In what ways, and to what extent, do pressure groups exert influence through initiatives and propositions?
Pressure groups have many ways to influence the public and government while one of those ways may be through initiatives and propositions, many people think that smaller pressure groups do not get enough
In 2008, voters in California were asked whether they wished to overturn a ruling by the California State Supreme Court which permitted gay marriage. In the highly controversial initiative, known as Proposition 8, California voters voted to overturn the Court's decision, there by banning gay marriage in this state. Over $80 million was spent by supporters and opponents of this Proposition. Suggesting that money does make a difference in pressure group initiatives.
Wealthier pressure groups may be more successful in pushing through propositions, because they are known to hire people to inform the public of their cause and collect signatures. Wealthier pressure groups can also afford full time workers to help with advertising campaigns, set up campaign offices set up volunteers and make the work force more organised in order to be more successful.
Pressure groups do not only exert influence through initiatives and propositions they also exert influence by advertising their cause, public protests, setting up pages on social networking sites in order to spread their message to a younger generation.
The wealthiest pressure groups are not always the most successful as many pressure groups have faced backlash from the people, because their cause is not great but they spent a lot of money on advertising campaigns. Such as tobacco lobbyists who ran big expensive campaigns funded by tobacco companies worth trillions of dollars, however once the people understood the true dangers of tobacco no amount of money could change the public’s inertia of tobacco.
Less well funded pressure groups may have a meaningful message that may be picked up on social...