- Pluralism: A theory that political power does not rest simply with the electorate or the governing elite but it is distributed among groups representing widely different interests.
- Truman stated that politics could be understood only by studying the way different groups interacted with one another
- Mills argued that the USA was ruled by a small governing elite and so ordinary Americans had no control over how they were governed
- Robert Dahl argued that US society was pluralist not elitist
- Elitist: A theory that political power rests with a small group who gain power through wealthy family status or intellectual superiority
- Dhal claimed that democracy was no “50+1” but one where a group had a high probability to get itself heard in a critical stage in the process
- To Dhal, democracy was about compromise – compromise between competing groups.
Types
Of Pressure Group:
Sectional
Groups:
- A pressure group organized to promote the interest of a profession or business
- They are therefore business and trade union groups such as the American Business Conference or the US Chamber of Commerce who represent thousands of different trade such as truck drivers
- Americans might join a group that represents individual with a common gender, ethnic, religious or social characteristic such as the National Organisation For Women.
Causal
Groups:
- Campaign for a particular cause or issue.
- Americans are more likely to join one of these rather than a trade union
- They protest and petition and march more than other countries.
- May be a single interest group such as the NRA or Mothers Against Drunk Driving.
- Single-Interest Group: A pressure group created in response to a specific issue in order to promote policies that the group desires concerning that issue.
- Think tanks are another causal group who conduct research and write articles on policy. They have a particular ideological stance such as the Institute For Policy Studies.
Case
Study – National Organisation For Women:
- Founded for women, they want equal rights for men and women
- They also want advanced rights as well as equal rights for immigrants who are women coming into America
- They want to make sure sexual criminal offences are treated with care and the people behind them are put into jail for the correct amount of time.
Functions
Of Pressure Groups:
- Representation: A place where US citizens can have their views expressed and their grievances articulated. Provide an easy channel of easy access through which ordinary citizens can voice their opinions. A way for everyone to have their views represented in all three branches of government.
- Citizen Participation: Increase the opportunities for ordinary citizens to participate in the decision-making process between elections. Offer an opportunity to participate in a specific policy area e.g guns.
- Public Education: Attempt to educate public opinion, warning people of possible dangers if issues are not addressed
- Agenda Building: They attempt to influence the agenda of political parties to give into the members interests. Attempt to bring people together to achieve a common interest.
- Programme Monitoring: May scrutinise and hold the government to account with policy and make sure the right promises are fulfilled. The NRA for example, may bring such unbroken promises to the federal courts.
Methods
Used By Pressure Groups:
- Electioneering And Endorsement: Groups actively support or oppose presidential and congressional candidates on the basis of the candidates positions on the policy areas of concern to them e.g pro-choice group NARAL endorsed Clinton in 2016
- Lobbying: When members meet politicians and tell them their concerns. Done in offices in Washington DC, state capitals and other major cities e.g K Street Corridor.
- Voting Cues And Scorecards: Some groups meet with politicians to make sure that they are taking the right stance on a particular issue.
- Organising Grassroot Activities: Thought to be the most effective methods. This is done via social media by calling the media, calling Congress. Can also be done via protesting. Encouraged to send verbal protests by sending an email or letter to a congressman