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

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

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

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

6. Pluralism David Truman, ‘The Governmental Process’ (1951) – politics was all about how different groups interacted with each other 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 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. 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.extract on pluralism extract on pluralism

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

10.  Your task 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. 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: You must try to explain how they fulfil each of the 5 key functions of PGs: Representation Representation Citizen participation Citizen participation Public education Public education Agenda building Agenda building Programme monitoring Programme monitoring  Find a comparable PG in the UK and assess whether it fulfils the 5 functions as well as its US counterpart

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

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