Functions of Pressure Groups in US Politics

Functions of Pressure Groups

Representation - America is known as the "hyphenated-society" (african-americans, italian-americans, etc.). All of these groups need a unified voice (e.g. NAACP supports minorities)

Encourage participation - pressure groups increase turnout and political participation (American Association of Retired People has 39 million members)

Public education - Think tanks such as the Brookings institution write well publicised reports on policy. Can also educate politicians (Heritage foundation for Obama)

Agenda building - pressure groups bring together different parts of society to achieve a common interest. (e.g. the Christian Coalition consists of church groups, pro-lifers and college students). Can help to make up for the institutional problems in US politics

Programme monitoring - oversight interest groups hold the government to account (e.g. The American Civil Liberties Union raised the issue of George W Bush's approval of phone tapping on suspected terrorists)

Fill the gaps - parties are decentralised and disunited, and with a divided government they are less likely to be able to enact their ideas. (One problem is neither party can reduce the high price of prescription drugs, so the AFL-CIO campaigned for the prices to be lowered)

Access points - pressure groups are able to get in via the legislature, the judiciary, and the executive, all at federal and state level

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