⇒ Electioneering = taking part actively in a campaign to be elected to public office
⇒ Endorsement = Pressure Groups actively supporting/opposing a presidential/congressional/judicial candidate based on positions on policy areas (e.g. National Right to Life endorsed Romney)
⇒ The role of PACs from 2006 - because of campaign finance reforms, PACs were encouraged (see notes on this here)
⇒ The top 12 PAC recipients nearly always win however there is no clear link between PAC contributors and the way Congress vote
⇒ An attempt to exert influence on the policy making, legislature or judicial process by individual or organised groups. Most effective method is the provision of accurate information to those who need it
⇒ Pressure Groups maintain offices in Washington DC, state captials and other major cities. (e.g. the K street corridor in Washington DC holds many lobby offices)
⇒ Some of the most notable firms are built around former presidential aides and cabinet officers (this helps to attract clients e.g. John ashcroft Bushs former attorney general opened the Ashcroft group)
⇒ Pressure Groups also provide legislators with voting cues (e.g. conservatives find following the American Conservative Union helpful)
⇒ Pressure Groups frequently launch public relations campaigns in order to educate people at large. (this can involve TV advertising frequently known as 'issue advertising')
⇒ Insurance companies played a role in killing off Bill Clintons healthcare reforms ("Harry and Louise" tv ads)
⇒ Public policy journals - these circle to nearly all members of Congress and senior staff (advertising can be placed within)
⇒ Direct action that is generally aimed at legislators/ policy makers
⇒ Can be in the form of marched and demonstrations (eg. womens' march)
⇒ Some pressure groups do resort to violence and disorder (e.g. BLM turned to violence in Ferguson)