April 7, 2011

Three Branches of Government in the United States

ExecutiveLegislativeJudiciary

Basic idea in the Constitution:The separation of powers

Films about PresidentsAbraham Lincoln (1930)Young Mr. Lincoln (1939)Wilson (1944)Sunrise at Campobello (1960)JFK (1991)Truman (1995)Nixon (1995)W (2008)

Fictional PresidentsBeing There (1979) – Chauncey GardnerIndependence Day (1996) – Thomas WhitmoreDave (1993) – Bill MitchellThe American President (1995) – Andrew

ShepherdMurder at 1600 (1997) – Jack NeilAir Force One (1997) – James MarshallWag the Dog (1997) – unnamedPrimary Colors (1998) – Jack Stanton

Films about CongressMr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)Advise and Consent (1962)Tail Gunner Joe (1997)Legally Blonde 2 (2003)

Films about the Supreme CourtAmistad (1997)The People vs. Larry Flynt (1996)The Pelican Brief (1993)First Monday in October (1981)

Films about Law and LawyersRunaway JuryThe Life and Times of Judge Roy BeanTo Kill a MockingbirdInherit the WindA Few Good MenA Time to KillThe FirmThe Pelican Brief

Interest groupsInterest groups are part of civil society and try to

influence public policyThey achieve influence primarily through the

collection and transmission of strategic information to the three branches of government (sometimes called lobbying)

They may directly provide campaign funds to presidents and legislators who want to get elected to re-elected

They may decide to take disputes over executive decision or legislation to the judiciary

Interest group strategiesGroups can modify or protect the status quo

directly, by prevailing at the ballot boxindirectly, by pressuring other actors to modify or

preserve a certain policy for themTo be influential, pressure groups must have access to the key players involved in the decision-making process

Access depends on whether policy makers will listen to this particular group

Interest groups that represent large constituencies will tend to have better access than others

Examples of Large Interest GroupsNational Rifle Association (NRA)American Association of Retired Persons

(AARP)American Federation of Labor – Congress of

Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO)National Association of Manufacturers (NAM)U.S. Chamber of CommerceAmerican Medical Association (AMA)American Bar Association (ABA)Sierra Club

Types of interest groups*

Economic sector: e.g. NAM; AFL-CIO;Social sector: e.g. AARP; NEA;Public sector: e.g. Greenpeace;

Human Rights Watch;Single issue groups: NRA; PETA;Ethnic groups: AIPAC; AAI Foundation;Ideological groups: ACLU; NARAL;Think-tanks: Heritage Foundation; Brookings

Institution (the oldest think tank in the US); *the list below is not exhaustive

Interest group tacticsNearly all groups testify at hearings, lobby

government officials, make informal contacts with legislators, present research or technical information, send letters to members to inform them about their activities, enter into coalitions with other groups;

Some interest groups publicize candidate-voting records, conduct direct mail fundraising efforts, buy issue advocacy advertisements in the print or electronic media, contribute time and staff to election campaigns, endorse candidates, and participate in protests and demonstrations;

Interest group successHow do we measure interest group success?Passed legislation;Campaign contributions;Public opinion;Media visibility;Some questions:Are lobbying groups more successful in PR

systems than in two-party systems?Are specific types of interest groups more

successful than others?