government Congress: through contact with members and committee chairs, organisation of constituencies, visit members of Congress before debates, publish voting records and offer their own rankings and fundraising at election time Executive: strong ties with departments, agencies and regulatory commissions, sometimes wielding great control of the latter Judiciary: ‘amicus curiae’ - used before oral hearings to brief judges. Effective on several civil rights, abortion and 1 st Amendment Rights State Government: great impact on local interest policies e.g sugar – Florida, Silicon Valley – California. Strength of State governors vary and and some sessions are only for a few weeks a year

Regulation PG’s shelter under the protection of the 1 st Amendment Federal Regulation of Lobbying Act 1946: PG’s have to register if they are ‘principally raising funds to aid or defeat the passage of legislation in Congress Lobby Disclosure Bill failed to be passed because of powerful lobbying!1976 Finance laws such as FERA have affected PG’s more than anything else and contributed directly to the growth of PACS Redefinition of the term PG has forced more PG’s to register and significant restrictions on wining and dining, gift giving and paid speaking engagements for congressmen have had an impact Lobbying of the Executive remains completely unchecked it is really only the activities that affect Congress that have been regulated

Arguments for Pressure Groups Representation – they make the government more accountable Participation – they broaden the opportunities for involvement Public education – they provide useful information to bureaucrats and provide a sounding board for legislators at the policy formation stage Agenda building and coalition forming – they bring some kind of order to policy debate, aggregating views Programme monitoring – they have access to all parts of government because of the very nature of the system. The federal division of power allows important decisions to be made and subsequently affected by lobbyists at the numerous state and local levels.

Arguments against Pressure Groups Revolving Door syndrome, you leave the political arena and return as a lobbyist! This is allowed after 1 year - People argue that this is an abuse of public service and exploits knowledge and contacts and can change to motivation of incumbent members. Two good examples are John Anderson, member for 20 years, failed presidential candidate and now president of the World Federalist Association and Ohio Senator Howard Matzenbaum in House for 18 years and now chairman of the Consumer Federation of America

The Iron-Triangle Syndrome Cosy relationship between pressure groups, congressional committees and relevant government agencies which is intended to try and guarantee the policy outcomes to the benefit of all three parties involved e.g the Veterans groups, the Veterans affairs Committee and the Department of Veteran Affairs Is this really a Sub Government? e.g also agriculture and defence Is this really a Sub Government? e.g also agriculture and defence Many would argue that the close influence of the Iron triangle groups and the revolving door syndrome undermine the freedoms of a pluralist society. Access is obviously not open to all because of differences in financial power and expertise

Inequality of Groups Those who defend pressure groups believe that they operate within a series of ‘competing elites’ and this is entirely compatible within a democratic society Those on the left who criticise PG’s see the competition as unequal e.g Tobacco v. health groups and environment v. big business

Special interest v. the public interest Groups that only represent their own interests or ‘sections’ only serve to splinter or atomise US society PG’s tend to accentuate the ME rather than the WE and it can also lead to stereotyping. One of the reasons that the appointment of Clarence Thomas was so heavily debated was because he was a CONSERVATIVE black and did not fit the group think of liberal politics of the NAACP etc.

Buying Political Influence Senator Ted Kennedy once said ‘we have the best Congress money can buy’. The Lobbying business is growing at a staggering 7.3% per annum and well over a quarter of a billion was spent on the last cycle of mid-terms Elizabeth Drew 1997 claimed that lobbyists wrote opening drafts of bills e.g petrochemical industries Newt Gingrich – as long as its out in the open, I have no problem’ not all would agree.

Using Direct Action This is seen as inappropriate e.g. anti capitalists and pro – life groups Exam Questions usually pursue the following issues: PG’s are undemocratic, PG’s are too powerful, how successful are PG’S and have pressure groups become more important than political parties………. To do any of these you need to MEMORISE the ……….functions……… of both PG’s and Political Parties.