US Interest Groups


	US Interest Groups
	Advantages Allow for representation of minority views Allows for pluralist democracy Increases participation in between elections Scrutinises government Voters more concerned with single issue politics as shown by low turnout (in 2014 turnout was 36.7%)	Disadvantages Can lead to tyranny of the minority Can lead to hyper pluralism Frequent elections (2 years for House of Reps) mean participation is already high. Membership of an interest group does not necessarily mean active - sofa membership Pressure groups are not accountable Influencing an elected body may be seen as undermining representative democracy Elitist argument that pressure groups with money have more influence Lobbying of pressure groups can lead to the Iron Triangle e.g. John Boehner hired by Squire Patton Boggs
	Evaluation IGs are more harmful to democracy than beneficial

Allow for representation of minority views
Allows for pluralist democracy
Increases participation in between elections
Scrutinises government
Voters more concerned with single issue politics as shown by low turnout (in 2014 turnout was 36.7%)

Can lead to tyranny of the minority
Can lead to hyper pluralism
Frequent elections (2 years for House of Reps) mean participation is already high. Membership of an interest group does not necessarily mean active - sofa membership
Pressure groups are not accountable
Influencing an elected body may be seen as undermining representative democracy
Elitist argument that pressure groups with money have more influence
Lobbying of pressure groups can lead to the Iron Triangle e.g. John Boehner hired by Squire Patton Boggs

IGs are more harmful to democracy than beneficial

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