Statistics for Politics: US Pressure Groups Methods 1

-The UK Parliament is a much more 'controlled and disciplined' institution, particularly with the executive and party discipline, than the US Congress, since the 'executive' branch of US Government has little or no control over Congress and both Democrat and Republican representatives occupy a 'broad ideological range' and often disagree.

-Rod Hague and Martin Harrop (2010): 'In the US, most pressure groups have learned that the surest route to the hearts of the members of Congress is through their constituents. Therefore groups follow a ‘dual strategy’ – going public and going Washington'.

-Malcom Walles (1988): 'Operating as they usually do, under tight constraints imposed by party whips, MPs are rarely swayed by pressure groups if questions of a party political nature are involved. They may, occasionally be persuaded to raise a question in the House, or to pursue a point which may prove embarrassing for party leaders: rarely will MPs support a group which contradicts the ‘party line’'.

-This conviction was a landmark decision as it was the first conviction of a White police officer in Minnesota for the death of a Black man.

-It is debated whether this conviction could have occurred if it wasn't for the public outrage and protests which ensued after Floyd's death.

-They may openly endorse a candidate and encourage their members and the public to vote for them.

-They may donate money to political campaigning.

-In the US, the amount that candidates' official campaigns can raise is limited, thus pressure groups get around this by donating to Political Action Committees (PACs) and Super PACs.

-In 2018, the League of Conservation Voters spent $85 million on electoral campaigning, more than any other single-issue group. It achieved its aim of winning the House of Representatives back for the Democrats, with nearly 60 of their new congressional candidates being elected.

-Pressure groups may release 'scorecards': showing voters how candidates score on certain key policies. This may be an analysis of their voting record, or a comparison of their positions with other candidates.

-In the US, due to parties having a looser federation of 'state parties', influence will be more aimed at the branches of government themselves.

-Pressure groups will seek to gain influence in the mass media through the organisation of this type of activity.

-Business gravitate towards the Republican Party.

-Organised labour gravitate towards the Democratic Party.

The methodology of lobbying the US Supreme Court is far more established than in the UK:

-One way this is shown is the 'time, money and energy' US pressure groups spend in lobbying the state and federal courts, given the power and influence of the judiciary in both levels of government.

-Topics often used to lobby the Supreme Court - equal rights for racial minorities, abortion, religious freedoms, freedom of speech, etc.

-It makes sense for pressure groups to aim their fire at courts that have wide-ranging powers to challenge federal and state law.

-In the US, membership of these has been in decline since its peak in the 1950s.

-They have never 'unionised' anywhere near the proportion of the workforce that happened in the UK.

-The AFL-CIO (The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations) is the US equivalent of the UK Trades Union Congress, however, many American Unions are not affiliated with the AFL-CIO.

-According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 10% of employees in the US were members of a Trade Union in 2022. This has significant implications for 'workers lobbying powers'.

-There are more elective posts in the US than in the UK.

-Thus a potential answer to the power and influence that pressure groups have on governments is not necessarily to weaken the groups, but to strengthen the institutions of government which they will try to bend to their will.

-Size of membership

-Amount of money available

-The groups strategic position in the political system

-The balance of public opinion

-Strength of countervailing forces/groups

-Attitude of the administration in power

-Ability to access the media

Malcom Walles (1988): 'Pressure groups are successful largely to the extent that those who control the authority of the state allow them to be successful.'.

-The NRA allocates each candidate a grade from A to F based on their voting record on gun rights.

-The League of Conservation Voters releases a 'dirty dozen' list of politicians who have the worst environmental records. A total of 5 of the 12 candidates on the federal list were defeated in 2020, and 6 of the 12 candidates on the state 'dirty dozen' list lost their seats. The League's 'Dirtiest of all Time', President Donald Trump, was also defeated.