US Pressure Groups - Comparing UK/US Pressure Groups

  • Pressure Groups in the USA have more opportunity to influence than their UK counterparts
Electioneering & Endorsing:
  • Lots more elective posts in the USA than the UK. As both houses in the USA are re-elected every 2-3 years whilst in the UK only one house is elected and that is every 5 years.
  • Then in the USA, there are lots of federal elections which groups can influence whilst in the UK there are no such elections
  • This means that in the USA, pressure groups have more opportunities for influence than their UK counterparts.
Trade Unions & Business:
  • Business and organised labour groups gravitate towards the Republican and Democrat party
  • In the UK most labour MPs have links to a trade union either as a member or because the union made a donation to them whereas in the US this is not the case.
  • Figures from 2000 show that in the 29% of employees are members of a trade union whereas, in the USA, this figure is just 13%. This has significant implications for workers lobbying powers.
Lobbying The Legislature:
  • British Parliament is more controlled by the executive whereas in the USA this is not the case
  • Martin Harrop said that pressure groups use other members of Congress to get what they want
  • In the UK, pressure groups do not sway MPs, they may instead raise questions in PMQs but they will not ‘vote’ for that group
  • HOL may ask questions because they are not under a constraint from the party
Lobbying The Executive:
  • In the UK, pressure groups focus on the executive and policy specific groups target a government department
  • In the USA, the same is done via the congressional committee.
  • The fusion and separation of powers are how this is done as it affects the way pressure groups operate.
Lobbying The Judiciary:
  • Watts said if the Constitution provides the courts with more balance then pressure groups will see them and influence them. This was seen via the vast amounts of money spent lobbying the federal courts
  • In the US, lobbying the supreme court has paved the way for equal rights
  • In the UK, this is not the case as Parliament is supreme but pressure groups may find opportunities in the future.
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