How Pressure Groups Influence The Legislature

Techniques to Influence The Legislature

Form close relations with member of Congress and their staff. Also form close relationships with members of the relevant congressional committee and the relevant executive department (e.g. sugar producers used iron triangles to try and keep prices high)

K street = an area in downtown Washington, D.C. where many lobbyists, lawyers and advocacy groups have their offices.

More than 125 former members of Congress are employed by interest groups to lobby their former colleagues (i.e. revolving door syndrome)

Pressure groups provide funding to Congressional candidates (this is more important now that Citizens United v FEC 2010 ruled that corporations cannot spend unlimited amounts on candidates directly, but allows it through super PACs meaning the influence of special interests will increase [see notes on this here])

Public advocacy - interest groups have advertised on television to influence decision making (e.g. "harry and Louise" ads)

Interest groups also buy advertising space in Congress's daily newspapers

Pledges - individuals and interest groups ask politicians to sign a pledge and hold them to it (e.g. many Republicans signed Grover Norquists 'no new taxes pledge' and as a result no Republican in Congress voted for a tax increase for 20 years until the 2012 fiscal cliff)

Pressure Groups publicise voting records of House and Senate members e.g. Christian Coalition issues "voter guides" detailing candidates positions on issues such as school prayer and abortion

Endorse supportive candidates e.g. AFL-CIO endorsed John Conyers

Limits

High re-election (97% in 2016 - re-districting has led to safe seats). This means members of Congress are unlikely to be influenced by pressure groups so much

Competing interest - Pressure Groups endorsements can balance each other out (e.g. Obama supported by pro-choice and Cruz was supported by pro-choice)

High cost business - only a few Pressure groups can meet the cost of supporting candidates (e.g. Planned Parenthood spent nearly $2 million on ads and endorsements in 2015 – 2016)

Other branches of government - blocking change is far easier (e.g. Obama ignored health insurance companies)

Regulations on 'revolving door' i.e. there is a minimum wait time before joining a lobbying firm from the legislature

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