AO1: US interest groups have more access points than UK pressure groups due to the federalist system of government AO2: This allows US interest groups more opportunities to raise civil rights issues and potentially have impact on policy because they can operate on a national level with the US Congress as well as at state level because the US Constitution reserves many areas of policy for state governments to deal with, whereas the Westminster Parliament tends to dominate UK politics and is the main focus for lobbying by pressure groups in the UK AO1: US interest groups are more able and more likely to make use of the federal court system than UK pressure groups because they can use amicus curiae and have been very successful in the past, particularly in civil rights cases AO2: The role of the US Supreme Court in particular to interpret the US Constitution gives interest groups a further access point and makes the US Supreme Court a focus for interest group activity in areas that may not have been directly legislated on, whereas UK pressure groups are generally less likely to use the judicial route because the UK Supreme Court is unable to declare Acts of Parliament unconstitutional AO1: US interest groups are more able to make direct links with US members of congress and the executive through iron triangle networks whereas this is more regulated in the UK through the Register of Members’ Interests AO2: This allows US interest groups to directly affect the legislative process by, for example, suggesting amendments or proposing legislation. Pressure groups in the UK can and do also suggest amendments or legislation, but are unable to form iron triangles because of the fusion of powers in the UK system. AO1: US interest groups are more able to use direct lobbying and electoral funding to help influence the political agenda whereas regulations on funding in the UK are more strict AO2: The rise of PACs and Super PACs in the US has increased the ability of interest groups to indirectly campaign in favour of or against certain parties/policies/candidates, whereas campaigning in the UK is more strictly controlled by the Electoral AO1: Commission, making pressure groups in the UK less likely to directly campaign in elections AO2: The lack of party discipline in the US Congress also gives US interest groups more opportunities to influence the political agenda, unlike the UK where the political agenda is controlled by the executive AO1: This allows US interest groups to lobby individual congressmen to introduce debates or legislation related to their issue, whereas in the UK pressure groups need to get the attention and support of the government to have their issue placed on the political agenda