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AS Politics > 1- Gannon- Pressure Groups > Flashcards

1- Gannon- Pressure Groups Flashcards

1
Q

Define a pressure group

A

A pressure group is an organised group of people that aims to influence the policy or actions of the government.

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2
Q

What are the key features of a pressure group?

A
  1. They are ‘external to government’. They don’t want to win office, they just want to influence the policy makers.
  2. Narrow range of aims. No full manifesto.
  3. Members are united by a shared belief and can come from all ideological/ political backgrounds.
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3
Q

Define a sectional group.

A

A pressure group that aims to advance or protect the interests of its members.

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4
Q

Define a peak group

A

A group that coordinates the activities of different pressure groups in the same area of interest. They often work closely with government.

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5
Q

Define a promotional group

A

A pressure group that exists to advance particular values, principles and ideas.

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6
Q

Define an insider group.

A

Groups that have direct access and regular meetings with key personnel who develop policy.

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7
Q

Define an outsider group.

A

Groups that are not consulted by government, or are consulted irregularly and not at a senior level.

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8
Q

Name 3 methods used by insider groups.

A
  1. Lobbying ministers/having ministers consulting them
  2. Sitting on advisory and policy committees
  3. Lobbying of local councils and officers/devolved assemblies
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9
Q

Name 3 methods used by outsider groups.

A
  1. DIRECT ACTION- e.g street demonstrations/ civil disobedience
  2. Media campaigns
  3. Petitions (often online)
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10
Q

Give 2 examples of sectional groups.

A
  1. NUS- National Union of Students

2. RCN- Royal College of Nurses

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11
Q

Give 2 examples of promotional groups.

A
  1. Greenpeace

2. Campaign for Nuclear Disarmment (CND)

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12
Q

Give 2 examples of insider groups.

A
  1. National Union of Farmers (NFU)
  2. NSPCC- National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children
  3. CBI (confederation of British industry)- especially insider with the current conservative government
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13
Q

Give 2 examples of outsider groups.

A
  1. Animal Liberation Front- (ALF)

2. Exit (voluntary euthanasia)

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14
Q

How do pressure groups and political parties differ.

A
  1. PGs do not seek to gain office. PPs do.
  2. PG have a narrow range of aims. PPs release a full manifesto.
  3. PGs are not accountable for policies. PPs are.
  4. PGs are less formal organisations.
  5. PGs members do not necessarily share political ideals. PPs do.

HOWEVER- MUST SAY THAT DISTINCTIONS ARE NOT ALWAYS CLEAR. EG. sometimes PGs can be very close to, and sometimes even become political parties. e.g. UKIP started off as a pressure group.

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15
Q

Define pluralism.

A

Pluralism is a theory of a society or a political system which suggests that power is widely and evenly dispersed in society and that many groups, beliefs and cultures contribute to healthy discussion and are tolerated.

  1. Power is widely dispersed, not concentrated in few hands.
  2. A variety of lifestyles/ beliefs are tolerated and can flourish
  3. Pluralist democracy= a system that recognises the rights of different groups to have influence and receive equal treatment.
  4. Free and fair competition. Resources are shared and widespread.
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16
Q

Define elitism.

A

Elitism is a theory of a society or political system which suggests that power resides in the hands of a small number of people known as the elites. Implies that most groups in society are denied power or influence.
1. Power is concentrated
2. Difficult for other groups to get power
3.

17
Q

Name 3 differences between insider and outside groups.

A 
Insider= high profile ,   Outsider= low profile
Insider= mainstream goals ,   Outsider= radical goals
Insider= strong leadership ,    Outsider= strong grass roots
18
Q

Name 5 functions of a pressure group.

A
  1. Participation- RSPB/ Save our national forests
  2. Representation- NUT/ RCN
  3. Education- Palestine Solidarity
  4. Policy Formulation- BMA
  5. Policy Implementation- NFU
19
Q

Name 5 factors that contribute to the success of a pressure group.

A
  1. Resources - FUNDING
  2. Tactics
  3. Size/ Popular support
  4. Opposition/ Government opinions/ agenda
  5. Achievability/ size of aims
20
Q

Name 7 different methods used by pressure groups.

A
  1. Lobbying of ministers/ councils
  2. Direct action- demonstrations/ civil disobedience
  3. Public opinion- media/internet campaigns/ celebrity involvement
  4. Congress
  5. Political parties- affiliating with a certain one - e.g.
  6. Advisory committees
  7. Actions through the law courts
21
Q

How to pressure groups enhance pluralism?

A
  1. They balance the power of centralise government and disperse it WIDELY (especially mass membership groups)
  2. They ensure that many different groups are able to exert political influence
    e. g. Society for the Protection of Unborn Children vs Abortion Rights
  3. They help to protect the interests of groups in society. ( sectional groups) e.g NUT
22
Q

How do pressure groups enhance elitism?

A
  1. Some pressure groups may hold a disproportionate amount of power.
  2. Some pressure groups may be led by unaccountable elites.
  3. Some influential insider groups may serve to concentrate more power into government hands
23
Q

Give 4 reasons pressure groups are becoming more important.

A
  1. Membership and identification with parties is declining, so people prefer to be represented through PGs instead
  2. The internet and social media has made it initiate groups and mount campaigns/ rally support
  3. Arguably there are now more access points/ access for group activity in the political system (eg e-petitions) and politicians are more sensitive to public opinion (because they are constantly being scrutinised on 24 hour newspaper programmes)
  4. Growing affluence means the population has more interests, hence making more demands on the political system.
    Inpl
24
Q

Name 4 ways that pressure groups enhance democracy?

A
  1. They represent groups and causes that have been ignored by political parties. - NUT pensions neglected.
  2. They provide a method of participation in politics, in a time when traditional forms of participation are declining- voter turnout has decreased, many people vote differently each time
  3. They educate the public and advise the government on important issues- e.g. Palestine Solidarity
  4. They help disperse power more widely.- BMA has just under 160,000 members
25
Q

Name 5 ways pressure groups hinder democracy.

A
  1. They can be seen as representing the ‘politics of self interest’ and may present the public with biased or even false information. - e.g. National farmers Union (NFU) will always advise government on what is most beneficial for farmers.
  2. Pressure groups can become too powerful and impede the government implementing policy, undermining the authority of elected officials. Pressure groups are not democratically elected. - e.g. Junior Doctors Strike 2016
  3. Some wealthy or influential pressure groups may hold more influence than can be justified.- CBI with the conservatives
  4. Civil disobedience threaten the order in society and subvert democracy- e.g. Animal Liberation Front destroying animal testing laboratories.
26
Q

Define lobbying

A

when an advocate of a cause operates in the legislative/ executive institution and tries to influence policy

27
Q

Define direct action

A

the use of immediate acts (not going through an institution) with the aim of getting an immediate result.

28
Q

Define functional representation.

A

representation of groups based on their role within the economy/ society (class/ gender/ ethnicity/ occupation)

29
Q

Name 2 ways that PGs provide functional representation.

A
  1. Trade Unions

2. Sectional Groups

30
Q

How do pressure groups promote political participation.

A
  1. Represent minorities
  2. Variety of methods to participate by
  3. Educate the public
  4. Raise issues not on the governments agenda/ in their manifesto
31
Q

In which ways are political parties and pressure groups similar.

A
  1. Pressure groups can become political parties
    e. g. Green Party
  2. Single issue parties
    e. g. UKIP
  3. Overlapping agendas
    e. g. Tony Blair included views on Fox Hunting

AS Politics (8 decks)

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