Chapter 1.3 Pressure groups and other influences

Question 1

What is a pressure group?

Answer 1

An association whose interest is to promote a particular cause by influencing the government, the public or both. They can be formal or informal.

Question 2

What are the three main types of pressure groups?

Answer 2

• Sectional Groups
• Cause Groups
• Social Movements

Question 3

What is a Sectional Group?

Answer 3

A sectional group is a pressure group which promotes the interests of a particular section of society.

Question 4

Which group is an example of a Sectional Group?

Answer 4

The Law Society. It is only open to solicitors in England and Wales

Question 5

What is a Cause Group?

Answer 5

A Cause Group is a pressure group that focuses on achieving a particular goal or drawing attention to an issue.

Question 6

What is the membership of Sectional Groups like?

Answer 6

They tend to have a restricted membership and entry is based on specific requirements.

Question 7

Which group is an example of a Cause Group?

Answer 7

The Greenpeace. They promote awareness of environmental concerns and try to influence the government to adopt “green” causes.

Question 8

What is the membership of a Cause Group like?

Answer 8

Membership is usually open to anyone who sympathises with their cause.

Question 9

What is a Social Movement?

Answer 9

A Social Movement is similar to cause groups but is loosely structured. They are usually politically radical and seek to achieve a single objective.

Question 10

What is an example of a Social Movement?

Answer 10

The Black Lives Matter movement. It began in 2013 after the acquittal of police officer Zimmerman in the fatal
shooting of Treyvon Martin, an African-American teen.

BLM movement seek to bring awareness to police brutality and racially-motivated violence against black people.

Question 11

What is another way to categorise pressure groups?

Answer 11

By looking at the nature of their relationship with the government. Pressure groups can either be Insider or Outsider groups.

Question 12

What are Insider Groups?

Answer 12

Insider Groups are pressure groups that enjoy close access to government agencies and officials.

Question 13

How do Insider Groups enjoy close access to government agencies?

Answer 13

Since they tend to have objectives broadly in line with government views, Insider Groups have strong links with lawmakers and are regularly consulted

Question 14

Which group is a low-profile insider group?

Answer 14

Howard League for Penal Reform, they’re a charity working for less crimes, safer communities and fewer inmates.

They rely on behind the scenes contact rather than seeking publicity.

Question 15

Which group is a high-profile insider group?

Answer 15

The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) is an organisation that work to promote business interests. They use the media to make their case.

Question 16

What are Outsider Groups?

Answer 16

They are pressure groups not consulted by the government due to the extremity of their aims or methods.

Question 17

What are the subcategories of Outsider Groups?

Answer 17

• Potential Outsider - these have the potential to be insider status but are not e.g. Amnesty International UK
• Outsider by Necessity - Lack the political knowledge and skill to be come insider
• Ideological Outsider - Have radical views that are incompatible with the government and mainstream politics e.g. EDL

Question 18

What example is there that proves the government can benefit from Insider Groups?

Answer 18

The British Medical Association is composed of skilled medical practitioners. The government can gain insight about the satisfaction of junior doctors, the stability of the NHS, etc.

The government enjoy the benefit of the BMA’s specialised knowledge in return for influence over policy.

Question 19

Which methods may Insider Groups use?

Answer 19

Offer specialised knowledge to government in return for influence over policy or lobby MPs, briefing them on issues of concern.

Question 20

Which methods may Outsider Groups use?

Answer 20

Lacking contact to government, they may try to exercise influence through email campaigns, petitions, demonstrations or publicity stunts

E.g members of Extinction Rebellion glued themselves to a railway train in 2019 to protest pollution

Question 21

What is a pressure group’s choice of methods determined by?

Answer 21

Largely by the resources available and by its status as an insider or outsider group

Question 22

Which direct forms of action have proven to not be peaceful?

Answer 22

• Some of those who took part in the 2010 student demonstrations against increased university fees were prosecuted for disorderly conduct.
• Legal challenges against policies. The Countryside Alliance took its case against the banning of fox hunting to the High Court in 2004.

Question 23

Why might groups use insider and outsider methods?

Answer 23

The nature of the issue and the degree by which the government is willing to respond may warrant “insider” or “outsider” methods being used.

Question 24

Why is it hard to gauge the success of insider groups?

Answer 24

They do not usually publicise their achievements to avoid offending their government contacts

Question 25

What factors are relevant in the effectiveness of pressure group activity?

Answer 25

• Resources
• Tactics and Leadership
• Public support
• Insider or Outsider Status

Question 26

How do resources affect the effectiveness of pressure group activity?

Answer 26

A large membership who pay subscriptions means that a group is likely to have the finance to run offices, pay staff and organise publicity

90% of Labour funding come from trade unions

Question 27

Why might the large membership of a pressure group be effective to their cause?

Answer 27

It can help in persuading the government that it reflects a significant section of public opinion

Question 28

What example is there that proves the membership size of a pressure group may not always be effective for their cause?

Answer 28

The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament had about 110,000 members in the mid-1980s but Thatcher’s government risked ignoring their demonstrations due to the passive support of the majority population

Question 29

How does tactics and leadership affect the effectiveness of pressure group activity?

Answer 29

Pressure groups like CBI can threaten to relocate businesses if economic conditions are not to their liking

Question 30

How does public support affect the effectiveness of pressure group activity?

