Methods used by Pressure Groups

• Lobbying• Campaigning/ raising awareness • Direct Action• Electioneering & Endorsement

Electioneering & Endorsement

• The support of candidates by helping to finance their campaigns.

• 2 significant Federal Acts that impacted funding:

• Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971• Campaign Act of 1974 • Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act 2002

Political Action Committees (PACs)

• Political wing of pressure groups. • Legally permitted to raise funds for candidates

& parties. • Seek to persuade congressmen to vote as the

the group wishes. • Grown significantly since 1970s due to

reforms. Currently around 5,000 PACs.

Task:

• Sort out the statements into 2 piles: ‘for’ & ‘against’ PACs.

• Which do you think is the stronger argument? Why?

Task:

• PACs: you need to come up with questions to ask the candidates.

• Candidates: you need to think of your views on the issue to be raised by the PACs.

• PACs question the candidates and then decide who to endorse but with a condition.

• Candidates decide whether to accept the donation.

Feedback task:

How democratic are PACs’ methods?

Homework

• What evidence is there that PACs influence congressmen?

• Use your textbooks to find the information.