Citizens Influence Essay Flashcards
Intro
Argued most effective way to influence government is by responding to consultations
Argued signing petitions & joining pressure groups also effective
This response will show why signing petitions is most influential method available
Consultations - Point
One effective way citizens can influence government is by responding to consultations
Consultations - Explain
Gov often seeks views of public on changes it proposes
Response it receives can influence choices government makes especially if response indicates an issue is controversial
Consultations - Example
Scottish gov consulted raising retirement age of Scottish judges
75% said should be raised to 75 & gov announced they would raise age in 2021
Consultations - Rebuttal Point
Argued citizens have no influence over decision making
Consultations - Rebuttal Explain
Just because a gov issues a consultation doesn’t mean they have to act on responses
Able to delay responses to it
Consultations - Rebuttal Example
Scottish gov consulted about introducing rules for non-surgical cosmetic surgery in 2020, took gov 2 years to respond & there’s still been no further action
Consultations - Conclusion
Help gov see public opinions on certain issues but less effective as they’re often ignored
Petitions - Point
Another effective way is by signing petitions
Petitions - Explain
Often started by individuals or groups who demand action
More signatures makes it more influential as the government doesn’t want to upset future supporters
Petitions - Example
Following Marcus Rashford’s petition to tackle hunger in school holidays got over 1 million signatures, UK gov introduced more food support for poor kids in England
Petitions - Rebuttal Point
Government can ignore them
Petitions - Rebuttal Explain
Gov may not think those signing will be future supporters
Petitions - Rebuttal Example
Petitions to cancel Brexit & ban Donald Trump from UK gained 7 million votes between them yet were ignored by Cons
Petitions - Rebuttal Analysis
Still won 2019 election
Petitions - Conclusion
Effective to certain extent as they gain a lot of media attention yet can be ignored with little backlash on gov
Pressure Groups - Point
Citizens can influence by joining a pressure group
Pressure Groups - Explain
Group of people who come together with aim of achieving change
Use various methods to put pressure on gov to influence policies depending if they’re insider or outsider groups
Pressure Groups - Example
Pressure group Surfers Against Sewage persuaded Scottish gov to make Scotland first country to introduce bottle deposit scheme starting in June 2023
Pressure Groups - Rebuttal Point
Not all groups have success
Pressure Groups - Rebuttal Explain
Because of the change they want & how sympathetic the government may be
If government is against them it’s difficult to get them to change their minds
Pressure Groups - Rebuttal Example
Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament been protesting almost 40 years but UK gov been committed to having nuclear weapons
Pressure Groups - Conclusion
Physical thing that may cause disruption unless dealt with yet governments may not bother unless they care about the issue
Overall Conclusion
Consultations & pressure groups both effective but petitions most effective as they gain a lot of media attention & if the government ignores it they may lose potential voters