Answer 30

The government may not want to alienate large numbers of the public who may make up or influence a significant amount of the electorate

In 2000, the Fuel Tax protestors forced the Chancellor to lower the level of petrol due to widespread support

Question 31

How does Insider or Outsider status affect the effectiveness of pressure group activity?

Answer 31

• Insider groups have close contact with the government, so are able to influence policies and legislation.

However, this may lead to the Insider group being strung along or having to “dim down” their aspirations to please the government.

Question 32

How can the media affect the effectiveness of pressure group activity?

Answer 32

The media’s portrayal of that particular pressure group can massively influence public opinion and attitudes about that pressure group

Question 33

Case Study. Who is Joanna Lumley?

Answer 33

She’s a TV celebrity whose support for retired Gurkha soldiers was important in overturning a government ban on their right to live in the UK.

Question 34

Case Study. What was the Occupy London Movement?

Answer 34

Occupy London was a movement for social justice and real democracy in London,

Question 35

[Case Study] How did the BMA smoking campaign begin?

Answer 35

After a failed and unpopular attempt to pressure the government into outright banning smoking in cars, the BMA instead campaigned for the prohibition of smoking when child passengers were involved.

They were supported by other pressure groups, Asthma UK.

Question 36

[Case Study] What tactics were used by the BMA when campaigning for the ban of smoking in a car with children?

Answer 36

They used online technology to lobby for support and made its case in the House of Lords

Question 37

[Case Study] What were the results of the BMA campaign to ban smoking in cars when minors are involved?

Answer 37

An amendment to the 2014 Children and Families Bill was made and the ban came into force in October 2015.

Question 38

[Case Study] Why was the BMA campaign to ban smoking in cars when minors are involved successful?

Answer 38

They were resourceful in mobilising support and using the parliamentary process.

Public opinion and the government were willing to protect children as a vulnerable group.

Question 39

[Case Study] Why was it good that the BMA changed their goal from outright banning smoking in cars to only banning smoking in cars when children were involved?

Answer 39

People would have seen a total ban of smoking in cars as an unnecessary intrusion into people’s private lives.

The change made the BMA seem cooperative not only with the government, but also the public.

Question 40

[Case Study] What is the Occupy London Movement?

Answer 40

An international movement for social justice and real democracy in the UK

Question 41

[Case Study] What tactics did the Occupy London Movement use?

Answer 41

In October 2011, they camped outside of the St Paul’s Cathedral in London, until they were evicted by order of the High Court four months later.

Question 42

What was the Occupy London Movement protesting about in October 2011?

Answer 42

They were protesting corporate greed in the City of London, which they held responsible for social inequality

Question 43

Why wasn’t the Occupy London Movement successful in obtaining long-lasting results?

Answer 43

Fundamentally, the movement’s objectives were too broad. They represented a general hostility to global capitalism but did not have any practical goals.

Question 44

Although social media helped to bring people together quickly, why was the Occupy London Movement still unsuccessful?

Answer 44

The movement lacked the ability to channel its opposition towards capitalism into practical political ability.

Question 45

Who are Think Tanks?

Answer 45

A body of experts brought together to investigate and offer solutions to economic, social or political issues

Question 46

How has Think Tanks influenced the government?

Answer 46

The Conservative’s Party free-market oriented approach in the 1970s is due to Thatcher’s patronage of of right-wing think tanks like the Adam Smith Institute

Question 47

What is the Adam Smith Institute?

Answer 47

A neoliberal think thank that emphasises on using free markets to end poverty

Question 48

What critiques of think thanks exist?

Answer 48

Think thanks lack the academic rigour expected in university circles

Question 49

Who are think thanks staffed by?

Answer 49

Young, ambitious individuals who see their time there as a springboard to a political career

E.g. David Miliband went from working at a centre-left think thank to eventually becoming a senior minister in the New Labour governments

Question 50

What is a lobbyist?

Answer 50

A person who takes part in an organised attempt to influence legislators

Question 51

What is the purpose of lobbyists?

Answer 51

To gain influence on behalf of clients who are seeking access to government in order to influence legislation that affects their client’s interest

Question 52

Where does the word “lobby” derive from?

Answer 52

It derives from the hallways of the House of Parliament, where people would meet their MPs to ask for help in the past

Question 53

Why have lobbyists been criticised?

Answer 53

Many people dislike the idea that influence can be bought by wealthy individuals and organisations

Question 54

What does the parliamentary code of conduct forbid MPs from doing?

Answer 54

Accepting money for agreeing to represent a viewpoint

Question 55

How did the government try and regulate lobbying in 2014?

Answer 55

The government made it a legal requirement for lobbyists to register if their activities include discussing policy or legislation with a minister or senior civil servant.

Question 56

Why weren’t people satisfied with the 2014 legal requirement for lobbyists?

Answer 56

They expected and wanted greater transparency

Question 57

`What are corporations?

Answer 57

A legal entity of business

Question 58

What is the “revolving door” process and why does it make people suspicious of corporations?

Answer 58

It’s when politicians take well-paid jobs in the private sector after they leave government service

• People suspect that they use their knowledge to benefit the interest of these corporations
• Numerous business leaders have become ministers by being appointed to the House of Lord

Question 59

Why is there fear of corporations lobbying?

Answer 59

Powerful corporations may lobby the government in an attempt to modify policies that affect their business interests

Question 60

What do pluralists believe about society and pressure groups?

Answer 60

They believe society is made up of competing pressure groups who compete with each other for influence over decision makers.

Not one pressure group dominates.