A narrow dedicated group can outweigh an apathetic electorate

Evidence

With an apathetic electorate, a dedicated group organized around a narrow issue can exercise electoral power well beyond its numbers. … The NRA wields powerful influence over legislators through both carrots (campaign contributions) and sticks (the threat of electoral opposition) (Spitzer, 2014). — Albert Bandura, Moral Disengagement, 1106 (#expands, via linked claim)

The NRA is a powerful player in gun politics, not only by virtue of its ability to mobilize a passionate membership dedicated to gun rights as a superseding issue. With an apathetic electorate, a dedicated group organized around a narrow issue can exercise electoral power well beyond its numbers. Moreover, as we will see later, the American legislative system grants disproportionate power to small states with a sizable share of rural residents. The NRA wields powerful influence over legislators through both carrots (campaign contributions) and sticks (the threat of electoral opposition) (Spitzer, 2014). — Albert Bandura, Moral Disengagement, 1106 (#expands, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Silent groups let a vocal few dominate opinion through sheer volume of talk — Nina Eliasoph, Avoiding politics: how Americans…, 775; In divided societies, voter turnout may matter more than ideological conviction. — Cathy Gormley-Heenan and Roger Macginty, Ethnic Outbidding and Party…, 79; Cadre and mass parties are distinguished by the quality versus quantity of their supporters — John T. Ishiyama, Party Organization and the Political…, 36 (+5 more)

Broader Connections

• A dedicated single-issue group can dominate an apathetic electorate #expands (0.97) — Albert Bandura, Moral Disengagement, 1106
• Small dedicated groups can exercise electoral power beyond their numbers #expands (0.95) — Albert Bandura, Moral Disengagement, 1106
• Effective social groups are constrained to an optimal intermediate size. #complicates (0.75)