Essay Plan: Evaluate the view that Pressure Groups are more powerful than Political Parties

PGs are more powerful than political parties


Money + membership
 Elitism where groups can buy influence
 NRA spend $16.3 million 2020 presidential race
 $4.3m supporting Trump, $12.2m opposing Biden
 Membership
 AARP = 40million retired
 US Chamber of Commerce spent $82 million in 2022

Political parties make the decisions
 Civil Rights Movement needed Dems to pass Civil Right + Voting Rights Acts
 PGs ignored by parties
 Pro-gun control ‘Million Mom March’ 2000 unsuccessful




Iron triangle / revolving door
 60% 113th Congress found lobbying jobs
 29% House Reps, 26% House Dems; 38% Senate Reps, 25% Senate Dems
 Big Ag spent $480 million in 20 yrs to create iron triangles
Stopping revolving door
 The Honest Leadership & Open Government Act 2007 –
 from 1 yr to 2 yr wait & prohibited gifts
 Ending the K Street Project – stops hiring decisions of private organisations on sole basis
of partisan political gain – 15 yrs prison




Lobbyists right bills

 Citigroup’s recommendations reflected in more than 70 lines of 85 line bill – helped them get
bailout after 2008
 Lobbyists for chemical industry watered down toxic waster bills 2015

Votes with party not PGs

 2021: party unity votes
 93% House R
 98% Hoyse D
 84% Senate R
 97% Senate D (highest in history)